THE VOLUNTEERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2459, 25 March 1909, Page 5

THE VOLUNTEERS.

RIFLE SHOOTING AND SIGNALLING. Captain Beere, of the Gisborne Rifles, has received information that the sum of £S 10s for shooting contests has been apportioned by the Defence Department, to be competed for in Gisborne by volunteers and the public in the Gisborne and Wairoa districts; £3 6s is allotted to the volunteers entirely, and £5 4s is allotted to the general public, including volunteers. The conditions of the competitions are: Adult volunteers. Id shots, 10 at 500 and -5 at 609 yards ; cadets, 5 shots at 109 and 10 at 200 yards; public, the same as adult volunteers, with the addit ; on of 5 rounds at 699 yards. The entrance fees are. Is for the public and 6 for the volunteers.! The information will be handed on to the committee of the Poverty Bay Rifle Association to take the matter in hand. Very short notice has been given, as tlie competitions mustbe fired off before next Wednesday. It was stated,that the money was first offered to the Hawke's Bay Association, but as their programme was full the offer was refused. Orders respecting the ‘-Daily Mail’s*’ Empire Cup shooting competitions have been received in Gisborne. Unless tlie previous orders that a general field day be held by all volunteers throughout tbe Dominion on Empire Day interferes. it is possible the Cup will be competed for locally. The first prize is the “Daily Mail’s” 200-guinea cup, to go to the club which makes the best score in the whole Empire. Another prize is a 50-guinea cup for the club outside the United Kingdom making the best score. The points deciding the cups are the aggregate of the eight besT scores out of a team of 40, The. conditions are 7 shots at three ranges, with one compulsory sighter. Hie cup last- vear was won by the East London (South Africa) Rifle* Chib, with __ 824 points out of S4O: the Opaki Rifle Club, with 776 made the best score in New Zealand, and received the silver

spoons. Several members of the Gisborne Defence Cadets competed for tlie signalling examination conducted recently by Sergeant-Major Browning, and the successful candidates to qualify in the semaphore system were: Corporal P. Gordon (81 per cent.), and Sergeant G. Sc eats and Sergeant G. Lloyd (80 per cent.). This result entitles tlie successful members to £1 each and a signallers badge. A parade of the East Coast- Mounted Rifle? will be held thi- afternoon at Te Hapara. In the evening the members will" be entertained at dinner bv the officers, and a presentation will be made to Captain Tomlfloson, who is retiring from the command of the squadron.