CAMBRIDGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume IV, Issue 1189, 5 September 1867, Page 4

CAMBRIDGE

(FROM OT7B OWN COKBKSrONI>ENX.) . September 2. The riflo match betweon the Aucklaud Volunteers and the Cambridge .Riflo Club took place 011 lhursdav last. 'Xhe weather was ver-y unfavourable, being wet and stormy; and had it not been for the awkward circumstance of each psrty firing 011 its own ground, and the consequent impracticability of making any change 111 the arrangements at the last moment, the match would, no doubt, havo been postponed. At the request of the Auckland men, Capt. Clare attended at the butts'to watch over their interests, and the same friendly office wob performed on behalf of the Cambridge team by Major Tighe in Auckland, it having been agreed to set aside that part of tho original programme by which each club was to havo been represented on its opponents' ground by. a delegate chosen from itself. Immediately after the conclusion of the firing here, tho rosult was communicatod by telegraph to Major Tighe. Tho following.is the score : — Return" of Scoring at ' r§ r§ r§ : Names. | O ' O <=> -g C"> - • O - <=> eo pts. pts. pts. pts. Hamlin ..IS 5 14 37 • McGuire .. 18 12 9 39 Forbes. • ;, ,15 11 16 42 O'Sullivan ..14 14 11 39 Woods.. .. 11 7 7 25 Turner.. . .. 14 10 .0 24 Loveday' ... 13 10 ,3 26 Short V." '.. 11 10 , 9 30 Schofiold ..IS 16 11 45 STpedding ' .. 14 H .31 • * 146 106 86 33S Scorers—Dr. {Sam, and Mr. Bewail. Harkerj—• Mr. AC Johnstone and Mr. J. Mawson. Umpire— Mr.'Collins. This shows art average of 83 4-6ths, which seems to have been exactly I-sth less than that of the Auckland team, whose total, as by telegram from Major Tighe on Friday morning, was 340 points. _ * It was. somewhat amusing to see the excitement which prevailed among our riflemen hero when the arrival of Major Tighe's telegram was announced. Indeed the zeal which they have always displayed in the matter of rifle practice is in the highest degr 30 commendable and gratifying. Expertness in the usa of firearms is felt by us, situated as wo are on the extreme frontier of New Zealand civilization, "with a hostile people almost at our doors, to be not merely a question of physical education but one of self-defence. Not that we have any reason to apprehend dangor at present, hut of coarse we feel the wisdom of being

" ready, aje ready for, in our case, to bo unprepared for an attack would be to court it. It is evidently the intention of Government to leavo us to defend ourselves, and we understand and accept our position in this respect. The garrison maintained here is far too email for the purpose of actual defence, and its chief use is to serve as a local police in time of peace, and as a nucleus and rallying point in the event of an invasion. Such an institution, therefore, ag the Cambridge Frontier Kiflo Club may he looked upon as somewhat more than a desideratum. It is necessary, and it is to be hoped that our Defence Minister will see the matter in this light, and accede to the request of the above mentioned club to be allowed to purohaso ammunition from the commissariat, at cost prioe. .Looking back on the laudable eflorts the Government have made to encourage rifle practice throughout the colony, one can hardly doubt that this request will be complied with. Wo shall not, however, conaidor this institution of ours to havo fully attained iti object, so long as it continues to maintain «n exclusively local character. Wo look forward to the time when it shall be merged into a Waikato Rifle -Association , nor shall it be our fault if that time should not be so near as is desirable.

There was a very full meeting of our Kifle Club, on Saturday evening last, for the purpose of making arrangements for a return match, with the Auckland Volunteers. Tho Chairman, Mr. Newall, after remarking on the smallness of the majority of the Auckland score over that of our own men in the late match, and impressing upon us the necessity of submitting philosophically to our by no means disgraceful defeat, proceeded to state the main objects'of the meeting, which, lie said, were to settle the question of our right to demand a return match, and to name the day for it. This having been determined in the affirmative, and the 14'h proximo fixed on as the day of the match, the Chairman announced that the patron of the clab (Captain Clare) had given a donation of £5 to the funds of the club.

Mr. Andrew" Bobinson, a newly elected member, stood tip and signified his intention of subscribing the remaining £6 necessary to complete the amou nt of the prize • for the forthcoming match, whereupon Mr. Robert Kirkwood, not to be outdone in generosity, promised an additional £5, which he said " should "bo available for the club whenever it was wanted, it having been announced that the funds in hand were sufficient for the present purpose. The election of three new members, and the passing of a vote of thanks to the marker, scorer, and bugler, at tho late match, as well as to the officers of the club, completed the business of the evening. Intelligence has been received of the death' of tho chief Te Oriori, which took place on Friday last at Maungatautari.