TARGET TESTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9087, 22 June 1888, Page 5

TARGET TESTS.

MR SOALL'S VERSUS THE OLD AND PRESENT REGULATION ONES. Our readers are aware of the persistent endeavours of Mr. Soall in years past to get the colonial authorities to adopt the principle that the rifleman should be taught to aim upon a dark ground in place of a white one. And while he has been (so to speak) kept bathing in the cold water of military prejudice, the Horse Guards have, he alleges, stolen some of his clothes by adopting twothirds of the principle, the "present regulation target representing the waistcoat and trousers minus the tunic. This target question is but a part of a general system of musketry instruction which Mr. Soall has so long endeavoured to get introduced into the colonial service, it being well known that no system whatever of general instruction has been carried out owing to the difficulties of the Imperial system when applied to the circumstance? of volunteers. These target tests form part of the proceedings of a Board of Inquiry ordered by the present Defence Minister. We are informed that Mr. Soall has appeared before the Board on two different occasions, and fully explained his proposed system. In course of the enquiry the Board decided to fire Mr. Soall's third and second class against the third and second class of the present, regulations. It is a well-known fact that Mr. Soall's target has always beaten the former white regulation target in years past. It is now shown it has beaten its count-erfeit.

The following are the scores : — Present Regulation Target. Mr. Soall's Target. 3rd 2nd 3rd 2nd Grnd Class. Claws. TI. Class. TI. Tl. Col. Shephord .. 64 40-113 58 71—1S» —Mi Major Morrow .. 64 38—102 63 86—143 — 250 Major Pine .00 48—108 7S 80-162 — 270 Captain White.. 65 44—109 SI 06—176 — 28* Lieut. Dormer .. 63 60—113 70 71—141 — 264 SergtSoall ..63 37—100 6« 05— 161 — 291 645 SV7