FIRING FOR THE GOVERNMENT PRIZESDISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES—SUCCESSFUL COMPETITORS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2723, 9 April 1866, Page 6

FIRING FOR THE GOVERNMENT PRIZESDISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES— SUCCESSFUL COMPETITORS.

(ABRIDGED FKOM THK WELLINGTON" "ADVERTISES,' " APRIL 4.) Tub presentation of the prizes to the suooesaf ul competitors in the late match took place on Monday at noon, on the gtouud iv If out of the Government buildings. At eleven o'clock the Wellington Volunteers mustered on the reclaimed land, and at hatfpast fell in, and, preceded by the fife ami drum band, marched to the ground appoiuted for the ceremony. There they drew up in double line, under the command of Captain Mills, keeping clear a small space on which the successful candidates were to be mustered. A table was placed at the foot of the steps leading into the Government bindings, on which were ranged the different piizes. The first prize was the Champion Bait, with a bag of one hundred sovereigns. The belt is a handsome shoulder-belt of black leather mounted in silver, with claps bearing the names of the different competitors who had previously won it, ending with the name of the champion for the present) year; the inscriptions are as follow : — " Won by Ensign Brighton, Auckland Rifle Volunteers, in 1861." " Won by Samuel Hoult, Nelson Eifla Volunteers, in 1862." 1 " Won by Nathaniel G. Moss, Nelson Eifle Volunteers, in 1863." "Won by Lieutenant T. Owen, Wanganui Yeomanry Cavalry, in 1864." (The Belt was noi shot for in 1865 ) "Won by Corporal D. Christie, East Taiori Vo- [ lutiteers, in 1566." A cartouch pouch attached is splendidly set off with * silver front piece, on which are laid in gold two I muskets crossed, surrounded by fera leaves in the [ aame metal. The second prize was the silver medal of the Rifle Association— a largo aud well-cut medal with a purse containing seveniy-five sovereigns ; the third prize a purse of fifty sovereigns ; the fourth of thirty sovereigns ; and the fifth of tweuty sovereigns. Shortly before 12 o'clock Mr. and Mrs. Stafford arrived, and ' we noticed amongst those present Colonel Haultain, Colonel Russell, Mr. Paterson, Mr, Justice Johnston, and mostof the leadiug gentlemen of the city. A number of ladies "also gracel the ceremony with their presence. Four of the victors soon came on to the ground ; the third, Private B-snton, of the Featherston Rifle Volunteers, not appearing. They were ranged in front of the table on which the prizes stood, and Mrs. Stafford having desoended the steps from the hall, Colonel Haultain introduced them to her, saying that as Mrs. Stafford had very kindly undertoken to present the prizes offered by the Colonial Government to the beat shots in the colony, he begged to introduce these gentlemen as those who were entitled to those prizes, namely, Corporal Christie, of the Kast Taieii Kifle Volunteers, who Wft9 the champion, and entitled to the first pi ize ; Corporal Taylor, of the Dunedin Rifle Volunteers, who had won the second ; Captain Kennedy, of the Napier Rifles, who had •yon the fourth ; and Private Kitchen, of the Mailborougk Rangers, who had won the fifth. Private Benton, of the Featherston Rifle Volunteers, who had woo the third prize, was absent. Mr. Stafford then said : Gentlemen, — Mrs. Stafford has requested me to express to you the very great gratification that it affords her to present to you the prizes that yon have won in a trial of skill, by which you have proved yourselves superior murks men. It will be a source of legitimate pride and pleasure to you to take to your homes these substantial trophies of the skill that yon have displayed in arms. It is worthy of remark, on the present occasion, that out of the five prizes to be distributed, three have been won by volunteers from parts of the colony which have not yet been visited by the scourge of war. This is a proof thab the volunteer movement is not confined to those places where stern necessity has compelled men to take up arms, but that the youug men of the colony generally recognise it to be one of the foremost privileges of manhood to be prepared and able, iv case of need, to rely on themselves to defend all that they hold most dear. We may, indeed, be proud that already on many occasions the men of New Zealaud, animated by that spiiit that was ever shown by their forefathers, have displayed a heroic gallantry and devotion. Occasions like the present are also useful in that they bring men from differeut localities in the colony together— men who, though living in different places, are of one and the same country — and making them acquainted with each other, and giving them opportunities of acquiring for each other those feelings of mutual respect, tend thus to build up one common country with a united people— one which will not everJje attacked with irufuuity. Of those gentlemen who have won the two foremost prizes, it is especially noticeable that the rewards are one to them for that especial trainiug and discipline which is so necessary to ensure success iv any pursuit. We can believe in this— we can see that if the same spirit animates all the volunteers of New Zealand in the future, by training aud by attention to discipline, and not by accident, each can aspira to the reward of being ranked amongst the foremost marksmen of the country. Mrs. Stafford, saying that she esteemed it a. great privilege to have the opportunity of doing so, then presented the prizes to each of the successful competitors present, and handed that to which Private Benton was entitled to Captain Clelaod, H.R.V., who undertook to baud it over to the winner of it. The volunteers and all present gave three cheers for the victors, aud three for Mrs. Stafford, and then separated. THE DINNER. The officers of the militia aod volunteers of this province had issued invitations to all the competitor to a diuner on Monday evening, and had asked guests to the number of about sixty to meet them. It had been at first arranged to hold the dinner in the Odd Fellows' Hall, but the programme was afterwards changed, and it was given at the Empire Hotel. Mr. C. Russell presided at the piano, aud played some excellent music during the evening, Captain Ludlam, H.R.V., occupied the chair, and Captain Kirwan and Mr. Hunter acted as vicechairmen. On the right of the chairman sat Mr. Christie, the winner of the Champion Belt, and next to him Mr. Justice Johnston ; while on the left sat Mr. Stafford and the Rev. Mr. Stock. Amongst the other guests present were Mr. Paterson, Colonel Haultaiu, Colonel Russell, Maj<>r Grey, A.D.C. ; Major Cargill, Captain Holfc, Captain Mills, Captain Cleland, Captain Wlutewood ; Mes3is. Ledger, Bethune, G. Mooro, Buckley, Pharazyn, Hunter, Pearce, Vennell, DransfieJd, R Hart, Borlase, &c, <fee, and aijifrthe other successful candidates. W After the usual loyal toast*, The Chairman again called upon the guests to fill their glasses. 'J he toast he had to propose was the fourth on the list, "The Health of his Excellency's Ministers." He was happy to see them guests that evening, and was delighted to see thfn throw off the cares of state for a time, and joiu the festive board. (Hear, he.ir.) One of those gentlemen — his hon. friend Mr. Stafford —might be considered what was called au "old stager" in the political worldof New Zealand, having h*d the hoiiQur of being the head of the oldest-lived Ministry, not only ii New Zealand, butinanyof the neighbouring colonies. (Hear, hear.) Another old friend of his, Colonel Russell, was certainly not a stranger amongst them, for most of them would remember his arrival with a small detachment of soldiers, at the time when they were fiyhting with the chief Roj % eri, and how he garrisoned the Hutfc stockade. He would say of these old friends that he trusted they would ever remain old friends, and of their new friends, Colonel Haultain and Mr. Patenon, he trusted they would become old frienda. He trusted that they would do all honour to these gantlemen., who had been chosen by the creme v de la crfeme to govern fcbe country, in doing which he hoped they would be successful in bringing it out of its difficulties. v The toast was received with loud cheers. Music — " Let us be happy together." Mr. Stafford, who was received with loud applause, returned thanks, and said that he had often had to return thanks, and had often to make speeches, but he must say he had never done either with greater pleasure than on the present occasion ; both from the pleasant manner in which his old friend thift chairman had proposed it, and from the kind manner in which it had been received. He conld not help remembering how he had met his friend the chairman on the occasion of the attack upon the Hutt, just twenty years ago. He could recollect riding up with Colonel Wakefield on a dark misty morning, *ud finding Mr. Ludlam, Mr. Riddiford, and other settlers who had turned out, carrying with them spare arms for those they met, one of which Mr. Ludlam offered to him. They had turned out, hardly knowing what the danger was or where "it waß coming from, but knowing that it was th"c duty of Englishm«u to be at their post in the time of danger. (Hear, hear.) He could not help feeling pleased, «lio, at the alhisiou that had bjepn made to his present position ; but he felt a skgdder afc fche allusion to his previous tenure of

office for livo yeai'd. He hop jd his fiiend did nob expect him to retain office for live yeais to come — that was something too much to expect in tho present state of the country. Tha amount of drudgery and toil in the work to be done did not certainly make it a cheerful prospjct to contemplate having to undertake it for such a period. It was, however, a pleasure to him to find himself there that evening, for if there could be one public meeting more than another where party feeling was put aside, it was one like that. He looked upon the health of the Government on this occasion as a mere foimal toast, for every Government must now sustain the spirit of self-reliance that had become the will of the people. Their will was that we should lely upon ourselves, and encourage our young men tj "tiain themselves bo that they could defend themselves. No Government could despise that feeling, aud theiefore the i health of the Government was a mere matter of form, »s being mertly the machinery that gave effect to the. p. in ci pie. At the same, he defied any Government to feel a stronger enthusiasm in the Volunteer forces than the present one did. ( Hear, hear.) As regarled tho champion prize shot for, he might say that he himself had ordered that belt from England some tive or b'ix years ago, thinkiug thataome such badge would be honourably contended for and won, and ho was happy to see it considered such a incut to bear it. (Hear, hear. He believed that the champion would feel no inconsiderable elation when he went back and showed it to his frieud?, and could say that he did not go up to Wellington for nothing, but that it was the result of his visit and of his assiduous labour and training. The champion deserved his belt, aud the gentleman who had won the second prize also deserved his prize, for the great labour and discipline they had undergone to obtain them— they hid ob tuinecl superior excellence from superior application. He trusted that the result of this first competition would be to cav e more application throughout all districts. He must also say that great credit w.-.s due to Major Cargill, the coinm.audi.ttg officer of the Otago men, who had shepherded them so carefully through their practice, and had even come up here with them and shepherded them to the last, taking care that there should not be any casual pipe or pot of beer to spoil the shooting, (Hear, hear, and laughter.) He hoped all the districts would take example from the fact that those who had almost at the very last moment taken to the volunteer movement had arrived at the very head of the shooting power of the colony. It would* be a very necessary stimulant to other parts, and he hoped that uext year they would hwe a closer competition and lrgher score*, when arrangements ou the gcound winch might Iwwe been wanting on this occasiou would be made. As \ long as he aud his colleagues were in office they would carry out what they believed to be the spirit of the country by promoting self reliance, and he trusted that those who came after them would find it necessary to follow in the same course. ( Loud applause.) He»again begged to thank them for himself nnd his colleagues. The Chilß&ian next proposed "The Army and Navy." Major Gray, A.D.C., returned thanks on behalf of the army and navy. Mr. Justice Johnston then rose to propose the toast of the evening, aud said that the committee who had called them together for this pleasaut and appropiiate social enjoyment had done him the honour of entrusting this toast to him, aud he had some difficulty in understanding at first how it was that he had become the possessor of io distinguished a privilege, but he has just heard the reason of it. He saw mound liim a large number of gentlemen, who were more or less directly interested in the proceedings of the day, and he saw among the hosts cf the evening gentlemen who were themselves members of volunteer corps, and other gentlemen who, like the Prime Minister, had been actively eugaged in offering the prizes to the successful competitors ; and others, agaiu, who were competitor themselves from other places, or connected either officially with the administration of Government, or with the volunteer movement ; aud tlm may have suggested the idea that possibly one like himself, unconnected with any of these, and yet being a citizen aud colonist of New Zealand, having active employment in other resnscfcs, might still be considered the most impartial aud fair person to represent the general feeling of the colony on the occasion. (Hear, hear.) Accepting, therefore, the honour aud privilege in this sense, he might be permitted to make a few more observations tuan he would otherwise^have done had he taken a more prominent part in that which caused the celebration of the evening. They had heard the health of thair gracious Sovereign drunk with 1 vigorous applause. They had responded enthusiastically to the health of her son ; they had further recalled that they were loyal subjects by responding to the toast of the Queen's representative ; they had received with enthusiastic applause the health of the constitutional Government, and they had done due honour to both branches of her Majesty's Imperial forces, and they should not forget while they lived what had been dove by her Majesty's colonial forces. It did not, however, fall to him to propose their health ; but it was his privilege to ask them to drink to the health of his friend on the left, who had obtained the champion belt, and to associate with him the competitor from other parts. (Hear, hear.) It was presumptuous in him to enter into any kind of abstract ob&ervatious on this interesting subject ; but they would perhaps bear with him, if he brought out some suggestions which had come to him since he sa.v that distribution of prizes. (Hear, hear.) He found it a matter so full, so pregnant, both in its historical, its national, aud its social aspects, that to do itauythiughkecredit, heshouldhave been obliged to retire for some considerable time to refresh his memory with facts, and rise thoughtful on the subject, for it was to his mind anything but a trivial or ordinary matter, it went to the very heart *nd soul of a community, and especially of a young community, full of lofty hopes and aspiratious. (Hear, hear.) Whatever their spheres in life might be, whether public or private, they might all feel a pride in cooperating together to do that which would form heteafter one of the noblest chapters in the history of the world, aud laying to the best of their power that which would form a part of the foundations of a great empire. (Apnlause.) The volunteer movement in England would in a future period of the world's history be looked upon as one of the most remaikable and creditable chapters in the history of civilization. (Hear, hear.) If it were not presumptuous in him to &ay so, he would say that he thought the voluuteer movement iv England had worked for the regeneration of the English people. They had worked out a great problem of reform— he did nor speak politically, but as a critic of history — and had airived at a period when they would no longer depend upon armies, but upon the stout hearts and stalwart arms of the great mass of the community j and if that were so in lingl.md, w'.y should it] not be tiue of this country atao ? War had long ago been discovered to be not only cruel and wrong, but a bad speculation aud a mistake, and tliab peac j could only be secured by making every man able to defend his own hearth and offspring. (Hear, hear.) If they had discovered this Jaw operating throughout the whole of Europe at the present moment how much stronger were the reasons far it hero, iv this young colony ! One great duty was to take care that each mau of us had to the best of his ability the power to defend the institutions of the country. (Applause ) The competition for prizes was a noble one, and one to which he would beonly too happy to contribute his small quota, for this volunteer movement, did more than jnake good shots, these rifle meetings worked other good, and. they were called ou now to drink the health of one who had displayed a power of abstinence, a clear eye, a cool head, as well as a good Bhot. (Hear, hear) It was what he might describe as the art of precision, and was an art which ought most especially to be cultivated. The occasiou of their meeting there that evening was one of the signs of the prosperity of the colony j thei c were other signs of that prosperity ; bnt thi3 was one of the most important. The principle of self-reliance must be the rule of this colony hereafter ; he cared not whether it was a cry between one party and another. His position in public was rather connected with the education of the people than other matter g ( and he considered this as one of the most effectual means that could be used for that education, which touched men not as that vulgar error, that miscalled independence, which said that every man was as good as his neigh- | bour, but which made man feel before his fellowman a trust iv himself, and a power of sacrificing j himself for the publ'C good. (Applause.) He was not altogether sorry that Wellington had not won this match, for he was very glad to see the fwpndly feel? ing towards other localities displayed that had been shown that evening. J 1 c had seen and read in news* papers of provincial jealousies and such things, wher **hey shculd only consider themselves as united colonists, and he was, therefore, not sorry at the Wellington competitors not being the first in the contesb. He would now only ask them to join him most heartily and sincerely in drinking the health of Mr. Christie, and the other successful competitors., and those, too, who, though defeated, hud shown » fair spirit in the contest. " The toast was received with repeated plaudits. Mr. Christie, whose rising was the signal for renewed applause, returned thanks for the cordial manner in which their healths had been drunk,

and lie was sure that the other competitors would join ,hhn in raying that they would long remember their visit to Wellington, and the reception they got there. He only hoped that whoever won the champion belt uexfc year would win it with a better sco>"e ; and as Otago had had the honour of carrying it off this year, he trusted she would keep it for years to come. (Cheers and laughter.) Again lie begged to thank them on his own behalf, and on that of the other competitors, for the honour they had done them.