THE INTERCOLONIAL RIFLE MATCH.

Evening Star, Issue 3307, 25 September 1873, Page 3

THE INTERCOLONIAL RIFLE MATCH.

To the Editor. Sir, —Reading your comments on Lieut. Muir’s remarks in last evening’s issue, that in the selection of representatives for the forthcoming intercolonial matches he regretted that party feeling had been introducal, it occurred to me that there is another matter in connection with this which requires explanation ; and, so far as I can see, Lieut. Muir himself is not without reproach, therefore I crave permission, through your columns to ask him how or at what meeting ho and Gunner Reid were selected as the company’s representatives ? 1 have been a member of the company for a number of years, and have always taken considerable interest in all shooting matters, and, so far as 1 am aware, the selection of representatives was not brought up at any meeting ; and several members to whom I have spoken are equally in the dark with myself. It is pot that 1 have any personal feeling against either of them ; on the contrary I think they are both very good men. and well calculated to uphold the honor of the company in every way ; at the same time there are others in the company of equal merits, and it would have been a graceful act on the part of those in command to have consulted the company in the choice of its representatives. As it is, the doing these things in the hole-and-corner way this appears to have been dono will go a very long way to foster the very feeling Lieut. Muir so much deprecates. Therefore it is, Mr Editor, that I have troubled you on this occasion.—l am, &c., W IMBLEpQN. Dunedin, September 24, To the Editor.

SjU,—ln a local in your last evening’s issue you assert that personal feeling has been brought to bear on the recent Rifle Association meeting. The only personal feeling that I know of as having been shown in the matter was when one of the gentlemen present made the remark that they wanted to get men of position (whatever that may mean) to represent Otago. Each company had the opportunity of nominating two candidates aii competitors in the intercolonial match. When the names were sent in, instead of competing for places, as expressed in the circulars, the Council decided upon choosing the men by ballot. They carried their motion, and it was put to the ballot, and I suppose that gentlemen of position have not been chosen, or else they never intended to send any representatives at all. The other Colonies are getting their representatives by competing for them, and the only reason that I can sco in not doing the same here is that those who carried the ballot are afraid to go to the target for place. I do not fear about Otago not being represented at the meeting in Melbourne, as the Taieri is sending one representative and the .South District Rangers one. The Port will in all probability send their own man, and

if Dunedin cannot send one I will go myself. Tn conclusion, I do not believe your statement that the majority of the Association or the Volunteers are dissatisfied with the decision arrived at, seeing that the majority of the Association acted the way they did. Personally I disclaim having any personal feeling in the matter. —1 am, fre , David Miller, Dunedin, September 24.