THE COLONIAL FIRING AT WANGANUI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4461, 1 March 1876, Page 3

THE COLONIAL FIRING AT WANGANUI.

WILLCOCKS (OTAGO) WINNER OF INFANTRY CHAMPION BELT. BELL (AUCKLAND) WINNER OP CARBINE CHAMPION BELT. WANGANUI, Tuesday. CAP.BIXE CHAMPIONSHIP. The Carbine representatives commenced firing their fifth match—at 500, 300, and 200 yards ranges, seven shots at each—this . morning. The competition at the 200 yards : range was held over till the afternoon. At the conclusion of the firing at the 500 and 300 yards ranges, the aggregates of the highest scorers stood as follows :— Bell, Auckland 2CO Bannister, Wellington IS7 Sherwood, A. C. IS7 Kingswell, Invercargill ISO Crowther, A.C 176 Mason, Weliiugton ... ... ... 175 McCredie, M'ellington 172 Cummins, Wnuganui 171 Stevens, Wellington IG9 Fox, Christcliurch IG9 Burnett, Christohurch IR9 Poelnitz, A.C. - IGS Henderson, Rangitiki 167 When the competition at the 200 yards range was finished, the result of the match t was declared to be : — Bell (Auckland), Ist prize, £7 02 Stevens (Wellington), 2nd prize, £5 ... 50 Cornet Barriball (Waiuku), 3rd prize, £4 56 Henderson (Rangitikei), 4th prize, £3 54 The range prizes were tnken: — At 200 yards, by Bell, of Auckland, with 24 points. At 300 yards, by Sherwood, of the A.C., with 21 points. And at 200 yards, by McCredie, of Wellington, with 22 points. This match finished the series of contests for the possession of the Carbine Champion ' Belt, which, this year, falls to Bell, of the Auckland Artillery, with the fine score of 218 points. The highest aggregate scores were as follow :— Bell (Champion), Auckland 21S Sherwood, A.C 206 Bannister, Wellington 200 Mason, Wellington 197 Crowther, A.C 195 McCredie, Wellington 194 Kingswell, luyercargill... ... ... 192 Stevens, Wellington 190 Fox, Christchurch 191) Cummins, Wanganui ... ... ... IS7 The aggregate prizes, therefore, fall to the following- candidates : — Bell, Auckland, Carbine Champion Belt (to be worn until the next competition), a gold and silver medal and £15. Sherwood, Armed Constabulary, £10. - Bannister, Wellington, £7. The champion will also be presented with tho weapon used by him in the competition. INFANTRY CHAMPIONSHIP. The firing of the 200 yards range in the fifth Infantry Match took place this after- ■ noon. The match finished with the following result: — Grossman (Nelson), Ist prize, £10 ... G7 Willcocks (Otago), 2nd prize, £9 ... 66 Crawford (Waiuku), 3rd prize, £8 ... 6G Thomas (Thames), 4fch prize, £7 ... 64 Blackie (Otago), sth prize, £6 64 King (Otogo), Gth prize, £4 .'.. ... G3 Capetick (Ofcago), 7tli prize, £3 ... 62 I'ayntor (Nelson), Sfch prize,£2 ... 61 The range prizes (£2 each) were taken : — At 600 yards, by Crossnian, of Nelson, with 22 points ; at 500 yards, by Elder, of fcho Armed Constabulary, with 26 points, and at 200 yards, by Thomas, of the Thames, with 25 points. The highest scores in the five matches are, therefore, as follow :— Willeocks (Champion), Otago 247 Armstrong, Thames ... ... ... 239 Blackie, Otago 239 Crossman, Nelson ... ... ... 237 Mann, Otago 236 Wilson, Otago 236 Crawford, Waiuku 236 The aggregate prizes are distributed thus :— Willcocks, Otago, the Eifle Champion Belt (to be worn until the next competition), gold medal, and £'13, and the rifle used by him during the competition. Armstrong, Thames, National Rifle Aβlociation's silver medal and £30. Blackie, Otago, gold and silver medal and £20. Grossman, Nelson, gold and silver medal xod £15. Mann, Otago, £10. Wilson, Otago, £5. SCORES OF AUCKLAND AND THAMES REPRESENTATIVES. The scores made by the Auckland and Thames representatives in the fifth match trere as follow :— COO 500 200 yils. yils. ytK TI. Thomas, Thames ... 20 Id 25 61 Morrow, Auckland... 12 25 23 GO Murray, Thames ... 15 19 21 55 Armstrong, Thames 15 20 IS 53 Brown, Thames ... 14 16 21 51 Gordon, Thamen ... 12 17 21 50 Fenton, Thames ... 17 10 18 45 Pagg, Thames ... 11 IS 16 45 Hioks, Thames ... 4 13 16 33 It will he seen from the above list that at 300 yards, in firing in a standing position, at an 8-inch bull's-eye, Seaman Thomas made the magnificent score of 25. Morrow also , made good shooting at 500 yards—2s out of ] i » possible 28. The aggregate scores of the above representatives were :— Armstrong, Thames (second place) ... 239 Morrow, Auckland ... 224 Thomas, Thames 224 "Murray, Thames 221 "■Fenton, Thames 216 • - Fagg,-Thames ... 19S Gordon, Thames 191 Brown, , Thames 185 Hicke, Thames 180

NEWMAREfET LrTER"ARY INSTITTTTB:-I-ast evening a to inaugurate the opening of -the new_Public_Hall. at Newmarket.. There was .a crowded .and fashionable audience. His Honor Sir George Grey, Superintendent of the province,- presided. The inauguration of this new Institute had been anticipated with some interest. The "new Hall" stands at the north end of the village near the Royal George Hotel;' It has been erected within a. short period of time. It i 3 66 feet long by 26 feet wide. The history of the local movement which culminated in the opening o£ thi3' building, is fully stated in the report of the Secretary, which will be found below. The site was given as there described, and the property vested by Act of the Provincial Council in the Superintendent (in trust), and in a local committee. The present committee are Messrs. F. G. Clayton (chairman), Jno. McNeil, F. Tait, ■ J. H. Witheford, and Jno. M. Coll. The Hall is well lighted and ventilated, the gas fittings being furnished by Mr. W. Marks. The contractor is Mr. Malcolm, and the work is well done. The Hall will hold from 250 to 300 persons seated. His Honor having taken the chair, the Secretary (Mr. Witheford) read the report, as follows :—" At a public meeting of the inhabitants of this district, held on the night of October 6, 1574, in the Presbyterian schoolroom, it was unanimously resolved to establish a literary institute, and snpply the long-felt want of a good library and reading-room; also to inaugurate a series of literary meetings for the instruction of the community. The Ven. Archdeacon Pritt was elected president; the late respected William V.attray, Esq., vice-president. The movement rapidly found favour in the eyes of the public, and upwards of one hundred members were enrolled. Mr! Afred Buckland started a library fund by the gift of ten sovereigns, and in a short time a good supply of books was obtained. His Lordship Bishop Cowie also shewed great interest-in the movement, and offered to snpply various periodicals to the reading-room on the same becoming fairly established. The general request being for the immediate opening of a library and* reading-room, an offer was made for the only available building in the district, but as no notice was taken of the 'offer, the committee decided to utilise the site granted by the General Government for the purpose of a Public Hall and Readingroom, the same being held'in trust by the Superintendent. On 'negotiations being opened concerning this site, the Superintendent stated that a bill would have to be passed through the Council before this institution could have control over the property, the said bill to be so drafted as to authorise the appointment of a committee of five, who should have the entire management of the property, and fix all fees and charges it should lie considerable desirable to make for the use of any buildings which might be erected. Through the kindness of Judge Gillies, the bill was prepared, and wa'j. shortly afterwards sanctioned by the Counci , . The want of a hall was a great hindrance to the progress of the Institute, and was also felt to be a great inconvenience by the people of the district. On the public being requested to contribute towards the erection of such a building there was a most liberal response. Many gentlemen living in the neighbourhood gave freely, and the working classes voluntarily assisted to the extent of their ability. Thanks are also due to the political gentlemen, from whom a large sum was obtained ; altogether £216 was promised, of which £200 has been received. The remaining £16 is considered safe, a3 the in tended donors are gentlemen of acknowledged standing in society. A list of the contributions will in due time be published. By the demand already made for the use of the hall, there is promise of it proving a great finaneial success. The entire property non* in the hands of the public of this district, including the ground and buildings, is worth at least £700. There is only £100 due on the whole, and this sum is, by the kindness of the lender,' allowed to remain, if wanted, for three years, but, in view of the fact that £200 ha 3 been raised in three months, it is likely that the managers will be able shortly to proclaim the property free of all claims upon it. In the meantime, they have to congratulate the public upon the success of the enterprise." His Honok, in. opening the proceedings, addressed the company, as follows : —Ladies and Gentlemen, —The committee have asked me to say a few words to you on the occasion of the opening of this Literary Institute. As a concert is to follow, my remarks must necessarily be brief. I shall begin by saying that I feel personally grateful to tho people of Newmarket, for the reception they gave to me on my arrival here from the South. I feel still more grateful to them for having asked me to bear a part in a social meeting of this kind, and allowing me to share jointly with themselves the pleasure of being present at the first opeuing of this Literary Institute. I assure you that you have entered upon an important and good work—a work avowedly to aid in providing instruction and amusement for some persons, and certainly of improving the minds of all. I thiuk it will bear good fruit. It is a small building at present, but yet suited to the circumstances of the time. I think those who follow us will look back with gratitude to those who founded this Literary Institute. I think also it will grow very rapidly to an institution of extensive usefulness. How rapidly things grow in New Zealand few have any conception. I recollect when in the whole of this neighbourhood only two or three cottages were to be "seen, and three or four huts in scattered positions.. I remember when land was, I might say, almost valueless in this neighbourhood. I remember pressing one person for whom I felt a very great regard, to purchase a block of land in the district, for I felt sure it would become in the course of time of great value. The price asked for it at that time was £2 an acre, which was then considered an unreasonable demand. From that period it has continued steadily to advance until it has become what we know it at present. And each year it will make further advances — each year will the value of this institution also be proportionately felt. The inauguration of it cannot fail to be regarded with great interest by all well-wishers of the district. I am here to share ■with you the pleasure of seeing the Institute opened, and I ean assure you that yon will always find me ready to aid in developing work of the kind upon which you have thus entered. (Cheers.) The concert commenced, of which the following is the programme. The several items were well rendered. Mr. Joseph Brown conducted:—Part I. : Andante and Final Symphony, Pathetique (Beethoven); part song, "German Fatherland;" song, Mr. Gradwell, "Charge of the Light Brigade" (Blockley); part song, " Come, Old Comrade;" song, gentleman amateur; song, Miss Fairburn, " Home they brought her Warrior, dead" (Miss Lindsay); trio, "The Wreath;" song, Miss Macfarlane, "Oh, Take me to Thy Heart again;" part song, "See Our Cars;" duet, Miss Brook and Mr. Brett, "The Singing Lesson" (Parry). Part II.: Solo (pianoforte), "War March of the Priests," Miss Fairburh ; duet, Messrs. Brook and Brett, " Excelsior" (Blockley); song, gentleman amateur ; song, Miss Banka (violin obligate), " See'st Thou at Even" (Kalinoda); quartette, "The Three Chafers" (Trahn); part song, "Onward to Battle ;" song, Miss Brook,,."The Maiden's Flower Song" (Pinsniti); song, Mr. Gradwell, "The"Pilgrim's Return" (Wrighton) ; quartette, Orpheus, "Maying" (MendelsEOhn) ; "The Three Lfttle Pigs" pobie); " National Anthem.": ■

The choir included the principal ladies of the district and a large number of the effective members of the Choral. Society, so that the concert, as a whole and in detail, was considerably above the average of such occasions. The proceedings terminated, by the whole company rising and singing the National Anthem. Mr. J. C. Firth moved a vote of thanks to the choir, which was carried by acclamation. ;. , Archdeacon Pr.rn , moved a vote of thanke to Sir George Grey. He said His Honor had conferred a great favour upon the people of

'Newmarket "upon ting the new institution., Jleielieved thaF his presence amongst them had been a main cause of the success whioh had attended their concert. He had not only congratulated the committee upon the success of their exertions, but he had.given highly eacouraging words for the future. He believed that encouragement would be kept in mind, and .would stimulate the committee to still further exertions. ■'- ' . :■ ' •

The motion was carried amidst loud cheers. His Honor having acknowledged the compliment paid him, the proceedings terminated.