THE VOLUNTEERS.

Evening Star, Issue 4281, 15 November 1876, Page 2

THE VOLUNTEERS.

Major Stavely, reporting to the Defence Office oh the review at Waihola, which he correctly describes as one of the most successful assemblies of Volunteers in the Province, says :—“ The Waikonaiti, Palmerston, and Portobello corps, for want of railway conveyance, could not attend, as it would have entailed a loss of three days to have been conveyed by coach. I take this opportunity of expressing my thanks to the officers,' non - commissioned .officers, and volunteers for the. efficient manner in which - all orders were executed during the day,” The official parade strength was 649. ■ ■ . A match, for the West Taieri Company's silver cup was fired'off at'the company 8 range on Saturday afternoon.. There, were ten competitors. Just as tbs men mastered on the range at 2 p.m., there came.on a very violent tUtuderstOrm, accompanied H" very strong wind from thesontn-wc«h which lasted for trtn hours/’ consequently' sheeting was not, conunencod tiU,ahmitfopr o’clock, when there was a strong, wind from

th Q right with sharp showers of rain. The ranges were 400, 500, and 600 yards; seven shots at each range.' The cup was won by Sergeant W. Grant, with a score of fifty-two points. The weather and light were entirelyopposed to good shooting. Colonial firing will take place at Hokitika in February, on days to be named. As soon as the firing for choice of representatives has been concluded, new Snider carbines and short rifles will be issued to the Government and extra representatives, who will take them with them to and will be required to return them into Store at the termination of the competition. For choice of representatives each corps will fire on its own ground, on or before the sth .January, 1877. No merqber of any corps will be permitted to compete in the preliminary firing who was not an efficient ToS nte for the y? ar eDdin 8 31st March, 1070. Two competitions, with at least three days between each firing. Ranges for carbine representatives—2oo, 250, 300, and 400 seven rounds at each. For rifles--200, 400, 500, and 600 yards, seven rounds at each. The highest aggregate scorers in the two firings to be Colonial representatives.