COLONIAL PRIZE FIRING.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 367, 14 March 1871, Page 2

COLONIAL PRIZE FIRING.

FIFTH DAY.

The firing for the General Government prizes was resumed yesterday morning, at One-Tree Hill, shortly before ten o'clock. The men left the Drill-shed, Priuces-atreefc, at half-past eight o'clock, in nine of Mr. Crowtber's 'buses, and arrived upon the ground a few minutes past nine. For the first time since the commencement of the shooting, the weather was unfavorable, the wind blowing pretty stiffly from the north east, and being at times very unsettled. Still, it blew down the range, and did not greatly interfere with the shooting in the earlier part of the day. In the afternoon, however, it shifted more round to the east side, on to the butts, and a great many shots consequently went to the right of the largets. Colonel Harrington, as on previous occasions, was in charge of the men, assisted by Majors Cordon and Tisdall, and Adjutant Snell, staff, and Major Cooper, Captain Den-om, Lieutenant Thomson, Lieutenant McConnell, Ensign Mclutire, and Ensign McConnell. Trooper G-wynti, of the Auckland Cavalry Volunteers, acted as mounted orderly during the day. Dr. Groldsboro, of the Cavalry, was in attendance. There were very few spectators on the ground; no doubt, in consequence of the aspect of the weather, which threatened rain all the day, but, fortunately it kept off. The firing for the rapidity prizes, which commenced on Saturday, was resumed at ten o'clock, and was not brought to a close until half-past five. These prizes were comprised in the 7th set of prizes ; ranges, 200 and 300 yards ; time, five minutes at each range ; to commence at first shot, as in the Bth set; competitors to come loaded, but not capped, to the firing point; rifle, Government, long or medium Enfield ; no assistance whatever permitted ; one point for every hit to be added to competitor's score; ties to be tired off in the same manner as the match, at such time as the Commanding Officer may direct. Prizes—lst, £10; 2nd, £9 ; 3rd, £8; 4th, £7 ; sth, £6. For going through this course of firing five four-feet wide targets containing bull's-eye, centre, and outer, were erected, and the men were divided into sqads of five each, one for each target ; when the bugle sounded the men commenced firing, which they kept up as quick as they could for five minutes, making of course as many hits as possible in that time. Each man arranged Ids cartridges and caps handy, so as to lose no time in loading. When Welch was about to fire it was seen that in preparing bis cartridges, lie had torn the top papeo. nearly off, so as to facilitate his loading. This did not escipe tho ej'es of some of the competitors, who protested again this mode of doing business, and Col. Harrington and Majors Gordon and Tisdall agreed that it could not be allowed. The cartridges were accordingly impounded, and j new ones served out to Welch. While the 6th squad of men were firing at the 300 yard range it was discovered by Col. Harrington that two men were firing at the same target. The target, wa^ the one allotted to Greer, and Martella was pelting away at it as hard as he could load. Of course it was a mistake, but it necessitated these two men firing over again. The number of shots iired by each man in the space of five minutes varied from 12 to 20 shots, accor ling to the agility of the men, but the average of the quickest was about 10. Reid and Morrow, who were next to each other, fired very quickly and with great precision at the 300 yards range. Both discharged 17 shots with only about a second of time between them ; at this range Reid scored 67 points, Morrow 62. To show to what perfection this rapidity firing can be carried, we need only say that Buchanan, of Olago, scored S7 points at tho first range, which, had be made a bull's-eye at each range; would have necessitated 22 shots in the five minutes. The match was a very interesting one throughout. The following is the total number of points mado by each man at the two ranges : — Buchanan, Otago .. 150 Buclianan, Taranaki 90 Wales, Otago '.. .. 110 Thompson, Kouthlloiil, OtiiKO .. .. l'_.*i land 0:i Taylor, otago .. .. '*":> McKonzie, llanga-Xtc-vi'tis, Kangatiki.. I*lo tiki .. .. 0" Eenonf, Napier .. 12') Harnett, Auckland 90 (.oldie, Otago .. .. 121 Anderson, Auckfircer, Wellington .. 1-21 land 90 Chamber., ii, West,- Wood, Wellington 89 land 110 Mcintosh, Auckland S!) Morrow, Auckland.. lIS Mavtella, MarlboOraigie, Southland lIS rough .. .. S3 Cummins, Wanganui 110 Milne, Kangatiki .. 88 Wilson, Otas*.. ■• lift Welch, Wellington 84 Christie, Otago .. 112 Leavy, Marlborough 80 Gray, Wellington .. 112 Gallery, Auckland 79 Adam, Otago .. .. 112 Sandford, CanterAllen, Auckland .. 110 bury 70 Cunningham, Auck- Bell, Auckland .. 75 land 100 Stonebvidge, WestMellsopp, Auckland 100 land 74 Guy, Marlborough 100 C'oyle, Auckland .. 71 McKenzie, Otago .. 102 Lloyd, Wanganui 00 Keefe, Auckland .. 101 Rowe, Auckland .. (iO Benton, Wellington 100 Brown, Southland.. 55 Chicken, Napier .. OS Tomlinson, Nelson SO Douglas, Otago .. 07 Kent, Nelson.. .. 27