RIFLE SHOOTING—GOVERNMENT PRIZES

Colonist, Volume VI, Issue 634, 20 November 1863, Page 3

RIFLE SHOOTING—GOVERNMENT PRIZES

(From the Wellington Independent, Nov. 14.) In the General Government Gazette of the 7th instant, we find published the names of the successful competitors for Government Prizes in Rifle Shooting, with the numbers of points scored by the best shots in each province. From these tables we learn that the firing at ranges of 300, 400, and 500 yards, five shots at each, resulted in the highest »core being made by Captain N. G. Morse, of theY*on Rifle Volunteers, who gained 41 points, and the Champion Belt and £50. Captain D Porter. °^ *^c Company, . Wanganui -a'a* Vnhintb**** made a score of 39, and gained the Seond prize of while Corporal W. Armstrong;, wS made ft sim'lw score, shot "ties" with Sptain Porter, five shots each at 500. yards , the w«iiH hem* that the formei 1 made two hits, and the Sr&the third prize of £30, has therefore beea admdged to Corporal Arm^ong.^ ~ Descending toZV*^ f haye ' made find that several other . ""• « e *,jaant F. Parko, good shooting and gained prizes. . «a.k prize made a score of 37, and carried off the : » while Private ,T. Cathro, and Ensign J. Peake, scoren 36 points each, and took the eight and ninth prizes of £15. Private W. Pinnimore, and Sergeant R. Gray, made 32 points each, and also gained prizes of J65. In the return for the highest scores in each province or district, Nelson ranks highest at 41, and Wanganui next at 39 ; but in the " total number of points and average," Wanganui occupies the first place, the figures standing thus :— TOTAL NUMBER OV POINTS AND AVERAGE FOB BACH PROVINCE OR DISTRICT. '

It will be observed, that excluding the Wanganui district, the province of Wellington cuts but a sorry figure in the returns, the highest individual score having been made by Private (now Ensign Holmes), of the Wellington Volunteer Company, who scored 12 points and 8 hits, making a total of 20. We congratulate the Wanganui Volunteers, on the reputation they have acquired as first-class shots; indeed, we are not certain but that Captain Porter, though he has not made the highest score, had a fair claim to the; Champion's Belt, because his opponent, it is alleged did not comply with the conditions under which the firing took place. But setting this aside, let us hope that on some future occasion, Wanganui may rank first, and that the volunteers in the other districts of this province, may emulate the example presented to them by their brethren there.

Province or District. No. of Competitors. Points & Hits. Average. Wanganui .... Nelson Otago - - - - - Taranaki Auckland .... Canterbury - - -. - Marlborough ... Wellington - - - • Napier - - - - - 29 122 11 54 26 31 29 ■:■ 37 No return. 712 2493 171 830 399 471 345 292 24-55 20-43 15-54 15-37 1534 1519 11-89 7'86 Total—All N. Z. 339 5,713 1685