BAND AND RIFLES.

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 66, 4 December 1886, Page 2

BAND AND RIFLES.

TO THE; EDITOR OF THE STAR. Sib^l see by your paper that T. Evans has rushed into print. I heg to state his letter is contrary to the facts of the Case, which are these— In the first place we challenged the Volunteers six or eight months ago to fire a match, a"nd see who should pay for a pair of cymbals, which was duly accepted through the Officer Commanding, and the men lost half a day to fire. When we arrived at the -butts there were only two of the Rifles present, no more showing up during the afternoon. Of course, the cymbals went by default. In the second place, we challenged * them onparade (with the consent of the Captain), which was accepted, and a team formed under Sergeant Bilderbeck. On the Friday evening before the match, Sergeant Bilderbeck came to the band room to state ho could not get the team to lire on that {Saturday. My team had made arrangements for half a day's holiday, and the consequence was that the Band decided not t« fire any more matches with the Volunteers, as they had been humbupged twice; and they could not afford to lose any more time for an uncertainty. It seema very strange that out of the number of the corps ten men could not be found who were not shearing ; or was the reason because the- most capable . man had the formation of T t»he team when another, noncommissioned officer thought he ought to have been sailed upon, and showed his jealousy by keeping away t . ■■ -> Thirdly,. I totally , deny that the\ Band has teen challenged by Thomaa Evans. Anyhow, we Tiave received nane whatever, ' . Considering the time that Sergeant • Evans haalbeen a Volunteer, he ought to know his duty bettor than to takeupon himself to issue a challenge/ without the consent of his superiorofficers. Had he sent a chaUeage w» should not have accepted it without the consent of the Commanding Officer. Sergeant Evans never mentioned in his letter that the Band had challenged the corps twice,, and ha (let alone others) was not at the butts to meet us at any of the matches. In conclusion allow me to advise the worthy Sergeant to state facts correctly, and not misrepresent them.— -I am &0., Samitei. Daw, Bandmaster E. 8.8,