RECEPTION OF THE RIFLE CHAMPION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9324, 29 March 1889, Page 6

RECEPTION OF THE RIFLE CHAMPION.

WELCOME BY THE MAYOR. Tick Auckland, Thames, and Onehunga representative.! at the Rido Association meeting at Blenheim arrived at the Manukau yesterday by the Northern S.S. Co.'s (iuirloch, and as ib was desired to give some eclat to the reception of Sergeant Parslow, of the " A " Battery, the winner of the New Zealand Champion Belt, a public reception was arranged to take place at the railway-station at half-past five o'clock in the afternoon. A muster of volunteers took place at the Drill shed at five o'clock, and the preparations commenced. The No. 1 Garrison Band was in attendance, under Bandmaster Hunter, and the "A" Battery turned out a gun and gun carriage with four grey horses lor the triumphal inarch. The other companies mustered moderately. The Nnvals were fairly represented, and the infantry companies rather poorly, Amongst the officers present were : —Colonel Shepherd, officer commanding the district; Lieutenant - Colonel 'Payne, in command of the Artillery; Captain Geddes, Lieutenant Haultain, Captain - commandant Lcßoy, Captain Parker, Captain Kitchens, Lieutenants Smith and Reusing; Captain Robertson (Newton Rifles), Captain Cooper (Victoria Rifles), and Captain Leahy (Royal Irish). We also noticed a number of officers in mufti, including Captain Kohn (City Guards), Captain Rutherford (Te Awamutu Cavalry), and Lieutenant.James (" 0 " Battery). When the troops deployed through Queen-street, headed by the band, there was a largo and increasing crowd collectincr, and when the halt was made in front of the railway station therewasarush for jxisitions. Theiniprcssion, of course, was that the representatives were to come by train, but the arrangements were otherwise made, and they came in by breaks; Captain Geddes going out to Onehunga to accompany the champion back to Auckland. When the break containing the representatives drew up at the back of the railway station, they were greeted with loud and prolonged cheering, and without delay Sergeant Parslow was moved to the seat of honour on the gun carriage, and the order to move off was then given. The procession to the Drill-shed was an ovation. The streets were lined with onlookers, the windows were crowded with people waving handkerchiefs and hats, and the progress of the troops was much retarded by the throng. A halt was made opposite the Public Library, where His Worship the Mayor and the officers assembled. It was expected that the Hon. Mr. Fergus, Minister of Defence, would be present., but probably his other arrangements prevented him. His Worship tub Mayor mounted the gun carriage beside the champion. He said : ,l Volunteers, ladies and gentlemen. A few years ago I attended a celebration of this sort to welcome the champion shot of New Zealand, Captain White, and to-day I have to welcome Sergeant Parslow, the present champion, and here he is. (Cheers.) Then there were two belts for New Zealand, one for the carbine and the other for the rifle, but now there is only

one, and here (clapping his hand on Parslow's breast) it is. This is the second time within three years that the champion belt has come t-o Auckland, and this shows that Auckland is well to the front in regard to shooting as well as athletic sports, and the large attendance here to-day shows that the Auckland public intend to give their support to them. I, in the name of the people of Auckland, welcome back the champion shot of New Zealand'. We are proud of the honour which he has gained for himself, and proud of the honour he has gained for our city. (Cheers.) As Colonel Shepherd is to address you, I will, without further remarks, call upon you to give three chee' i for Sergeant Parslow. The response was a lusty cheer along the ranks and amongst the crowds of onlookers, and the band played the "Conquering Hero." Lieut.-Colonel Shepherd, whoattempted to speak from the pathway, was compelled to mount the gun-carriage to the place vacated by the Mayor. He said he addressed the Volunteers more especially. He was proud to see that one of their number had brought back the Champion Belt. He had not much to add to what had been said by His Worship the Mayor, but to point out to Volunteers what steady perseverance would do. Sergeant Parslow had never missed an opportunity to practice, and this was the second time in which he had brought the champion belt to Auckland, and he was sure they all felt proud of him. (Loud cheering). Sergeant Parslow then called for three cheers for His Worship the Mayor, and the call was heartily responded to, the band playing, "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." The order of march was then given to the Drill-shod, where the champion was chaired round the lines amid loud cheering, and on reaching terra firma he was subjected to a hand-shaking, which, however uncomfortable for him, showed the warmth and enthusiasm of his welcome. The further celebration of the winning of the champion belt will take the form of a smoke concert to the champion, which is to take place this evening, at the Imperial Hotel. A noticeable feature in the procession was a (lag on the gun on which the champion rodo through Queen-street. It was a red flag bearing in white letters " Welcome to our Champion." This flag was made out of the two danger flags which were in use at the Blenheim rifle ranges when Parslow fought out the finish for the belt.

Sergeant James Parslow, "A " Battery, WINN 01' THE N.Z. CHAMPION BELT, '89.

The contest fought out by Sergeant I'arslow was a most meritorious one, and a splendid specimen of consistent steady shooting. It, may, however, be remarked that the Auckland representatives throughout have more than hold their own, for everyone of them has been successful in winning one or more prizes.