THE RIFLE MATCH FOR MR. LEWISSON'S PRIZE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 1955, 22 October 1863, Page 4

THE RIFLE MATCH FOR MR. LEWISSON'S PRIZE.

To the Editor of the Daily Southern Cioss. Sir, — Having read in this ilaj 's issue of your paper a paragraph headed "Rifle l''u ing," peimifc mo to make <i few observations relative to the matter referred to. With lefereuce to Mr. Lewibsou's silver goblet you state, "It will be remembered Mr. E. Mills scoied 44, and Sergeant Combes 43 ; but protests were euteiod against these competitors on the ground that they had previously won public prices. They were therefore deemed ineligible to receive the cup." The facts are as follows : theie was only one protest entered against me, and that was by Seigeant Combes himself, on the ground that I had won a " public association puze." Now it is true, .sir, that I did win a prize of the " Auckland Eifle Association," value £30 10s , being £20 Association puze, and 10 guineas the entry fees of the competitors. J3nt Ipi otest against this being called a "public prize" in the pioper sense of the term. Befoic firing T enquired of tlio donor of the goblet, what was incaut by a public prize, and he feaid that he only intended to exclude winners of Qoiernment prizes. And although the names of intending compctitois weio handed in about a month before the firing, and weie well known, no piotcst was entered until thieo days after the firing for the prize had concluded. I have been lnfoiincd since the filing, by good authority, that the spirit of the advertisement was to exclude all the best shots ; but am glad to see that the now declared winner weais the cross rifles on his aim as a badge that he is tho best shot in the company.— Youis, i,c, E. Mills. Giey-strcet, October 21, 1863.