THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT PRIZES.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2742, 30 November 1871, Page 3

THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT PRIZES.

We are in receipt of a copy of the Rules anrl Regulations for the Competition for General Government Prizes, and give an epitome of those portions referring to Otago Volunteers.

The general rules applying to all classes are the same as la-t year The sp» dal rules for the Colonial prizes provide : {i. ) Champion for 1871 to be a representative. (2.) Champion Belt, if won two yeai s in succession or three years at intervals, to become private property. (3.) If the full number of representatives authorised for any district are not qualified at the time appointed, no second competition for choice to take place. (4 ) All officers and men arc eligible to compete. (5.) No volunteer to be eligible to become a competitor for the choice of either company or Colonial representatives, unless he has attended five (5) Government monthly inspection parades between the Ist of April and the doth of November, 1871. (0.) Representatives to he first eel'ecto 1 in the ratio of one for every fifteen ffien in each corps or company, and in the event of a surplus, one for a fraction of fifteen men ove* ten ; to be computed according to the numerical strength on the 31st of October, 1871. (7.) Names of representatives to he sent in to the officer commanding the district before the 31st of December, 1871. (8). Co pany representatives selected as set forth in rule (3 to compete on their own ranges for Colonial representatives during a time in January 1872, to lie appointed by the officer commanding the district and under the following conditions:— Ist'Stage —l. Ranges, 200 and 300 yards; 2. five (5) shots at each range ; 3. position : 2QO. yards Standing, 3dQ yards, any; 4. a trial shat ‘ftt each range allowed; S. tar.ets, (5x4 feet, centre, 4x 2 feet, bull's-eye, 2x 1 foot. No competitor will be eligible to pass into second who does not s, o c thirty (30) points and upwards. 2nd Stage.—l. Ranges, 400. 500, and 600 yards; 2 five (5) shots at each range; 3. position, any; 4. atrial shot at each range allowed ; 5 targets C x G feet, centre 4 x 4 ft, bull’s-eye, 3 feet; 6. ties to be decided as provided for it general roles ; 7. the highest scorers to be the colomalrepresentativesjhut no competitor will he eligible to be a representative who does not sc -re forty (40) points and upwards. (9) The number of representatives allowed will be as follows :-Auckland 8; Wairoa and Waiuku, 3; V a kato 3; Thames 4 ; Tauranga and Opotiki, 2 ; White Cliffs, New Plymouth, and Cape Egmont. 3; Wanganui and Patea, 3 ; Rangitikei. 2 ; Hutt, 2 ’ Wellington. 4 ; Grey town and Masterton, 2; Napier, Wairoa, and Poverty Hay, 3 : Nelson, 1 ; Marlborough, 2 ; Canterbury, 5 : Ota 'o and Southland, 10; Westland, 2; Armed Constabulary, 3. (10) Lists of competitors, with parade attendance certificates, tr, he sent in tc the Defence Office ffiffov.c sth February, 1872. (11.) ’ Colonial representatives for the Colonial prize tiring will not be eligible to compete for district prizes ; but any qualified Colonial representative may elect to fire for the district prizes instead of the Colonial prizes, in which case the next highest scorer in the district (being himself duly qualified) will be the Colonial representative.