VOLUNTEERING.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 191, 20 May 1872, Page 3

VOLUNTEERING.

FIRING FOR MR PAYNE’S STAR. .» The firing for this star was completed on Saturday morning, at Tararu, by firing at the 600 yards range. By the scores appended it will be seen that Petty Officer Thompson, of the Naval Brigade, came off the winner, lie having shot capitally at the long ranges, being six points behind at the two first, and four at the commencement of the last range. Haresnape, who scored the same number of points, 62, lost by having obtained only 11 points at the longest range against Thompson's 15 ; but he deserves the greatest possible amount of credit, as he is quite a young shot, this being his first season, and yet lie has topped a number of the acknowledged crack shots of the district. Fifty-one competitors started for this star, but only ten appeared on Saturday morning to complete the firing, the others retiriug, as they evidently had no chance of winning. Comparing this firing with that for our representatives, we find that out of the 51 competing no less than 13 scored over 30 points (the Government minimum) at 200 and 300 yards, whereas before the whole district only passed nine at the same ranges, and the shooting at the. two last ranges was very fair also. The following are the scores of those who completed the firing :

engineers’ INSTRUCTION ROOM. We are glad to state that Mr William Rowe has kindly placed a large room in the Exchange Buildings at the service of the Engineer Volunteers, free of’ charge, for the purpose of holding their drawing classes, and attending the course of lectures which are to be delivered. ibis gentleman’s liberality towards the Volunteers is most praiseworthy, ami we should much like to see it followed by some of our well-to-do leading men. THE BAND. We are informed that there will be a band for the 24th, the instruments having been given out, and two practices are to be held this week, one to-night, and another on Thursday evening. Mr Morris, late bandmaster, is in temporary charge pending fuither arrangements. THAMES 11. 11. CADETS.

A friendly match came off between eight members of the T.R.H. Cadets, at the Parawai Butts, lasl Saturday, under the superintendence of lion. Captain Robert sou. The firing was not so good as might have been expected, considering tne tolerably good shooting made by members of this corps at the prize firing, thus showing the necessity of keeping up practice. The top score was made by Sergeant Hamilton, who made 31 points, the distances being 200 and 300 yards, five rounds at each range. We would like to see a little more encouragement given to our youthful Volunteers in the way of prizes beii g given by some local gentlemen, and open to competition by all the Cadets, as it is somewhat difficult to keep up practice, either in drill or tiring, without some such means of arrangement.

200 300 500 600 Tl. Thompson, T.N.B. 16 13 18 15...62 Haresnape, 1 K.H.R.V. 19 16 16 11...62 Hoskins, 2 H.R.V. 16 14 14 14...58 Pearson, T.R.R. 19 16 12 11...58 Murray, T.S.C. 16 17 9 16...57 Hazard, 2 H.R,V. 17, 14 14 12...57 Partington, T,S.C. 17 15 13 11.1.56 J. W. Leigh, 1 H.R.V. 17 10 14 7...48 McGonagle 1 R.H,R.V. 11 15 12 9... 47 White, T.N.B. 16 14 9 7...46 The following scores of 39 and u pwards —a good average at the three ranges— were made: 200 300 500 Tl. Vol. Bennett, No. 2 H.R.V. 15 13 13 41 CorpL Buttle, T.S.C. 12 15 14 41 Vol. Hernau, No. 3 H.R.V. 12 16 13 41 Vol. Bagnad, T.S.V. 14 11 15 40 Vol. Hay, No. 1 R.H.V. 17 13 9 39 Sergt.-Major Grant, T.R.R. 10 16 13 39 Corpl. Barnett, No. 2 H.R.V 14 14 11 39 Sergt. Bauer, No. 1 R.H.V. 17 13 9 39