THE VOLUNTEERS.

Evening Star, Issue 3376, 15 December 1873, Page 2

THE VOLUNTEERS.

The Port Chalmers Naval Brigade has adopted a uniform similar to the Dunedin Brigade. The Company provides the material, and members arc at the expense of making the uniform, which the Brigade hopes to have in time for the Governor's inspection. '[.'he Artillery, with their band, fired some handicap matches at the Anderson’s Bay range on .Saturday afternoon. In the first match, 200 yards, Gunner Kcid took the first prize of LI with a score of 15 ; Gunner White the second of 12s tid with 14 ; Gunner Muir the third of 7» (>d with 12; and Gunner Frankeiss the fifty rounds of ammunition given bv Lieut. Muir, with 11 points. In the 500 yards match Sergt.Major Greenfield was highest with 17, and took the first prize of LI ; Quarter-Master Sergeant Coxhead the second of 12s Od with 10 ; Gunner Muir the third of 7s 0.1 with 15; and Lieut. Muir the fourth (fifty rounds of ammunition) with 11 points. In the 000 yards’ match Gunner Kettle was highest with IS, and takes the first prize of LI; Gunner White the second of 12s Od with 17 ; Gunner Frankeiss the third of 7s fid with 10 ; and .Sergeant-Major Greenfield, Lieut. Muir’s gift of fifty rounds of ammution, with 10 points. The winners of the aggregate prizes were—Gunner Kettle 41, LI ss; Gunner White 30, LI; Sergt.-Major Greenfield 30, 15s ; Gunner Frankeiss 3,5, 10s; Gunner Muir 32, 7s od. The band match was at 200 yards, and the prize-takers were—Peyton 22, Lieut. Muir’s cup and ss; Bailey 22, LI; Hogg 22,105; Keys 20, 7s 0d ; Connolly 17, 7s Od; Wright 17, ss; R. Hogg 10, ss; M‘Fadyen 15, 5s ; Cowi 14, 5s ; Little 11, fifty rounds of ammunition. We extract the following passages from Major Gordon’s report on the last Colonial prize-firing, which now sees the light for the first time “I would recommend that in future annual competitions members of the Armed Constabulary should not take part. They arc not Volunteers; and having no voluntary domicile as such, I could scarcely have allowed any of them to take part, even if they had qualified, in the North and .South Island Match. There was some objection, though it was not pressed, to the mounted portion of the Armed Constabulary taking part in the competition, because they had not qualified as representatives in accordance with the regulations ; that is, that they had fired for choice of representatives, with Snider carbines instead of with 'i'erry carbines, i as the Volunteer Cavalry bad ’ done. Then, with reject tp tfie Infantry portion of the 1

Armed Constabulary, they were brought to this competition at a manifest disadvantage, inasmuch as they ware then compelled by the regulations to fire with Enfield rifles, a weapon with which they are not armed, and with which, consequently, they had not had any practice. • • ■ _°ne feature in this meeting, and one which afforded great satisfaction to the competitors, besides conducing very materially to the early termination of the programme, was the rapid and most accurate marking (by disc) of the markers who were employed.” The following are the five highest scorers in the three matches for the Port Chalmers Company Belt. Tiie first competition was at ranges of 200, 300, and 400 yards ; the second at 300, 400, and 500 yards ; and the third at 400, 500, and 600 yards - Ist 2nd 3rd Tl. > Lieut. Wilson 43 41 43 - 127 Gun. S. Lean 38 43 42 - 123 Gun. P. Lean 40 40 37 - 117 Gun. Morgan 43 42 32 - 117 Gun. Fletcher 43 41 28 - 112 THE COLONIAL PRIZE FIRING. The Artillery Company, this morning, at the Anderson’s Bay butts, competed for choice of company representatives; Major Atkinson, in the absence of the officer appointed, being in charge. Only seven men appeared at the ranges ; ami the scoring, with the exception of that of Eeid, was very poor indeed. A very strong wind, however, was blowing from the right front. The ranges were 200, 400, 500, and GOO yards ; seven shots at each ; the weapon a long or medium muzzle-loading or Snider-En-field rifle. The force complain, and justly, so, that they have not had time to practise, the firing coming on almost immediately after the regulations are issued, Subjoined will be found details of this morning’s scoring : 200 400 500 600 yds. yds. yds. yds. TI. Reid ... 4442334 3333333 4433332 3323322—85 Muir ... 4334344 44n3333 3302433 0230230—73 Coxhead 2333344 3333444 8303333 K303040—71 Fordyce 2443233 R323423 2300203 003h423—60 Kettle... 3243434 2043332 4433033 2204030—71 Smith ... 4342333 2322333 3032333 20k2030-64 Peake ... 3322333 retired