A REFUTATION.

Southland Times, Issue 1559, 2 April 1872, Page 3

A REFUTATION.

Sib — In the last issue of your contemporary, certain joltings appear from " a correspondent, Western District," which he closes in the following strain : — " A bitter feeling exi.-t* here (Riverton) against the Inrercargillites for keeping and using our new rifles until after the district prizes had been fired for. If they could have used them it might not have signified much, but as they have neither won a prize nor returned a representative, there is no excuse. Our men, with their old pieces, have done both." ! Passing over the paradox contained in the above paragraph, on behalf of the Invercargill Volunteers, I beg most distinctly to inform the Riverton Rifle Volunteers that the new rifles above mentioned have neither been detained nor used by them ; and further to state that any delay which may have taken place with regard to same is solely attributable to heads of companies. In order to prove, however, that this bitter feeling is not reciprocated by the Invercargillites, I am authorised to say that the Invernargill Volunteers are both willing and anxious to have a friendly contest with the Biverton Rifle Volunteers at their own range upon as ear'/ a date as convenient, and that a challenge to that ( fleet may be looked for in a day or two, when it is to be hoped any bitter feelings upon the part of the Kiverton Rifle Volunteers will be totally annihilated, and that the same goodfellowship for which the Rivertonians have hitherto been so justly proverbial will continue to be expressed. — I am, &C, VOLTTBTBEB.