Volunteer Intellignece.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1661, 18 March 1886, Page 2

Volunteer Intellignece.

OUR TRIP TO PALHEE!STON.

jßy ' "MarksmWH m Woodyilje' J&f- 1 The ■ Wood ville Uam selected to lire m the match with the^Palmerston Stifles deft Woodville m Sowry.'s brake on Sat* 4irßay raorningf.at9.3oia.m7"' On- arriyat . at* Palmer^n^ Gagtain Carrol, Lietafo^, Johnston an'd'tne men gave us & heara^ reception, and invited " us to partake of dinner which was.- as heartily accepted* the long drive shaving sharpened pur af^ petites f alii justice was done to the '•at-:, ables. Soon dfter,dibner a commodioui brake was waiting in' readiness t0..,c0i4* vey ■ the teams to the range 'Vhich it situated on.the southiside. of the Manawatu River near tHe FitzheVbert Bridge. 'The; ranee runs along the bed of the river east and west ai this point'; whea the men approached the range it could plainly be^Bcen .that , some, migehievouf persdti had to^n down. the; marker's bj^i; ■ and dummy target so at to prevent firing. " This was found to be ,J. 0. Batchelor, late ;proprietoc> 6"f the ißoyal Hotel, j Palmerston Nortii, and once Color-Sergt. of the Rifles there, who has* bought from Government some land adjoining th« river-bedl Mr Wilsion, surveyor, w ; b.Q: accompanied the Woodville team, says it is not customary for Government to include the river bed m Crown Grants, although those who purchased land fronting rivers have the use of bed down to water. Mr Batchelor therefore has no more claim to the rifle range at Palmer— ■ ston; than any member of the team ha», and were itjaptj for ?lo^tveriiig their digf -, riity and : being m juiilprmj,. fMr BatcbV \ lor, who stood m front of the target, would have got what hejiistly deserved,* good duckinff, Supposing,: however, that Batchelor had a just claim to the riverbed, it was certainly- both a mean and contemptuous way of venting his spite, when men came from Woodvill© to have a friendly match without any warning whatever to prevent the firing. "When it was found that reasoning was no good, Capt. Moore thanked him ironically, for the gentlemanly conduct he had displayed to words, bis men. Thre* loud groans were then given for Batchelor *and the' Volunteers returned to tSwn singine: ''We'll hang old Batchelor on » spur apple 'tree, «&c." The Palmerijton . men through Capt. Carrol expressed their deep regret at the disappointment which was experienced; and the Woodville 1 men felt sorry to see their comrades nlateed m sucb, an-^nnen viable Sosition by one who Had formeSy stood shoulder to shoulder with them -in the 'ranks. It' is expected ihat the Palmerston . will; be able to accept the in vitttion to come over to fire on the Oxford Bang*, Wopd ville,, as Mr gambling, the worthy proprietor, at all times does what he c^ '\ to make the JwwT " !add to the pleasure of Rifle cbmpetifion. Meanwhile, Captain Carrol intend* to . port' the matter to the Government and * take what action lie deems best.