Volunteer Items

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 109, 12 March 1892, Page 3

Volunteer Items

A rifle was accidentally discharged at the riifle range at Townsville i (Queensland) the other day. The j bullet shot a button off a bystander's coat, and the button entered the body of a volunteer named Oswald Geddes, | causing his death shortly afterwards. As soon as the ammunition arrives j the Manchester Rifles will commence class firing. A medal will be given to be competed for by the ten highest scores who will be handicapped, three competitions, the highest aggregate to win. The new Kharkee uniforms made by the N.Z. Clothing Factory for the Wantranui Eifles have given great satisfaction. According to the latest of Colonel Lobell's annual reports on the progress of military matters in Europe, the spade is destined to play a far more important part in warfare than it has ever yet fulfilled. At every halt, eyen if it be but of short duration, troops will be compelled to make full use of the artificial strengthening of the ground to reduce as far as possible losses from the enemy's fire, and to hide themselves from his view. But a strong profile will be required on account of the great power of penetration which is given to the present bullet by the smokeless powder employed. Mr Robert Harding's many Oamaru friends (says the Oamaru Mail) will be pleased to learn that neither eye nor hand seems to fail him yet, for he can still make good shooting. On Monday last with seven shots (no sighter) he put on the possible at 600 yards range, this being, if we are not mistaken, the first time such a feat has been accomplished in New Zealand It may be added that Mr Harding has made the possible scores at every range up to 600 yards — a record that no other marksman in the colony can show.