COLONIAL PRIZE- FIRING.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4237, 14 March 1871, Page 3

COLONIAL PRIZE- FIRING.

The firing for the Government prizes was continued yesterday at One-tree Hill. Throughout the day a pretty steady breeze ■was blowing from the N.E., but as the firing ■was at the short range 3 it had very little effect. The officers present were Colonel Haiington, Major Goidon, Major Tisdall, Major Cooper, Captain Derrom, Captain Carey, Lieutenant Snell ; and at the butts v ere Lieutenants Thomson and McConnell, and Ensigns Mclntyie and Kelly. Dr. Goldslno' was the medical officer present. There was a very fair attendance oi visitors, and more interest was displayed in the firing than has been hitheilo shown, which was probably owing to the fact that only one more set of prizes has to be lived for befoic the champion will bo declaivd. The lapidity firing (7th set) occupied the whole of the day, as there were only five men in each squad. The fii ing vi as at 200 and 300 yards. The target was Gx 4 feet ; centre, 3x2 feet ; and bull's-eye, 18 x 12 inches. Each competitor was to fire as many shots as he could at each ian;,e in five minutes in any position. Ncaily all the men preferred the lying down position, loading on the knee ; and the best shooting was made by those who adopted that style. The ammunition was placed in readiness on the ground, and every conceivable contiivance adopted to ensure rapid shooting. One man (Welch) went so far as to paitly tear the top of his entridge, and thus gol rid of the difficulty which there always is in loading in this respect ; but he was objected to by one of the other competitors, and compelled to lire with the cartridges in their pi opcr state. The lushest number ot shots Ihed in the five minutes was 24, by Buchanan, at the 20J yards lange, wheic he scoied 89 points ; but few of the men could discharge effectively more than 17 or 19 shots, which is \uiy lapid shooting indeed. Befoie the iii ing commenced yesterday Chu&tie, oi Ol<i«o, stood hid on the list for the championship, W ikon second, andGoldie, Wood, and Douglas thud, lleid, who had always maintained a prominent position, but who fell oil in the Gth set, was about eighth. As each of these men finished filing yesterday their targets wcic eagprly scanned, and the mimbei of points quickly reckoned by tho^e who considered tliey had any chauce ot winning. G oldie was the Hist to fall oiF, mi-- sing a few shots at the 300 yaids range. Wilson made a vc y good score at 200 yards; but atoOO, although ho fired 19 shots, he missed three or four, and at the conclusion he was third or fouith on the list for the championship. Wood fired veiy badly at bjth langcs, only scoring 89, and may be considciod as having lost all chance. Reid made some very steady and accurate shooting at Loth langes, and, until the two las,t squads had fired, was at the head of the h<-t with 315. Chi is tie wa& in one of the last squads, and .it !il)0 -yards had 47 to tie Reid. It was confidently expected by e\eiybody lhathe would -,001 c t' c number easily, and have pointd to spr.ie; but ho also mi .sod thicc oi four shotb, which placed him 7 points behind Iteid, In the last squad, Captain Wales, of Otago,who had hitheito not shown very prominently on the list, made some splendid shooting, and finished with Mb' points at both ranges, w Inch carried him two points ahead of llcid. We again append the total a«o legate scores for the championship, from which it will be seen how each man stands. I here is only one more set to decide the matter, and speculation is beginning to run very high as to the lcsuit. Under any circumstances thcie is little doubt that the belt will go to Otago, as the first seven or eight men on the list are fiom that province. We understand that the Thames Rifle Association has invited 10 of the Southern i epresentatives to a friendly contest at Taiaru with an equal number of Thames riflemen. A rrau elements will be made to convey the competitors to and from the Thames without charge. It is proposed to shoot at (300, 700, and SOO yards, five shots at each range, any position, with one sighting shot at each range. The members of the Association a\e to entertain the Southerners at the Pacific Hotel in the evening. While speaking of the Thames, we might mention, withiegard to the offer generously made by the proprietors of the 'Golden Crown' to convey the Southern Volunteers to the Thames on the day previous to the commencement of the matches, that they thoroughly appreciate the kindness of the proptiebors of the 'Golden Crown/ and would have gladly availed themselves of it but that they were afraid the effects of the tup would interfere with their shooting. They altogether express themselves highlj giatified with, the manner in which they have been treated while in Auckland. The following is the result of the firing for the rapidity prizes : Seventh Set of Prizes — For Rapidity. — Ranges, 200 and 300 yards; time, five minutes at each range, to commence at first shot, as in the Bth set ; competitors to come loaded, but not capped, to the firing point ; rifle — Government long or medium Enfield ; no assistance whatever permitted. One point for every hit will be added to the competitor's score. Ties to be fired off in the same manner as the match, at such time as the officer commanding may direct. Ist prize, £10 ; 2nd prize, £9 ; 3rd prize, £8 ; 4th prize, £7 j sth prize, £0.

Oh, what shall 1 do, dear, in the coming years, I wonder, when our paths, which lie so sweetly near, shall lie so far asunder ? Oh, what shall I do, clear, through all the sad to-morrows, when the sunny smile has ceased to cheer, that smiles away my sorrows? What shall I do, my fiiencl, when you are goue for ever ? My heart its eager need will send through the years to find you never. And how will it be with you, in the weary world, I wonder ? Will you love me with a love as true, when our paths lie far asunder ? A. sweeter, sadder thing, my life for having known you ; for ever with my sacred kin my soul's soul I must own you. For ever mine, my friend, from June to life's December : not mine to have or hold, but to pray for and remember. The way is short,, oh friend, tnat reaches out before us ;» God's tender heavens above us bend, hia love is smiling o'er us. A little while is ours for sorrow or for laughter : I'll lay the hand you love in yours Wtho shore of the hereafter* How lone does a, -wulqy? m«wn? !ta *

Buchanan, Otago . . 156 Chicken, Napier . . 98 Wales, Otago . . 14(5 Douglas, Ota^o . . 07 Reid, Ot.igo . . 135 Buchanan, Taranaki 06 Taylor, Otago .. 133 Thomson, Southland 93 Stevens, Wellington.. 130 McKenzie, Raugitikei 0? Itenouf, Napier . 125 Bai nett, Auckland . . 90 Uoldie, Otago . . 121 Anderson, Auckland 90 Greer, Wellington .. 121 Wood, Wellington .. 89 Chamberlain,AVestlandll9 Mclntosh, Auckland 89 Moirow, Auckland .. 118 Martella,3Jar] borough 83 Craiggie, Southland.. 118 Milne, Wellington .. 83 Cummins, Whanganui 11G Welch, Wellington .. 84 Wilson, Otapo .. 115 Leary, Mavlborough 80 Christie, Otago .. 112 Gallery, Auckland .. 79 ft), ay, Wellington „112 Sundford, Canterbury 76 Adam.Ota^o „ 112 Bell, Auckland .. 75 Allen, Tauranga .. 110 Stonebridge,Westland 74 Onnningham.Waikato 109 Coyle, Auckland . . 71 Melbop, Auckland . . 106 Lloyd, Whanganui . . 6'fi Guy, Mavlborough .. 105 Howe, Auckland .. 66 McKenzie, Otago ..102 Bi own, Southland .. 55 Keeffe, Auckland ..101 Tomlinson, Nelson .. 50 tten ton, Wellington .. 100 Kent, Nelson .. 27

Aggregate for Championship. Wales, o ta«o .. .. 317 Cummins. Whanganui 247 "Reid, Otngo ..315 Allen, Tauranga ..240 Christie, Otago ..312 Chicken, Napier ..241 Tnylor, Otaeo . . 312 Mclntosh, Auckland 242 Buchanan, Otago „ 309 Benton, Wellington .. 240 Goldio, Otago . . 308 Itowe, Auckland . . 239 Wilson, Otago . . 304 Martella.Marlborougb. 239 Craiggie, Southland . . 300 riandford, Canterbury 230 Chamlicrlain,Westland297 Welch, Wellington .. 23t Renouf. Napier . . 203 Thomson, Southland 230 Gieer, Wellington „ 292 Stevens,Wellington , . 229 Douglas, Otngo .. 284 Tomlhtton.Nolson „ 225 McKenzio, Otago .. 280 Bell, Auckland .. 219 Guy, Mailborough . . 277 Gallery, Auckland . . 217 Wood, Wellington ..276 Ande>son, Auckland 215 Adam, OtagO . . 275 McKenzie, Bangitikei 214 Morrow, Auckland . . 274 Cunninghara.Waikato 212 Gray, Wellington .. 270 Stonebridge,Wflstlan<l2ll Milne, Wellington .. 2f19 Coy)e, A uokland .. 216 Mellsop, Auckland .. 258 Kepffft, Aucklnud .. 201 Barnett, Auckland . . 252 Lloyd, Wlmngnnui „ 191 Buchanan, Taranaki 248 Brown, Southland „ 132 Leary,Marlborough.. 248 Kent, Nelson „115

The winners are — Buchanan, Ist prize ; Wales, fend; Reid, 3rd; Taylor, 4th; Stevens, sth.