PRIZE FIRING.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3215, 2 June 1871, Page 3

PRIZE FIRING.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE INDEPENDENT. Sic, — The proposals made by Colonel Harrington regarding prize firing are too important to be overlooked, and I hope you will grant me space in your columns to make a few remarks on them. Colonel Harrington proposes that two Champion Belts shall be given each year, the additional one being for corps armed with carbines. Each corp will be compelled to use the weapon it is armed with. It is not likely that this second bolt will be accompanied with so valuable a prize as the one reserved for infantry, and the champion of the latter will always, and deservedly so, be regarded as the champion of the colony. Thus, this arrangement will deprive the most spirited volunteers in the colony of tho chance of competing for the highest honor obtainable, and which ought to be the ambition of every volunteer. It is ridiculous to say that a cavalryman will never be able to firo well with the long rifle. Lieutenant Owen, of Wanganui, was a cavalryman when he won the belt. Trooper Hurley, of Wanganui, won the Provincial medal in 1869 with a creditable score of fortyeight. Sergeant M'Kenzie, of Eangitikoi, has twico represented hie district at the Colonial Prize Firing, and was the last time accompanied by another cavalryman. Out of the four who made over the required forty in the Wairarapa in 1870, two were members of the Wairarapa Cavalry ; and lastly, in a match fired between the Masterton and Carterton clubs, the five cavalrymen on the Masterton aide made a larger aggregate Bcore than the six infantrymen. I think the arrangement made lost year, of giving a set of prizes to corps armed with tho carbine ought to be quite sufficient ; and it is only just to leave it to the volunteers choice whether he will fire with tho carbine or Enfield rifle. If Colonel Harrington's proposals are carried out, a great number of cavalrymen will " dismount" as soon as regulations are published which have the effect of putting the cavalrymen in the back ground. Already several members have signified their intention of doing so, and I am afraid it will break up tho corps which Colonel .Harrington named as being the best in the colony. — Youi'B, &c, A Cavalryman. Masterton, 27th May.