VOLUNTEER NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 106, 22 May 1901, Page 2

VOLUNTEER NOTES.

(Bv Vltukan.)

TiJEitK was a yo id minister- n[ tho Guards l.sc ii'g'.t, some 50 cf all ranks being on parade ; a good deal d us-ful woik wsn done, toina raucifla'rs fur stiiie b.iingc-lvl up'-'n t-i put the company through honi'i movjiiieut-i. It vas decided to op'n tho Clubio m for tho winter nioaih-', aud b smoke concert is b ing avrirgol to (Yrp.ral Slack, who is u<i.ig tdiil'tad to Wanganui. The fi I'mation of tho battalion is causing quite a flutt'.v in volunteer cirvles, and it is now plainly stated 'h t Maj r El is, with (J ptiin Okey, v. ill receive long dis-ivod promotion, he former to L ; eii!\-Colonfcl aud the latter to the ra«.k of Major. Captain Taunt/ n and Lieut. Cock are riot to br leftoutjin the no'd, tho former b ing promoted to adjutant and the Utte: Quiiter-mtt.trr. Tho news of tee intended promotion of Captain Okey 'o Maj.*, ciused quit? i flitter of indignation amongst the Guards la t utht, it being stited that hat exceedingly popular officer, Lieut. Cook, had been asked 'o take th" cpt iney of the Biflefl. Taking time by tho firelock, a 1- quisitiou was boibg numerously t-ign'd by the members of the Guards asking Lieut. Cook not t? leave the comp'ny. All tho companies are looking f..r----h ard to a big muster o.i Friday, and a very successful pirodo is anticipated. All th'i corps will parade in Khaki.

The formation of the IVranaki Bat-s'-liou will probably L-ad to the formaiioa of a Garrison Band. It is expected that the City Band will bs chcsen, and it certainly « ill be a welldeserved recognition of their public spirit in connection with the Volun teer?, and tho battalion will have a band to be proud off.

GOVERNMENT RIFLE CLUBS. ' Io a r< cent Gazelle appears the rules diuwn up for rifle clubs, which, under 'hrse rules, uny be embodied in the defence forces of the colony, and may form a reserve force for volunteer*. Clubs formed under theso lules will be known as Gnvfirnroent Rifle Glub . Every such club shall consist of r.ot less than fifteen members, They may wear distinguishing badges bearing the lettoni N.Z.8.C., and a fine not exeeediug £5 is provided for any person, cot being u member, who is found wearing the badgp. Any ex-voluntas r resident wifcbin five miles of the headquarters of a volun'eor carpp, and who has served threo ye >vi iu a vcluntrei Rorp-, may, oo receiving his discharge join any recognised Government rifle club iu tha colony, providad he is not le«s than thirty years of ag<». In places ov.ir five from the hiadquarters of a volunteer corpi, rifle cluba may enrol members who have had no volun*eer service, provided such membei s are ioS les) that) 18 yearn of age. Each lifla club shall olcci a captain, and may a'fo appoint a thcugh both fflU.es may hi held by one member. Each club shall hold four qua terly drills, a>:d every member must attend at lea.t two o p the=e, which shall be of at least two hours' duration, tho work consisting chiefly of irs'ruction in the handling of arms, field work and fire difciplino. Every member must pre sent lis rifle for i.';sptoikn at hast twice iu inch year. Any member ab.sont fr;m tho quarterly drills is required to furnish a reason to the captain, and if such leasoD is not satisfactory he shall forfeit his right to free ammunition a> d privileges for the following year. Any member unable to at'oud drill in his own rlub may, on application to the' oflic r commanding the nearest vclun-1 tear corpi or tha cap'ain of the neires' rifle club, attend the required drills with the corps or club most convenient to him. At least half the members of a rifle club must attend each parade counting for the Government grant of free ammunition, and the lastquarteily drill of tho will bo known as the " Government ins,ection parade." Every nvmber of a lifle club will be granted one hundred rounds of ammunition, free, which must bo used for practices and club matches, and a record of all scores must be kept. If, afcor one year's service, any member faih to make fourteen ppints out of s ventern sbos at 500 yards, at a sccoud-class target, he sha'l forfeit his fiee ammunition grant and club privileges. Whtn not 1. st than twenty rifle clubs have been formed, the Government may, at. the reqmst of half t. at numbor, lay down a standard uniform, which each member must provide for hit' Self, the cest not t-j exceed .£2. Tie D fence Depattment wi'l supp'yj ammui.i'ion at cost price, and '303 rifles wiil bo s rved to eich member as pood as available at 20 per cent, under cost price. 0-*e ha'.f the pu-ch*se money must be paid on roceipt of the arm, and the balance v.ithin twelve rarnths, (he captain and members giving a person- 1 .! guarantee fjr pay-

vinit. Tho officer ccmin iiiding a inilil.ry d st ict may, if he tlii;'l:-i a lilld |t'ub range sufe, issue an extra twenty rounds per nun annually for tx'Ullidug unier mili'ary On the app-ovi.l t-f tlio od'ufr coarimandiog a <iistiict free railway pa'ses will le itsu.-rl to memb.-rs of clubs attending shooting competitions.

toiics came out on the top cf the poll th's yo.ir for grading, This is a remit we are vory proud of here, as buyers of butter are always very eager to bai'gtthi for a contract for the season with batter factories who have the befet average grades. This, of coumi, phico3 our ioc.il manuficter at a slighily higher ■trie,*, which bcu'wfi'.s all e/asuus of the community. A very pleasing ceremony took place last Saturday afternoon at Mr, C. Biower's hotel, when our lata sla'ionm.Ts'ei', Mr, Guy, was ptoienttd with a purse of sovereigns, as showing in a f'mall way tha gratitude of hie friend? and the community for the many- obligations he has performed during Imp res'denco here. Mr. Guy is to be stationed at Ouebungn, and Mr. 0 B. . Campbell lakes his place hate.