THE COLONIAL PRIZE-FIRING.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2174, 26 April 1870, Page 3

THE COLONIAL PRIZE-FIRING.

To the Editor of the Evening Star. Sir, —As several newspapers both in this and in the other Provinces have lately published paragraphs in reference to the Colonial Prize Pit ing, from the tone of which it is made to appear that the appointment of Colonel Harington to superintend the competition, is viewed with dissatisfaction by the Otago Volunteers, and that his appointment is a slight upon our local military officials, I wish to inform you t at so far from any dissati-faction existing on the subject, on the contrary the whole body of the Volunteers have expressed their hearty approval of the selection made by the Defence Office. I will just mention an episode which took place during the firing for representatives in the First District, from which it will be evident that an officer from a distance untrammelled by local residence or interest, will be much more likely to keep by the stri t letter of the Government regulations, than one who, living in the district, might be inclined to allow local prejudice to sway his judgment. After the tiring for the First District w r as concluded, and the names of the three highest scorers w r ere read out, a protest (afterwards formally made in writing) was entered against two of the scores being received, on the ground that the rifles used by the competitors were not “ as issued by the Government ” as provided in the rules to be observed in firing for the General Government prizes published in the New Zealand Gazette. The arms on being examine/!, turned out to be medium rifles, with long Enfield {back sights, certainly never issued by Government in that shape, the sights having been changed for the purpose of securing an advantage at the 400-yard range. In spite of the protest the scores we.ie allowed to stand, and the tampered rifles wdll probably make their appearance at the colonial competition. Comment is unnecessary, and I will only add that in Colonel Harrini’ton w r c have a guarantee that no such irregularities will be allow'ed to take place, and that the Government rules for conducting the competition will be carried out in their integrity. I am, &c., Fiat Justitta. Mornington, April 25th.