THE CHALLENGE RIFLE MATCH.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2733, 20 November 1871, Page 3

THE CHALLENGE RIFLE MATCH.

This long looked for event, which, as our readers are aware, arose out of a challenge by Mr J. W. Walker, of the Thames volunteers, to shoot with any man in the Colony at specified ranges, for Ll5O aside, with small bore rifles—the said challenge, which was addressed in the first instance to Oapt. Wales, of Ko. 1 Company, as champion of the Colony, being spiritedly taken up by Mr Kennedy, of this City—was commenced at the Forbury Park to-day. The competiti rs are Mr Walker and Ensign Christie, of the East Taieri volunteers, whose prowess as marksmen is so well known that it does not need recapitulation. The conditions of the contest were Ranges, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, and 1000 yards, ten shots at each range ; any rifle, and any position ; targets at 200 and 300 yards to have a bull s eye square of eight inches, at 400, 500, and 600 yards, a bull’s eye square of 24 inches ; and at the remaining ranges a bulls eye square of 36 inches The shooting was to have begun at noon, but owing to a dispute which was brought about, if not increased unnecessarily bylhe want of arrangements, it was just on the stroke of two when the first shot was fired. This dispute had reference to the manner in which the men were to fire. Mounds had been erected at all the range ■ except the first ; and Walker insisted that both he and his opponent should fire from thenc?, while the latter declined,|on the score'that their use was not compulsory, and that he had not been in the habit of using them. Articles of agreement, conditions of Internation d and Intercolonial small bore Associations meetings were referred to in vain, and, one time, there appeared a probability of the match going off. Walker pointed triumphantly to a clause in the Intercolonial Associations rules (by which, according to his challenge, the competitors were to be guided), which read thus “ The marksmen to be allowed the assistance of two men to shelter him on the mound ; no other person to be admitted on the mound,” and contended that if his opponent were right in his view, that the use of the mound was only optional, there would have been no necessity to mention mounds at all. To add to the situation, the two umpires disagreed, and there was no referee to appeal to. An unseemly contest begun —the competitors, instead of being kept out of the strife and being cool, were as passionate in their arguments as any of the crowd, who indulged very freely in giving expression to their views on the point, in dispute. Captain M’Farland who is umpire for Christie, took his man’s view of the matter, and supported him strongly ; and Captain Paterson, for Walker, was equally strong on the other side. Thus time went on, matters only getting worse ; finally Walker declared he would shoot with the sight he was then using, which in the meantime had been objected to as being contrary to regulation, and that the man who fired with him would have to shoot from the mounds. Better counsels however prevailed, and better arrangements and a better undcistanding having been come to, preparations were made for commencing the shooting. Captain Tronton, of .-ydney, was appointed referee, and Walker altered his sight to what is known as a number 14; Christie thereupon consented to fire from the mounds. Sighting shots were allowed at each range, and that at the first having been shot by each, Christie at two o’clock having won the toss fired the opening shot of the match. The delay, however, was not altogether unattended with good results - for by the time the shooting began the wind, which in the eany part of the day had been blowing a regular

gale from the S.W.. had moderated somewhat. Still it remained pretty high during the greater part of the afternoon. We ap- ) pend the scores :

Church Politics. —We do not suppose that there ever was a church in which perfect harmony subsisted, but it is seldom that disagreement is carried so far as to interfere with the necorum of public worship. Yesterday was an exception at the First Church, where two rival precentors were presented to the congregation—one appointed by the minister, the Rev. George Sutherland, and the other by the office-bearers. It is not for us to enter into a detail of the events which led up to this public struggle for supremacy. They are for the Presbyterian Church to deal with ; and as each church has its own machinery for investigation of such quarrels, any ex parti statement should be avoided. The public have at present only to do with what appeared. This much is certain, that the rev. gentleman and his flock do not agree ; that Mr Stewart has long held the office of precentor, through appointment by a Church Court ; that Mr Sutherland has, rightly or wrongly, assumed the right to dismiss him, without reference to his qualifications or to those who ap» pointed him, and to place one in his stead. This last gentleman was Mr Lister, who, however, being unable to be present, had enli'ted Mr Law as substitute. This change was announced by Mr Sutherland at the commencement of the service, and in order to secure its being carried out, had himself tilled the precentor’s seat until Mr Law s arrival, when he resigned in his favor. Ac.ing under instructions, Mr Stewart took his place beside him, and on the first psalm being read he led the service and was followed heartily by the whole congregation, Mr I aw offering no opposition. This did not appear to suit the pastor, for when the time arrived for singing the second psalm, addressing the congregation, he said, under the circumstances it would be better to omit the singing altogether. A largo proportion of the congregation immediately rose and left the church. The prayers and sermon were evidently tinged with the spirit that led to the rev. gentleman’s course of action, and m the evening he indulged in some very uu* clerical remarks iu reference to the precentor. Considering that Mr Stewart acted under orders of the Deacon’s Court, public justice ought to have restrained amy expressions reflecting on him as an individual. Here we leave the matter for the present. We understand that an appeal for the interference of the Presbytery has been forwarded, to-day by the office-bearers of the church.

r — 200 Yards. Christie ... 4334334343—34 Walker 4434443443—37 300 Yards. Christie 3434343333—33 Walker 4433334333—33 400 Yards. Christie ... 3443443344— 36 Walker 4444444444—40 500 Yar »s. .. 4333444444—37 Walker " 4434344444—38