THE COLONIAL PRIZE FIRING.

Otago Witness, Issue 987, 29 October 1870, Page 5

THE COLONIAL PRIZE FIRING.

The Rules and Regulations for these and the district prizes throughout the colony are published in the New Zealand Gazette, No. SQ. The L 2500, vo'ed by the General Assembly for " rifle shooting," has been appropriafed as follows :—: — General Government; pr.zes about £SOO District prizes do 1.350 Costs of passages and other expenses, tinder Regulation 12, aud sundry expenses ... 350 It is impossible to give the exact figures, .as some of the prizes are rifles, cups, m°d'«ls, &c, the value of which can only be estimated. The colonial prizes (*hich will be shot for in Auckland during the month of March next) consist of ]0 sets, besides Cadet prizes. The 1 st Set is Judging Distance at any range not exceeding 600 yards ; five shots ; any position; regulation target; minimum score to entitle a competitor to a prize — 13 points. In this set there are five prizeß, beginning with LlO and descending to L 6. Second Set. — Skirmishing, at any unknown distance; target, a single leaf, with a 2ft. centre across the target. Prizes, Lls, Ll2 10a, LlO, L 7 10s, and L 6 10s. The 3rd Set — which is open to volunteers only, will be fired in two stages, five Bhots at each. Ist stage 200 and 300 yards, Wimbledon target; position standing ; minimum score to obtain a prize, 30 points ; no competitor to pass into the next stage unless he has scored 25 points. 2nd stage. 400, 500, and 600 yards ; regulation target ; position kneeling at 400 yards, and any at the others. Minimum score to win a prize, 40 points. Prizes, Ist stage, the same as in the Judging Distance Match ; 2nd stage, Bame as in Skirmishing Match. 4th Set.— Five shots at 200, 500, and 600 yards ; position, standing at the first and any at the other ranges. Target, single leaf, with 2 feet centre across, at 200 yards, and 6x4 feet, also with 2 feet centre across, at the remaining ranges. Prizes, the same as in Judging Distance Match. sth Set.— Five shots at 300, 400, and 600 yards, regulation target ; position, kneeling at first, and any at the other two ranges ; minimum score 40 points. Prizes, the same as in the Skirmishing Match. 6th Set. — This is the great match of the meeting ; 7 shots at 400, 500, and 600 yards ; any position ; regulation target ; no prize for less than 56 points ; 6 prizes, vi z ;—L4O and N.R.A. medal, L3O and medal, L2O and medal, Lls, LlO, and LB. 7th Set.— For Rapidity ; ranges 200 and 300 yards ; Wimbledon targets ; number of Bhots, as many as can be fired at each range in five minutes. Prizes, the samas in Judging Distance Match. Bth Set. — Running Prizes.— Range, 200 yards ; Wimbledon target. Each competitor will come to the firing point loaded; at the word "commence" he will cap and fire, and after every two shots will carry his rifle, ammunition (in any manner he chooses), rod, and every thing he makes use of in firing, round a post 50 yards off, loading when he likeß, but not capping until he arrives at the firing point. Time, 5 minutes from first shot. Prizes, the same as in the Skirmishing Match. 9th Set. — This is the match between the representatives of the North and South Islands. The men on each side who are the highest aggregate scorers in the first, seconof, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth Bets, will form the respective teams. 5 shots at 300, 400, anr 1 500 yards ; targetb, 6 feet square, centre 4 feet square, and bull's e\e 2 feet square ; any position. Piizes. — Every competitor on the •winning side, a new medium rifle ; the highest scorer on the winning side, a silver cup, value L 25 ; and the highest ac<»rer on the losing side a silver cup, value LlO. 10th "set. — Consolation Prizes. — 5 shots at 200 and 300 yards ; Wim >ledon target ; position, standing at first and kneeling at second range. There are 8 prizes, of which L«5 is the highest and L 2 the lowest. In addition to the foregoing prizes, the champion belt, gold medal, and LSO will be given to the highest aggregate scorer in the Ist, 2nd, 4th, sth, 6th, 7th, and Bth sets ; L3O, L2O, Lls, and LlO, respectively, to the second, third, fourth, and fifth highest aggregate Bcorers, respectively, in the same sets. Cadet Prizes. — There are five prizes for oadets under 14 years of age, varying from L 5 to LI, the same prizes for cadets over 14 years of age, and three prizes for cadets of all ages. The first set will fire at 150 j and 200 = y& r d8 J the second set at 200 and i 300 yards, and the third set at 150, 200, and 250 yards ; Wimbledon target, five shots, any position throughout. The Cadet champion belt, silver medal, and LIO will be given to the highest aggregate acorer in the Ist, 2nd, and 3rd sets, or in the 2nd and 3rd sets, according to the ref>ective ages of the opmpetifcors,

Amongst the rules for choosing district j representatives to compete for colonial prizes, the following are the most important :—: — 5. The champion for the year shall be a representative. 6. If the champion belt is won two years in succession by the same person, it will become the absolute property of such winner, commencing from the competition held in April 1870, inclusive. 7. Officers and men of the Militia called out and armed, of the Volunteer force, and of the Armed Conßtahulary, are eligible to compete for the colonial prizes. 8. Each Company of Militia, Volunteer Corps, and Diviaion of Armed Constabulary shall, by such preliminary firing as its respective commanding officer may appoint, select one representative for every 15 men, or fraction of 15 over 10 men, according to the strong h on the 31st October, 1870, to take part in the competitive firing referred to in Rule 10. The names of the selected representatives having been sent in to the officer ! commanding the district, 30. The representatives will meet in the month of December next, and " compete for the choice of district representatives," by firing five shots at 400, 500, and 600 yards, kneeling at the first range, and any position at the other two ranges ; a trial shot allowed at each range ; the highest scorers of 40 points and more will be representatives. j 12 The cost of a saloon cabin passage to and from the place appointed will be allowed to the three representatives who make the highest scores in their respective districts, together with a sum of 103 a day to each non-resident during his unavoidable detention at Auckland while attending the competition, except for Cadets, who will be allowed 6s a day. 13. Ties for the Champion Belt to be decided by single shots at 600 yards. 14. Competitors for the Colonial Prizes must appear on the ground equipped in the uniform and accoutrements of their corps, except the reserve pouch and belt. The Cadet representatives will be selected by preliminary competitive firing, at 150 and 250 yards — 5 shots at each range. Each district can send one representative for every 40 cadets, or fraction of 40 over 20. In the firing for the prizes the long or medium Enfield rifle, and the breech or muzzle loading carbine, as issued by the General or Provincial Governments, must alone be used. The minimum pull of the trigger to be six pounds. The senior officer on the ground may direct the examination of the arms used by the competitors at any time before, during, and after the firing ; and should any arm be found to have been tampered with, or the pull of the trigger to be below the minimum, the competitor using such arm will be disqualified, and his score disallowed.