H.—lB.

3

Eirst Proposition.— -Ought the eye and judgment of the rifleman to be educated in conformity with the circumstances that he will meet with in the field ?— Tes. Second Proposition.— Would the ground or colour either of a person of an enemy or his surroundings be white or dark?— Entirely depends upon circumstances over which the rifleman has no control. Third Proposition.— Taking into consideration the circumstances likely to be met with in the held, should the rifleman's eye and judgment be educated to meet them by having to aim on a dark ground? The practice of firing at a dark object—viz., a bull's-eye painted black—has always obtained, and is mostly suitable for making a rifleman a good marksman in the field. Fourth Proposition— -Which would be the best colour for use in the field as respects rifle sights, black or white?-The Board is of opinion that the proposition by Mr. Soall to use white for sights should be entertained and be optional with rifleman ; also, that the permission granted tor prize firing 1877 be adhered to. . .. Fifth Proposition.— -Would not a mechanical means of finding distance by the individual rifleman be as desirable and advantageous as the use of the back sight of a rifle ?-The Board is of opinion that the mechanical means proposed by Mr. Soall, although where time would be of no object it might assist a rifleman to get an approximate distance, yet would be totally impracticable in the held, and even dangerous, from the liability through carelessness of its berng blown away. _ The Board bavin" carefully considered the propositions of Mr. Soall and witnessed the results of the process, is of opinion that the target practice registers speak for themselves, showing that at the regulation target with present sights the total points were 303. At the like targets with white sights the total points were 262. At black targets with white sights the points were 249. . . And at black targets with black sights 239; and cannot agree with Mr. Soall s opinion that a rifleman should be educated for his work in the field by means of a target coloured black, and not Wkt The Board cordially agrees with Mr. Soall that a knowledge of distance is the first requisite in the field, and also that judging-distance practice should form part of the drill of the Volunteer, and made one of the requirements for capitation. In conclusion, the Board begs to state that throughout this trial every facrhty has been given to Mr. Soall to fairly test his propositions. W. C. Lyon, Lieut.-Colonel., President. J. McPherson, Captain, ) Mp m bers J. T. Marshall, Captain, j ~"

Eegister of Target Practice. Eirst Match. Number of Targets fired at, two. Three shots at each Eange, any position 22nd November, 1876.

BLACK TARGETS.

White Sig: [TS. White Sig: White Sights. ITS. White Sigh1 White Sights. Rank and Name. 200 Yards. ta 'o r801 100 Yards. « .1 . o Ph rints per Shot -g B B ■ 12 3 Yards. 400 Yards. Bointa per Shot 400 Yards. * g — '3 Ph 'ointB per Shot -* ] o B 12 3 Points per Shot -2 _g 'o Ph H Points per Shot Boini ;s per Shot 1 | 2 1 x a o 2 3 1 j. u 2 3 1 2 3 2nd Class Sergeant E. Jones Constable T. Oassidy Constable J. Mnllins Constable W. Hurry Constable W. H. O'Neill Constable Or. Smith 3 3 0 6 2 2 2 6 3 3 3 9 4 3 4 11 4 2 4 10 3 2 2 7 3 a 3 4 4 8 3 2 3 3 2 2 0 2 8 4 4 2 3 3 2 3 4 3 3 2 0 5 3 3 3 9 2 2 0 4 3 3 4 10 4 4 2 10 3 3 2 8 2 3 2 3 4 3 0 3 0 4 2 2 4 3 0 3 2 3 4 0 3 7 3 0 3 6 0 4 2 6 3 3 2 8 2 4 3 9 3 0 0 3 0 0 4 3 4 0 3 3 2 2 3 0 49 46 39 2nd Class Sergeant E. Jones Constable T. (Jasidy Constable J. M\ullms Constable W. Hurry Constable W. II. O'Neill Constable G. Smith Biack Sights. 4 3 0 7 4 2 2 8 3 2 3 8 3 3 4 10 3 2 2 7 2 3 4 9 49 Biack Sights. 0 0 2 2 2 3 3 8 2 2 4 8 3 3 3 9 3 4 3 10 2 2 4 8 45 Black Sights. 2 2 2 G 0 0 0 0 3 0 3 6 0 3 0 3 0 2 0 2 4 0 0 4 21 I ...