THE QUEEN'S PRIZE.

Otago Witness, Issue 929, 18 September 1869, Page 3

THE QUEEN'S PRIZE.

[Daily Ttltgraph, July 14th.)

Yesterday tho event was decided which oonatdtntcs tho prime glory of tho Wimbledon mooting. What it has booomo the fashion to call tho "Blue Riband of the Meeting" was won, and strangely enough for tho second time, by a young Scotsman, who in 1808 beat everything that had before boon dono in tho shape of scoring for tho Queen's Prize, and who this yoar has surpassed himself. Tho winner of the Queen's Prize this year is Corporal Cameron of the 6th Inverness, who bins mado tho mag. nilioent soore of 71 points out of a possible scoro of 84, at tho long ranges of 800, 900, and 1000 yards. It will do remombored that of tho 1800 volunteers who shot in tho first »tago of tho Queen's Prizo at 200, COO, and 000 ynrds, tho 60 highett aggregate scorers win tho right to competo in the second stage for tbo L 250 annually given by Her Majesty, together with tho gold medal and gold badge of the National Kifle Association. Tho duly-qualified competitors fire with Whitworth small-bore rifles of military pattern, botch shots at $00, 90, and 1000 yatds. With ten men to a squad, this makes a long day's work, which severely tests tho steadiness of tho competitor*. Tho weather wm very favourable, there being » stoady cool brooKo from tho north, with a subdued light, especially towards the «nd of tho competition. At tho oommenooment of tho contest in tho morning, the attendance wm limited to tho immediate friends of those engaged j hut towards tho oloso the number of visitor* round the firing points, enpeoiailyatthoionearoaetheCounml tenta mfc tho northorn end of the Common, Mid tho interest ovinowl in the proceedings, wer« greater than in protons yoars. While the first two ronjrM wore in progress, tho matter wm • o much an open question that it wm a little Uatwxlous to «p«oiiUte on fcho i

winner, 6ut \s>snhtos& when' the firing ceased for an liour, ' and the winner had three shots tofire.pf his second range,, he -was known to be" one "of three that stood the best chance. It wft3 againßt liim ; that this interval, should havevtaken place in the firing at one of the, ranges, as there was a probability of tlie fight changing and the aim' being altered before re-corn-menoing, and of a good score being spoiled. Corporal CaJneron, " however, on resuming firing, got well on to the target,^' and when he had concluded the 900 yards stood at -48, oneother competitor, OorporalM'Creatb, 3rd Ayr, standing at 49. i Beginning at tha 1000 yards both scored centres for sighting shots ; but then Corporal M'Creath began to get outers, while Corporal Cameron kept in , the centre, and at his fifth shot he scored a bull's-eye. As the firing at the last range approached its termination the crowd round the firing-point kept rapidly incresfiing in numbers, and as the last round was being fired, the Nawab Nazim of Bengal with his sons came up, and were introduced within the ropes that separate the competitors from the general public Corporal Cameron had just made a bull's-eye and a centre, putting him in the perfeotiy safe position of 67, with a shot to go. Immediately after the arrival of the Nawab, the corporal ascended the raised mound from which the competitors fired, and, lying at full length, coolly took aim and fixed. Before the crack came back that told the bullet had Btruck the distant target, two or three gentlemen who were spotting the shots through Steward's power* ful glasses, called out a bull's-eye, and next moment the white disc eclipsed +<he black square on the centre of the target, and tho Queen's Prize was won. There was a movement of interest among the eager throng round the mound, and Lord Elcho, who was evidently fckhly gratified at the success of his countryman, set an example that would have been followed by a burst of applause and. cheering, if it had not been checked by consideration for the competitors who had yet to fire to complete their scores. As soon as that ceremony was over, the crowd made up for its self-restraint by a hearty burst of cheering. This was succeeded by a general cry of "Hoist him 5" whereupon two stalwart Scotchmen, Captain Armstrong, of the Ist Lanark, and Captain Smart, of the Ist City of Edinburgh Artillery, seized tho. redoubtable little Corporal, and hoiatei him on their shoulders, Tho band of the Victorias, who had been in attendanoe some little time, struok up " See the conquering hero comes ;" and amid the cheers of the crowd, the winner was borne in triumph to the Council tent. Hure certain formal ceremonies were gone through, and in a few minutes Corporal Cameron, came forth the officially acknowledged winner of the Queen's Prizo for 1869. JNo sooner was he outside the tent than he was again seized and "hoisted," and with a mounted lancor to clear the way for his bearers, and with the band again pealing forth H.-uidel's noble song of jubilation, he was borne through the camp amid continuous cheering, towards tho encampment of the London Scottish. As the procession came near their enclosure, the band ceased playing, and a piper of that distinguished corps struck up some Celtic strain of triumph that seemed to rouse Scottish enthusiasm to the highest point. Tbo quiet enclosure was speedily crowded, nnd tho mess-tent invaded by as many as could find an entrance. Here the health of the victor was drank ont of huge two-bundled pewters filled with champagne. After tlm enthusiasm had somewhat subsided, Corpor.lL Cameron and his immediate friends walked round the camp, and as soon as they could reasonably escape from tho running fire of congratulation went, liko oanny sensible to allay their excitementandthirotwith that beverage whose praises Cownor sang. Corporal Camoron is, though still young— he was but 19 when he won the Queen's Prizo thrco years ago — a practised small-bore shot, and to this tsot is duo the excellent Bhooting he maintained throughout the competition, and especially at the last range.

Tho London Scotsman supplies the follow* ing additional particulars regarding th« win- ' nor :— Angus Cameron is a nativo of, anil a dwollor in, tbo village of Kingnssi», the capital of Badenooh. Ho is not yet twenty* tbrco years of age, and has ovor since leaving school assisted an older brother in tho management of a modest "general shop.*' It is pleasant to add that his "plunder" taken from Whnblodon in 1868 enabled Angus to go into partnership with bis brother. In his native placo, as wel' as by all who havo como in con tact with him in his shooting forays in the south, Mr Camoron is hold in deserved respect as a thoroughly modest, unassuming, and woll-condaoted yonng man. Ho his Wn a member of tbo Scottish Tompcranoo League for tho last right years, having signed tho pledge, wo boliovo, on tho occasion of a visit to Kingussio of the total abstinence looturor, John Anderson, in tho summer of 1861. Through temptations at strong as most men havo boon subjected to, ho has re* solutoly adherod to thd temperance flag. When enthusiastically proffered tho brimming bofckor of champagne in the London Scottish Camp on Tuesday, he quietly asked for ginger beer. But thorowas no ginger beer in too London Scottish Camp.

A worldly-wise exhibitor at a Into njrrfcultural show divided n bushel of peaches, oniurinsr onohaM in his own name, and the othvr in tho imtiio of a gcntlcmnn of iomo prominencoin tlio ploco. ill* own half wm unnoticed, but tho other half Inutile) took tliu prixo, proving tlutt thorn U something in a name.

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