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Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 114, 24 March 1892, Page 2

Volunteer Items

The Manchester Rifles are reminded of the parade to-night. A second instalment of new Kharkee uniforms has been received. The penetrative powers of the small arms lately introduced into the armies of all the great powers have been the subject of some remarks by Colonel Lonsdale Hale, who states that the minimum thickness of ordinary soil affording protection is 30in., while single brick walls, after being struck a few times, no longer afford any cover. The new German rifle ranges up to 4000 yards, and at 900 yards the bullet will penetrate lOin of fir or pine, and Hin of sand. At 450 yards the bullet can pierce three or four ranks, and at 1300 yards a man may no longer consider himself safe, even if the bullet had already penetrated two of his comrades. With regard to "smokeless powder," the same authority observes that though the report of the rifles when fired is heard, it is very difficult to see whence the rifles are fired. Under certain conditions no trace of smoke can be distinguished. Minor acts of surprise, he considers, will be more frequent in the future, and will often partake of the nature of ambuscades. Very small bodies of cavalry, intimately connected with infantry, forming in action with patrols of the latter, will, therefore, : be necessary, and it will no longer be possible to discover well-posted batteries. On the whole Colonel Hale considers that only a war can absolutely decide what the effects of the improvements in small arms will be. One thing, however, is certain — that is, that the difficulty of leading the troops has considerably increased. A match was fired between the Marton Royal Rifles and the Rangitikei Cavalry at Marton on Tuesday, and resulted in a win for the Royals by 29. The respective totals were— Royals, 340 ', Cavalry, 311. Ten men a-side competed. The following is the resnlt of the competitions for the A. B. and 0 classes, which were fired yesterday : —

When at the last range it began to rain heavily with the wind from the southward, making good shooting rather difficult. The next competition for the above classes will take place on "NYednesday. Morning squad at six, afternoon squad at 2 o'clock. The ammunition to oe obtained from Mr Hopkins as before, but those firing in the morning squad must get their ammunition on Saturday afternoon, as Mr Hopkins will not be at home oa Tuesday evening.

A Class. 200 yds 3ooyds 500 yds Tl Vol. Stevens ... 29 25 20—74 Vol. Parker ... 25 25 20-70 Vol. Aitken ... 28 20 21-69 Vol. Scott 28 22 14—64 Vol. Saywell ... 27 22 15—64 Vol. Evans ... 26 19 17—62 Vol. Humphries ... 21 20 19—60 Sergt. Evans ... 25 19 15—59 Vol. Lethbridge ... 26 23 4—53 B Class. Vol. Hopkins ... 19 17 15—51 Vol. Petherick ... 26 21 2—49 Vol. I)ougheit,y ... 22 12 10—44 C Class. Vol. 80yd.,. ... 16 14 16—46 Vol. Belfit ' ... 18 '7 17-42 Vol. Green ... 24 9 B—4l Vol. Haybittle ... 22 12 4—38 Vol. Feck 21 14 2-37 Vol. Taylor ... 20 10 7—37 Vol. Gould ... 16 12 5— 33 Yol. Wigfj ... 19 8 2—29 Vol. Lankshear ... 11 5 o—l6