CADET FIRING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 262, 16 March 1869, Page 3

CADET FIRING.

The competitive firing for the selection of cadets to represent Canterbury at the forthcoming colonial prize meeting in Otago took place yesterday, at the Hillsborough range. Being the first time of our youthful volunteers taking part in such matters, considerable interest was felt in the result, and proportionate satisfaction was expressed at the very creditable manner in which they acquitted themselves. The skill and correcness of position generally displayed in handling the rifle was in itself very noticeable for such young hands, but the degree of coolness and steadiness displayed was even more so, and from the first warranted the anticipation of fair scoring. The only matter to be regretted was the small number who enteredjbuttheshbrt time which the rifles iiad been in possession of the respective corps satisfactorily accounts for this, and entirely precludes any portion of it being attributed to want of spirit. Next year will no doubt see a much larger number enter the lists, and, judging from yesterday's efforts, a corresponding improvement in marksmanship. The members proceeded to the range by the 10 a.m. train, and no time was lost in at once getting to work. Lieut. Gee, of the St John's corps, was in command. Lieut. Giraud, of the Cavalry Cadets, also being present. The conditions were 5 shots each at the ranges given below, with standing or kneeling position; the highest scorer of each corps to be its representative; the prizes to be competed for at Dunedin being £10, £7, and £3, with 5 shots each at the 150 yards range ; position, standing or kneeling, but no artificial rest. The day was most propitious'for the firing, and the following are the scores made: —

The tie between the two first on the list was decided by the Wimbledon rules, the highest scorer at the last range being declared the best shot. Corporal Davis will represent the Engineers ; Lance Corporal Brunsden, the St John's, and Sergeant Fisher the Cavalry; this being in the order of their respective totals.

en en Name. Corps. ©© +! o jo c 5 Corporal Davis ... Eng. Cadets. 11 13 24 Col.-Sergt. Houlihan „ „ 1410 24 Private Smith ... „ „ 13 922 „ Bailey ... „ „ 14 822 L.-Corp. Brunsden ... St John's do. 1010 20 Sergeant Kissel ... „ „ 12 820 L.-Corp. Cooper ... „ „ 10 9 19 Private Blundell ... „ „ 11 819 „ Martin ... Engineer do. 10 919 „ Pkrcy ... St John's do. 6 1117 Sergeant Macfarlane Engineer do. 8 816 „ J.Fisher ... Cavalry 10 616 Cor | oral Kissel ... St Jonn's do. 7 2 9 Private Walters ... „ „ 62 8 „ Kent ... „ „ 62 8 Trooper Hadfield ... Cavalry do. 62 8 Private Sutcliffe ... Engineer do. 8 0 8 Corporal Ashby ... St John's do. 70 7 Sergeant Goodwin ... „ „ 0 0 0