THE CHAMPION PRIZE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 297, 16 December 1868, Page 2

THE CHAMPION PRIZE.

The firing for the Prize Revolver offered by the Provincial Government to the Champion Shot of the Province, had not terminated when we went to press yestei> day. We are now enabled to give the score of the firing, in which 31 competitors took part, at 300, 400, and 500 yards' range, and from which it will be seen that Sergeant Catley was . victorious, after a most exciting contest with Sergeant Gaily. Sergeant Catley >.. ... 52 Sergeant Gully . . ... &£ Private Silcock ... ... 43 Private Wastney ... ... 44 Corporal Smith... ... ... 43 Fowler 43 Private Lynes 42 Corporal Gill ... 41 Private A. Hunter . . ... 41 Private J. A. Moore .*-. ... 41 Gunner Northam 41 Private Kent ... ... ... 41 Private S. H. Drew 40 Gunner Dobbs ' ... 40 Sergeant Laidley „ . ..» 36 Private Arnold ... ..> 35 Private Newth. 34 Sergeant-Major Aldborongh ... 34 Gunnes Blan<hett 33 Bombardier M'Gee 32 Gunner Taylor 31 Corporal G. Elliott 30 Gunner Bungate ... ... 29 Bombardier Mansenn 29 Ensign Rutherford ... ... 29 Ensign Sinclair ... ..". 28 Gunner Adams 28 Captain Slater ... , 27 Private Murfell ' ... ..; 25 Private Morrison 24 Bombardier A. M'Gee (Cadet) 18 Private. Barnett, of the City Artillery, arrived late on the ground, and. having only made 28 at the first two ranges, retired from the contest. As we have already stated, the shooting on this occasion was, generally speaking, particularity good; but the chief interest in the day's firing was concentrated on the

close contest which took place between Sergeants Catley and Gully at the termination of the competition. Gully had kept the lead throughout, and had made the remarkable score of 19 at the 300 and 400 yards -ranges respectively, thus making 38 out. of a possible 40, his nearest opponent, 'Catley, scoring 19 at 300 yards and 17 at 400. At the 500 yards range Catley, 'hairing made 4 bull's-eyes and a miss, scored 16 to Gully's 14, thus tyiug him for 52. Immense excitement prevailed *when the two rival shots fired off at 400 yards, and were again- ties ia five shots for 14 points. In the subsequent trial how. ever at 500 yards, Gully's first shot having proved a miss, placed the victory in the hands of Catley, who scored 13 to /Gully's 11. it should be mentioned that a heavy shower "was falling at the time which not only defaced the target, but also rendered its Very position almost undiscoverable. The championship, which for the last two .years has fallen to the Waimea Company, Private Kent having been the successful shotj now belongs to the City Voluuteer Rifles, to whom our hearty "congratulations are due.

The Governors of -Nelson College, at a meeting held yesterday afternoon, appointed Mr James Tomlioson to the Third Mastership of the College. There were several candidates for the appointment, but the high testimonials furnished by Mr Tomlinson, who was formerly of St Peter's School, York, and is at present Second Master of the Wanganui School, secured : for him the suffrages of the Governor. A little boy, named James, about '6 or *7 years old, met with a very painful accident about 2 p.m. today, whilst trying to mount a dray which was passing down •Hardy -street. The child's leg became entangled in the -spokes of the wheel, but fortunately the dray was stopped immediately, aad he was extricated from his -perilous position. We are glad to learn, on medical authority, that the injury sustained by the child is not of very serious character. Mr John Kerr, M.H.R., formerly of Nelson, has been re-elected member in the Auckland Provincial Council for fhe Pensioner Settlements. The Thames Advertiser of the 9th inst. says that on the previous day the Golden Crown Claim had deposited 1,7000zs of gold in the bank, being a portion of 3;50'0 ounces, the result of one month's crushing "at Souter's machine. The above occupied five head of stampers at this battery, hut we understand that 10 head will be set in motion to-day, with a view of clearing up the balance of quartz left in the paddock, preparatory to the erection of machinery of their own. The fortunate shareholders of this claim have received , dividends of £1,000 per man from the claim for the past month, with every prospect of a continuance of the same run of good for■tune. The trial of George Rogers, at the Auckland Assizes, for the murder of John Brambi Frazi at Shortland, on the 28th October last, resulted in his acquittal. The Bank of New Zealand, including the several branches and the agencies thereof throughout the colony, is appointed the bank within the meauing and for the purposes of the Courts of Law Trust Moneys Act, 1868. The haifryearly returns of the Bank of Australasia are published. The total liabilities of the bank within the colony amount to £173,551; and the total assets within the colony amount to £409,635.. A Gazette has been issued, which ■farther prorogues the meeting of the General Assembly from the 29th December until the 26th February, when both Houses are instructed to meet in Parliament, .at Wellington, to take into consideration the state and welfare of the colony. . A letter from Jerusalem states that the great vault of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is now covered with lead, and surmounted by a superb cross. As to •the "iuterior decorations, the works are progressing so Tapidly that it is hoped that/by flic end of October they will be completed.