COLONIAL PRIZE-FIRING.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4235, 11 March 1871, Page 3

COLONIAL PRIZE-FIRING.

The firing for the General Governmen prizes was continued yesterday. The weathe was even more favourable than either of th< two previous days, and the marksmen wh made bad shooting could not by any possi bilifcy attribute it to peculiarities iv the light wind, &c. The attendance of visitors wa very much larger than on previous occasions which was no doubt owing to the announce ment that the Volunteer band woul< perform during the day, and to the fact tha the Government offices were closec in the afternoon. From the intercs displayed in the proceedings by those (.resent who expressed surpiise at the enjoy menl •which was to he obtained both from watching the shooting and strolling about the ground, admiring the surrounding scenery, there if no doubt that div ing the remaining days ol the meeting the range will be laigely visited. It is such a rare thing for the people oi Auckland to witness a rifle match on anything like a large scale that they really have no conception how interesting a thing it is ; and we have not the slightest doubt that most of those who were present yesterday will put in an appearance to-day. We are "glad to see that a large number of ladies encouraged and gratified the competitors by their presence. Among those present wo noticed the Hon. D. McLean, Colonel St. John, and Major Heaphy. The officers in charge of the squads were Major Goidon, Major Tiadall, Major Cooper (Thames), and Captain Batgcr. Dr. Hooper was again in attendance as medical off cor. Lieutenant Snell, Adjutant of the Cavalry Voluntecis in Auckland, •was on the ground, and was conspicuous for his exer tions in assisting to carry out the | geneial arrangements of the day. The band arrived on the ground about one o'clock, and, under the leadei&bip of Bandmaster McComish, discoursed most eloquent music throughout the afternoon. Troopeis McLean and "Wilson, of the Auckland Cavaliy, kindly rondcied their sei vices as ordciUc. Lieutenant Runciman, Lieutenant Bums, Licntenaut Poley, and Ensign Batley weic in chaige at the butts. The shooting was even better yesterday than on either of the previous days. Two matches were completed—the sth set at 300, 400, and 500 yards, 5 shots at each range, Gx (5 target, and 2ft. bull's-eye, prizes 151 10s. ; and the 2nd set of the Cadet piizes. In the former, Clni&tie, of Otago, headed the list Avilh 51, Guy 2nd, Milno 3id, Mellsop 4th, and O'Leary sth. This is only the second match in which an Auckland man has won a pi up and the shooting of its rcpreseutath e, Meiisop, "was very goo A indeed. He scoied his five bull'seyes at 300 yauls, and at the end of the fust ten shot 3 had made 37 out of a possible 40. He made a miss, however, at the L;st range, from s>oma unaccountable cau&e, and had to be satisfied with the fouith place, although his scoic w.is the same as Milne, "who look the thud prize. IVionow, of Auckland, in the same match tiled well, scoung 45 Gi eat interest v. as manifested by the spectators in the cadets' match, and some cuno&ity existed as to ho %v they would get on. The youths are armed with the medium ntie, which it. undoubtedly too long and too heavy for them, although it did not appear &o fiom the result of their shooting. At 200 yards, bull'&-eye followed bulls-eye, and scaicelya miss was recorded. One of the joung&tcrs, hardly as tall as his vile, made I~> points at 200 yards ; and on &coi ing a bull's-eye a\ as checied by the astonished spect.itois. Many of the Auckland people on tho ground rcmaiked that it was no wonder the Southern men weie such gooJ shots, considering that they received such an early training; but the same thing is possible in Auckland, and before long we hope to see a Cadeo Coips formed and properly instiucted here. AH the other provinces have them, and there is no lea&ou why Aye should not. The Cadets have two moie sets to fire for, and will fire again to-day. A nairow escape from an accident occurred Avhile the filing Avas going on in the early part of the day. It appeals that Lieutenant Burns, Avho Avas in No. 3 butt, misunderstood some orders Avith regaid to the filing, and, under the impression that ties were being fired off at No. 1 tax-get, left the butt Avithout the danger Hag, and stood almost in fiont of the target with his book in his hand. A shot was fired Avhieh stinck the target only a feAV inches from Lieutenant Burns's hand, and the splints from the bullet l uldled tho hook, ai.d hit the lieutenant in the face, but foitunately Avithout doing much injury. This Avill be a warning to markers not to leave their butt under any circumstance without first showing the danger-flag. During the day the tlnee men — Adam, Goldie, and lleid — Avho had tied in the fourth set on the previous day, fired off at 600 yards for fourth and fifth plac^. In the first round Goldie and Reid both missed, and Adams scored a centre, which secured him the 4th prize. G oldie and Reid then fh ed off for fifth place ; the former made a bull's-eye, and the latter a centre. Lady BoAven visits the range to- day, and the Baud will again he in attendance. The firing for the 6th set will be commenced between 9 and 10 o'clock ; and as the prizes amount to no less than £123, it is naturally possessed of more interest than any of the others. As there aie 21 shots to be fired by each man besides a trial shot, it will piobably last until the close of the day. The following is the result of yesterday's shooting :— Fifth Set of Prizes.— Ranges, 300, 400, and 500 yards. Five shots at each range. Maximum points, CO. No prize will be given for a less score than 40 points. Position at 300 yards, kneeling; 400 and 500 yards, any. Ist prize, £10 ; 2nd prize, £9 ; 3rd prize, £S ; 4th prize, £7 ; 3th prize, £6.

The winners were— Christie, Ist prize ; Guy, 2nd ; Milne, 3rd ; Mellsop, 4th ; and Leary, sth. Milne and Mellsop, it will be noticed, each scored 48 ; but, as the former made the highest number of points at the longest range, he was, according to the_ regulations, entitled to the 3rd place. The Cadets then fired for the 2nd Set:— Cadets over 14 years of age. Ranges, 200 yards and 300 yaTds. Five shots at each I range. Position, any. Target* same Uia

Ist Set. Ist prize, £5; 2nd prize, £3; 3rd prize, £2 ; 4th prize, £1 10s. ; sth prize, £1.

It was past five o'clock when the Cadets finished, and it was wisely decided to postpone the firing for the 6th set of prizes, which is an important one, until this morning. There was no delay in getting the traps in readiness, and the cavalcade, preceded by the band playing lively airs, drove into town, passing through Qneon-streot and lip Short - laud Crescent to the Drill-shed.

300} ds. 400 yds. 500 yd&. Tl Christie, Otago ... 44333 42344 42443 51 Guy, Marlborough ... 34344 24423 24434 50 Milne, Wellington ... 33043 34434 02443 4S Mellsop, Auckland! .. 44444 24344 34022 48 Leary, Marlborough 23332 33444 33343 47 Sandford, Canterbury 23433 34434 04343 47 Chamberlain, Wstlnd. 23433 42444 22433 47 Adam, Otago ... 44344 04344 23014 47 Goldie, Otago ... 34434 34423 23223 46 Wilson, Otago ... 44444 33330 33323 46 McKenzie, Otago ... 33333 22443 33424 46 Taylor, Otago ... 23443 24404 33343 46 Morrow, Auckland... 34444 33234 03422 45 Wood, Wellington . 44444 23323 22332 45 Buchanan, Taranaki 44331 34323 33230 44 Greer, Wellington ... 34242 24333 24332 44 Craiggie outhland 33323 44433 04332 44 Douglas, Otago ... 44440 33424 23034 44 Cummins, Wellington 23443 43234 32024 43 Rowe, Auckland ... 24343 23334 20433 43 Buchanan, Ofcago ... 23323 43223 22434 43 Chicken, Napier . . 33344 43404 24230 43 Martella, Marlbgh. .. 33343 43423 22303 42 Reid, Ofcago 43442 24303 23332 42 Reiiouf, Napier ... 44344 32233 22023 41 Tomlinson, Nelson ... 30323 44333 03442 41 Welch, Wellington... 24323 42223 03442 41 Stonebridge.Westland 24344 40233 33033 41 Barnett, Auckland ... 43343 03344 40203 40 Benton, Wellington... 34243 23230 33044 40 Wales, Otago ... 34234 34324 30320 40 Thomson, Southland 44423 03332 32402 39 Gray, Wellington ... 30423 24433 03224 39 Mclntosb, Auckland 34234 32330 23^34 39 McKenzie, Wellington 32323 34423 02233 39 Bell, Auckland ... 33323 43243 23300 38 Coyle, Auckland ... 33443 22244 20230 38 Allen, Auckland ... 42433 02202 00323 30 Stevens, Wellington 40043 42232 00033 30 Brown, Southland .. 23440 23232 02002 29 "Keeffe, Auckland ... 43323 03003 33000 27 Gallery, Auckland ... 24243 32000 00320 25 Anderson, Auckland 03342 03303 20020 25 Lloyd, Wellington ... 32324 02333 00000 23 Cunninghaan.Acklnd. 22234 02302 00032 25 Kent, Napier ... 02303 20000 20020 14

200 yds. Cony, Christchurch ... 34443 Wood, Wellington ... 43344 Chuck, Maryborough ... 44344 Paxton, Christchurch... 34422 C. Beid, Otago 33233 McCartney, Otago ... 24332 Brandon, Wellington... 24243 Godber, Wellington ... 42343 McKay, Otago 43332 Adams, Nelson ... 43433 Taiue, Ofcago 24234 Greenwood, Wellington 44422 R. Reid, Otago ... 33222 Watts, Nelson 03224 Miles, Canterbury ... 22223 Martin, Ofcago 00002 300 yds. 22324 23322 04222 22432 23233 34330 40323 02432 40322 32022 20222 30202 32320 22222 20003 00000 Tl. 31 30 29 28 27 27 27 27 26 26 23 23 22 21 16 2