COLONIAL RIFLE CONTEST AT DUNEDIN.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 3961, 3 May 1870, Page 7

COLONIAL RIFLE CONTEST AT DUNEDIN.

The first day's firing commenced on April 27. at 10.30. Tho weather was cold and wet, the ground being sodden with pow and rain, and showers of sleet and rain occurring at intervals. The Second event wa.9 not over till 5 o'clock. The lirsfc match was — Judging Distance Prizes : At such distances, not exceeding 600 yards, as may be appointed by the officer in command of the firing party ; 5 shots in the whole to be fired by each competitor, who will judge his own distance ; maximum points, 20 ; no piize to be given for a 1e39 score than 13 points, lafc prize, 19 ; 2nd prize, £8 ; 3rd prize, A 7. Ist, Hazard (Thames), 18 j 2nd, Wilson (Otago), 18 ; 3rd, Cameron (Christcliurch), 18. Highest Wellington score — Halse, 15. — 2nd Set of Prizes r A.t ™nges of 400, 500, and 600 yards ; 7 shots at each range ; maximum points, B<£ ; no prize to be given for a lesa score than 56 points. Ist prize, £40 and N.JR. A. silvQr medal; 2nd prize, £30 and silver medal ; 3rd prize, £20 and silver medal. Ist, Hazard (Thames), 44 ; 2nd, Wilson (Obago), 44; 3rd, Moore (Nelson), 43. Highest Wellington score — Halse, 41.

At ten o'clock on Tuesday, April 12, a detachmeut of the Naval Artiltillery Volunteers embarked on board the p.s. • Enterpris s No. I,' and proceeded to the North. Shore, taking with them two Armstrong six-pounder fieldpieces for the pur. pose of being inspected in the big gun practice. Afterwards the firing, both by shot and shell, 12 rounds eaoh, was remarkably good, The Wairoa Rifle Volunteers mustered for pai'ade on April 5, in Mr. Munros paddock, when about 59 men put in an appearance, and were put through a few evolutions by thair officers, by way of rubbing off the rusfc before the arrival of Colonel Haringfcon, Inspector of Volunteers for the colony, who was expected at 2 o'clock p.m. The Colonel, accompanied by Major Clave, arrived punctually, and put the men through a great many evolutions. The General Govei ¥ ura,enfc, inspection of our Volunteer forces was continued on April 13. The weather was very fine, and excellently suited for suoh examinations. The Otahuhu Troop of Royal Cavalry Volunteers mustered in good strength for parade, at noon. At the conclusion of the inspection of the Otahuhu Troop, Qpjonel Hanngton, accompanied h,y Major Tisdall, rode over to HowicU for the purpose of inspecting the volunteer cavalry of that district. I The members of the Thames Engineer Volunteers met on April 13, at the Butts, ShQrfcland, to compete for a handsome breechloading rifle, presented £or the purpose by Captain. Gwynnoth) the officer in command af the company. There were ten competitors, Che firing was at 300, 400, and 500 yards; 15 shots in all. The prize was borne off by Corporal Stephens with a score of 36. On April 18, afriendly rifle match took place in the neighbourhood of Otahuhu, between the members of the Auckland,, Howiok, and Otahuhu troops q£ Cavalry Volunteers. Tl\e, Qtahnhu corps carried away the first' prize of £20, the Howick troop the second of £7 10s M and Auckland has to be content with the third, of ■> % 10s, 'I here was 3 master of the Auckland Naval Volunteers on April 27, in the Drillshed, Fort Britomarfc. There were between 30 a<d 40 members present, under the command of the officers of the corps, viz., Captain Guilding, Lieutenants Le Eoy and Nathan, Paymaster Whibsou, Mr. Secretary Hampton, and Sergeant-major groughton. Om ApriJ 2.5,, a.t the drill-shed, the officers qf *he Auckland Royal Volunteer battalion met Lieutenant-Colonel Lyon, m order to take into consideration the present unsatisfactory state of the Volunteer movement in Auckland. At 5 o'clock a good muster C& commissioned aud non-commiqajaned officers were in attendance, Among the former class we observed Captain Derrom, of No. 5 Company ; Oapta n Howell, of No. 1 ; Captain Batger, of No. 6 ; Lieutenant Matthews, of No. 2 ; Lieutenant Thompson, of No. 5 ; Lieutenant Melntyre, of No. 1 ; with Ensigns Hattloy, No. 2 ; McCounell, No. 3 ; and Hassan, No. 4. After a couple of hours' talking over the affairs of the battalion, it wa3 at last resolved to hold a special general meeting of the battalion. This took place on April 28, when many suggestions were made for the improvement pf the oerps. Changes in thj OQmmands of districts are rumQured, It is said that Lieutenant-Colonel Lyon has proceeded to the Waikato, for the purpose of taking command there 5. and that Lieutenant-Cojqnel Manle js to, go to Tauranga. JJVtfcer, i% ia rumoured that Lieutenant-Colonel Harington will probably take charge of the Auckland district, and also act as Inspector of Voluntssrs throughout the colony We do not know whether these arrangements are to t>e considered as permanent ones. The following appointments to Auckland Volunteers are notified: — Henry Wyati Watling, M.R.C.S.E., L.S.A.L., to b« honorary 1 assistant - surgeon in the Naval Volunteers ; date of commission, March 9 Th6|-# flaijjn»tio^ , ojf JSujHgp. A>xsn,dei Butkr, Poverty Bay Militia, h« fee?! woepttd by tht Gov«rnor» ' >: