THE VOLUNTEERS.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2630, 22 July 1871, Page 2

THE VOLUNTEERS.

In a recent issue we gave a short summary of the results of the late Colonial rifle contests, Since then the fall returns have been published; and speaking of them, Ae Lyttelton Times observes

Not only is the .customary list of winners given, hut .also, the averages of each Province in the preliminary and final contests ; the amount of prize money won by each man ; the amount taken by the North, and .South Islands respectively, together with a amount of other valuable information and comparisons with the results of previous years. Altogether the publication is mo t complete, and Colonel Haringtou has the credit of effecting a very great improvement in the system hitherto pursued. The returns are too voluminous to give in detail; without doing so, or recapitulating the particulars as to winners of prizes telegraphed bom Auckland during the competition, we may give much that will be worthy of notice by volunteers. iu the firing for district prizes—first and second sets—the South Island takes precedence, the average score being 2S. 77, whilst that of the North island is only 24.01. This also is not the first result of the luud, fortl e averages in past years show that in 1870 the South stood at 27.07, and the North at 20.03, whilst in 1869 they were South 32.62, North 16.41 ; in 1868, South, 31.78, North 22.94; 1867, South 31.30, North 20 22. The average for the whole ( olony for the past year is 25.89, which when it is understood that 3,353 men competed, must be deemed a very creditable result. The highest district average iu the colony counts mo her honour to Otago, which in No. 1 district averaged 33.82, and in No. 2 district 33.68. The next in order of precedence is that of Westland 31.06; the Napier and Wairoa No. 1 district’coming fourth with 30.50. The No 2 Napier and Wairoa on the other hand occupies the lowest position in colony, with an average of 15.77. The average of No 2 Canterbury district is 29.59, and that of No. I district 21 56 ; the latter being the lowest in the South Island. The highest individual score’ in the colony for the first set of district prizes also falls to the credit of Otago, Corporal A. Adam of the Bruce Rifles having made the splendid total of 50 points. The lowest individual score that took a prize in the colony is 30. This small total was only made in the Auckland and Wairoa districts ; but there are two men in each of these districts with only that number against their names. The highest individual score in the North Island was made by a Wellington volunteer, and stands at 45. The highest score iu Canterbury was that of Private Judson, No. 9 Company, 42 points, and-the lowest amongst the prize winners was 36, made by Sergeant Clarke and Private J. Judson, in No. 2 District. The highest score in Otago, as we have already said, was that of Corporal Adam, and the lowest was 41, made by Private Murdoch, EastTaierL In the second set of prizes, the highest score in the colony was 53 points, made by Lieutenant J. Scott, in ihe Manawatu district, hut the Auckland, Halt, Nelson, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland districts have each scores of 50 and upwards. The lowest individual sco e in the whole colony was 30 p lints, made by an Auckland volunteer. Lieutenant Scott, as above, was the highest scorer in the North Island, and the 30 made in Auckland was the lowest in the North, The highest score iu the South Island was 51, which one man in Nelson, one in Canterbury, and one iu Westland respectively made, i The lowest score in the South Island was 31, which stands against the name of a Southland volunteer. The lowest in Canterbury was 44, Proceeding next to the eadet tables, we find Canterbury placed in a position which is some consolation for the unsatisfactory results of the adult firing. In the preliminary competition for the choice of cadets to repre, sent the respective Provinces at the Colonial the average of the Canterbury youths is 26.45, while that of Otago is 13.44, and that of Marlborough 13.14. This, iu itself, is a great achievement; but when it is noted that Canterbury only seat three representatives, whilst Otago sent six out of the remaining fourteen, the after result is very much more creditable. Before leaving this point, however, we should say that the highest individual score amongst the selected representatives was 34, made by a Wellington cadet, and the lowest Was 18, made by a Nelson cadet. The highest score of the Canterbury Cadets was 32, and the. lowest 22.

la the firing for the Cadet District P izcs, Wellington secured the first prize with 64 points, and also the highest average, which was 37 ‘6O. Canterbury, however, comes next with an average of 33'41; the lowest

average being that of Otago, 25’38. It is also to be noted that Canterbury took three out of the eight prizes. . The particulars given in this digest of the tables published in the Gazette, afford great scope for unfavorable comment upon the adult Volunteers of this Province, and it is to be hoped that the comparison with other Provinces here afforded will spur them on to greater efforts to become good marksmen. To the Cadets it is almost impossible to award too much credit, and thcie only remains a hope that they may continue to go on in the way they have begun