THE VOLUNTEERS.

Evening Star, Issue 2884, 17 May 1872, Page 3

THE VOLUNTEERS.

The conduct of Colonel Haringtou at the recent Colonial prize firing, is being warmly commented upon by several of the northern papers ; but we regret to notice that their arguments are based on information which is unreliable. We have not coincided with those papers who have persistently condemned the Colonel—in some things we said he was greatly to blame, but in others he was entitled to praise ; but our northern contemporaries and the Daily Times refuse to recognise any action of the Colonel’s as deserving commendation. We have been induced to refer to the matter again on account of a number of the New Zealand Hera'd of May 1 having been sent us—we presume, for our perusal of an article on the tiring which appears in it. The contribution, which is by a “ Northern representative,” is remarkable for its gross, and we venture to add, wilful misrepresentations ; while there is nought else displayed but a strong animus ' towards the Inspector of Volunteers and a lavish praise of Auckland and its arrangements during the previous meeting. We make a few extracts, and m commending them to the notice of Volunteers and others

who were present at the meeting, agree with the Independent's opinion, that, if these strictures are the result of disappointment, or bitter feeU ig caused by excitement, a spirit of fairness to the person interested should prompt those who entertained a different view of the matter to let the public know what they think : The second day opened with the fourth match, and then followed one of those matches which many consider ought not to be reckoned in the aggregate —viz., skirmishing. The head prize in this match was taken by Hoskins, but he had very great difficulty in getting credit for all the hits he had on his target. Indeed he was asked where he came from, and was quietly told that he could not be allowed the extra shot which he claimed. This, however, was only the first of what was to come. On Monday the sixth match was commenced, the men having been told off in six squads, and ten men in a squad. It was in this match that the greatest piece of injustice was perpetrated. Capt. Wales, who was firing in the number three squad, was ordered by Colonel Harington to fall out and allow Sergeant Snodgrass to take his place. Captain Wales at first de nurred, and said he preferred firing with his squad. However, he fell out and remained out until all the squads had fired, when strict silence was demanded, and Captain Wales was called out and ordered to fire. The time allowed in this match was five minutes but the time allowed Captain Wales was six minutes, consequently giving him the chance of firing from three to four shots more than any other competitor. Besides this Captain Wales had the comfort of knowing that Hoskins and Carter, who were pressing him closely for the belt, had not made as many points as it was thought they wou'd, and, consequently, could take time to place his shots on the target. In the eighth match Corporal Carter succeeded in making the splendid score of 51 points, and although no one could fairly dispute the shots, yet, withal, Captain Wales entered a protest, which was seriously entertained by the officers on the ground, but the decision, for a wonder, was in favor of Carter. It was however perfectly clear to all on the ground that Captain Wales got 4 points more allowed him than he was entitled to, for there were bub 8 hits on his target, but ho was allowed 9. lam sorry to say that Colonel Harington has made himself exceedingly unpopular with the men, owing to his partiality towards the Southerners. Betting was carried on in a very open way. On one occasion, Messrs McFarland, Muir, and Christie were named to be the winners, but McFarland was the only one who made any appearance, the Northerners coming to the front instead. The system of asking competitors where they came from when shots were in dispute, caused a great deal of very unpleasant talk, besides having the appearance of a dead set against the Northern representatives, because they invariably lost the shot they asked for, whilst, if a Southerner, they invariably were allowed the shot. And, in the skirmishing, certain squads were taken to a point blank range to fire, whilst others were not taken nearer the target than two hundred yards. Captain M'Parland entered a protest, but the Colonel told him he was too late —he ought to ha\ e called his attention to it whilst he (M‘Farland) was firing, was simply absurd. The matter was referred to the staff, and of course the decision of Colonel Harington was sustained. Never was there such a distinction shown with regard to the reception of the representatives from the two islands. There “ Representative” alleges that the Otago men, on landing at Lyit'-lton, were met by a band which played them to Christchurch, while a similar compliment was paid them on their departure. “ But the Northern representatives were allowed to land, and to find their way about Christchurch as best they could, and when they left there was no sign of a baud until they got to Lyttelton. On leaving the Christchurch railway station three cheers were called for the band which had not played them away. ”