OUR VOLUNTEERS.

Kumara Times, Issue 2647, 2 March 1885, Page 2

OUR VOLUNTEERS.

DISTRICT PRIZE FIRING. The Westland District annual prize firing was completed on Saturday last. It commenced by the First Westland Rifles firing on Saturday, the 14th ult. ; on the following Saturday, the 21st, the Grey mouth Rifles competed; and on Saturday last, 28th ult., the Kuraara Rifle Volunteers went through their competition. The firing at each place was under the superintendence of Lieut. Spence, the Drill Instructor. Contrary to the usual custom to class the men in sets, this year there was only one set in each company, and the Volunteers were therefore all on the same footing. The ranges were 200, 400, and SG>O yards; seven shots at each range. The amount granted by the Government for the Westland district was £2l 12 7d, which was divided into eleven prizes, as under. The following are the names of the prize-takers, the total number of points obtained at the three ranges, and the amounts of the prizes : Name and Company. /^d. Vol. Badger, Grey mouth Rifles 68 5 0 0 Vol. Dale, Ist Westland Rifles 65 4 0 0 Vol. Hornby, Greyraouth Rifles 64 3 0 0 Vol. Sampson, Grey mouth Rifles ... ... ... 64 2 0 0 Lieut. Davies, Kumara Rifles ... ... ... 63 2 0 0 Vol. Ellery, Kumara Rifles ... ... ... 63 110 0 Capt. Smith, Greymouth Rifles ... ... ... 62 10 0 Sergeant Brirable, Greymouth Rifles ... ... 61 1 0 0 Lieut. Borlase, Kumara Rifles ... 60 10 0 Vol. Boddington, Ist Westland Rifles ... 59 012 7 Vol. Schulstad, Kumara Rifles 59 010 0 Total amount ... £2l 12 7 Where there is a tie for total, the highest score for total at the longest range gets first place. It will no doubt interest many of their friends to see the scores made by our own Volunteers at the respective ranges. Twenty-five members competed ou Saturday, iu ovvy of J.JL and.

14, the first squad firing at 6 a.m., and the second at 2 p.m. The following are the scores made ;

* Volunteer Michel, of Ist Westland Rifles, being absent from home when the firing took place at Hokitika, was allowed to fire with the Kumara Rifles.

MONTHLY INSPECTION. In the evening, at 8 o’clock, the monthly inspection Kumara Rifle Volunteers took place. Forty-nine members were on parade, and only four were absent. The Company, paraded through Main and Seddon streets, headed by the Brass Band, and then Lieut. Spence put the members through company and battalion drill. Before dismissing the company at the Drill Shed, Captain O’Hagan called out Lieut. Davies, saying that he had a very pleasing duty to perform tonight. It was to present to Lieut. Davies a testimonial as a recognition by the Company of the services he had rendered to the Company since its formation. All knew perfectly well that he had been the life, soul, and heart of the Company, and they found him just as good now as formerly; he was the means of keeping them together. It was the same when Davies resided in Hokitika ; he kept the company together. Captain O’Hagan then read the presentation, as follows : To Lieut. John Davies, Honorary Secretary Kumara Rifle Volunteers. Dear Sir—We, the undersigned, on behalf of the Kumara Rifle Volunteers, beg to testify our sincere and cordial appreciation of the zealous, able, and impartial manner in which you have conducted the clerical business of our Corps during the period of four years you have so beneficially acted as our Honorary Secretary. In conclusion, it may not be out of place to add that we individually consider it a necessity to record our recognition of your valuable services as one of our Officers as well. With best regards for your future progress, We remain, John O’Hagan, Captain; M. Boblase, Second Lieutenant; Jas. Bbayshaw, Sergeant; Jno. Coutts, Sergeant; T. T. Jones, Corporal; J. Keller, Corporal; D. Moore, Volunteer; F. W. M‘Mahon. Kumara, New Zealand, 24th December, 1884. He then handed the scroll to Lieut. Davies. It is very neatly designed by Mr E. F, Clarke, of Hokitika ; a Volunteer being depicted in three attitudes—skirmishing, firing, and at ease—embellished with ferns, Lieut, Davies thanked Captain O’Hagan, the Officers, and Volunteers sincerely for their kind and substantial manifestion of his efforts. He should cherish the testimonial as a valuable recognition of his having performed his duty as their officer; he thanked them very much for the address. PRIZE CUP COMPETITION. Captain O’Hagan then announced that it had been arranged to present tonight the two prizes won in the late handicap competition. Mr R. J. Seddon, the member for the district had kindly given a valuable silver cup to be competed for; and he was glad to be able to state that that gentleman would himself present the prize. He then called out Lieut. Borlase and also introduced Mr Seddon to the Company. Mr R. J. Seddon, M.H.R., addressing Captain O’Hagan, the officers, and men, said : It gave him very great pleasure to make the presentation. No doubt the time would come ivhen they would ho found doing duty. He regretted much that the isolated position which Kumara held prevented their parading in larger force; he hoped that Parliament would make provision that Volunteer companies could parade together. He was very much pleased to find so many Volunteers had entered for competition for the Cup, The con-

test was a good one and the handicap a a good one. Addressing the winner, he said: Lieut, Borlase: Yon have fairly and honourably won this Cap. I hope yon may live long to treasure it, and that your children also may live to cherish it as a prize won by their father. Lieut, Borlase replied that he was very much pleased that he had become the winner, and was also much pleased to have it personally given by Mr Seddon, because he was a legislator. Pie concluded by proposing a vote of thanks to Mr Seddon for the valuable present given to this company. Mr Seddon, in replying, remarked that the district firing I hat day had been very creditable to the company. The occupation of most of them was not conducive to steady nerves and good shooting; but the Kuraara Volunteers had generally held their own notwithstanding. Next year, if all were well, he would present another cup.— [Applause] He would ask the Captain that the men might now be calk’d from parade, and partake of refreshment. Lieut. Spence then dismissed the Volunteers.

FIRST SQUAD. 200 400 500 Tl. Vol. Ellery .... 26 22 15—63 Yol. Schulstad .... 22 17 20—59 Sergt. Coutts .... 24 19 14—57 Yol. Langridge .... 23 14 16—53 Vol. Watters .... 17 16 18—51 Corporal Jones .... 24 21 6-51 Yol. Evenden .... 17 21 10—48 Vol. Hannah .... 17 14 11-42 Yol. J. Murtlia .... 14 15 11—40 Vol. Walker .... 17 12 4—33 Yol. Caldwell .... 13 11 0—24 SECOND SQUAD. 200 400 500 Tl. Lieut. Davies .... 25 19 19—63 Lieut. Borlase .... 23 23 14-60 Corporal Keller .... 26 20 13—59 Vol. Hopkins .... 24 21 12—57 Yol. A’Court .... 21 19 18—56 Yol. Mansfield .... 22 21 12-55 Yol. 0. Martha .... 20 13 18—51 Yol. Burn .... 20 15 12—47 Vol. Morris .... 20 12 14-46 Yol. Stevenson .... 21 13 12-46 Vol. Strait .... 21 12 8—41 Yol. Merveldt .... 16 4 17—37 Vol. Michel* (Hokitika) 22 8 7—37 Yol. Smith .... 21 7 4-32 Yol. Smnsion .... 19 8 4—31