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Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 53, 13 October 1875, Page 2

It is intended in the course of a few months to hold a grand International Rifle Match in Philadelphia, at which marksmen of all nations are expected to compete. In order to induce them to do so the American promoters hare made most liberal arrangements for stranger riflemen, and, as every one knows, when Americans do anything of

the sort they do it well. It* the Australasian; Colonies, notably New Zealand, Victoria,, and New South Wales,- there are volunteers who can hold 1 their own with the crack riflemen of the eld country,, and it was hoped either' that each colony would send its representatives to the forthcoming Philadelphian shooting festival, or that unitedly a team composed: of marksmen from each would go and do battle for the group. As far as New Zealand is concerned, however, an extinguisher was put upon its crack shots having a pleasant trip, with the chance of returning with rifle laurels gathered on American ground, as in reply to Mr O’Neil, the Native Ministcf declined on the part of the Government, on the ground oi expense, to pay the expenses of New Zealand representatives to the contest. All who take an interest in the Volunteer movement, and their name is legion, will regret the decision of the Government, but at the same time few can blame them. It is hardly a fitting way of spending a largo sum of public money, though it would not he unreasonable to expect assistance in promoting what may ho termed a national object. >Sir Donald M'Lean set down the expense at £ LOU0 —a trifle comparatively, regarded from a volunteer’s standpoint, and a small sum for such an end. Had the question been whether the Government would supplement public subscriptions for the same purpose the answer would probably have been very different, and it is not yet 100 late to put it in that amended form. There are in Now Zealand, indeed in this very district, some riflemen who would show well at Wimbledon or at Philadelphia, and if some New Zealanders were sent, if they did not achieve the highest honors, they would at least give a good account of themselves, and cast no discredit on the Britain of the South. Such being the case, why not inaugurate subscription lists all over the colony, the amounts so collected to he devoted to sending a team, and if found insufficient then the Government could again he appealed to with a good grace, and with little chance of refusal. If amateur entertainments in every place where a Volunteer corps exists wore given, the whole necessary sum, with other contributions added, would, we believe, readily make up the money required, and great interest would naturally he created in the result of the gathering. It is rather surprising that the Volunteers have not initiated some action in the matter, for to collect £ 1000 from the whole of New Zealand should ho a work of no difficulty whatever. Notwithstanding, then, Sir Donald’s cold water, lot us hope that the matter will he taken up not only by the Volunteers, hut by the public of the colony, and that amongst the troops of riflemen who face the Philadelphian butts, the representatives of New Zealand may he found, and, what is more, acquit themselves with as great credit as past shooting shows they are capable of achieving.