A VETERAN OFFICER.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1870, 2 October 1913, Page 8

A VETERAN OFFICER.

COLONEL COLLINS'S JUBILEE. Olio of the principal guests at last evening's mess , dinner of the Fifth (Wellington) -Infantry Regiment' was Colonel R. J. Collins, C.M.G., 1.5.0., V.D. Colonel Collins was for some years iu command of tho regiment in volunteer'(jays, when it was known, as the First Wellington Rifls Battalion., Tho function, was most happily fixed for last evening, as it was on October 1, 1863—exactly 50 years ago—that Colonel Collins became a member of tho Now Zealand Defence Force. On that day—it was during the strenuous times of the Maori wars —he was'sworn in as a private in tho Taranaki Militia.' Ho was subsequently detached for duty as orderly-room clerk, and on July 1, 186-5, was appointed to the militia and volunteer staff as staff-sergeant, jierforming tho duties of sergeant-major, store cleric, and paymaster's clerk. On Jainiar.v 31, 1877, he was transferred to the store audit at Wellington. In March, 18S5, he was elected lieutenant of the Wellington City Rifles, and the following year became captain. He received his majority in 1896. and was appointed to the command of the First Battalion, Wellington Rifles, in 1898. The following year he became lieutenant-colonel, and was .promoted full colonel on his retirement from command of the battalion in 1907. At this time he was appointed to the Council of Defence as first financial member, which position lie held until December, 1910. He is now senior colonel on tho resorve of officers.

Colonel Collins is tlio most noticrablo figure in rifle shootijig in the Dominion at tho present time. He has been associated with shooting since 1807, and was elected to the executive of the New Zealand' Defence Forces Rifle Association ii; 1879. Ho was appointed statistical officer at the annual championship meeting in 1886, and since 1904 has been tlio chief executive officer of the association (now known as the Dominion Riflo Association). Ho was commandant of the New Zealand team which won the Kolapore Cup at Bisley in 190-1.