THE COLONIAL PRIZE FIRING.

Evening Star, Issue 3720, 25 January 1875, Page 3

THE COLONIAL PRIZE FIRING.

RECEPTION OF- THE REPRESENTATIVES. [By Telegraph.] (From our Special Reporter.) Grahamstown, January 23. The representatives arrived here by the Luna this afternoon, were met by the Thames Volunteers, and marched to the camping-ground at Parawai. About 1,500 civilians ’assembled and cheered the men when parading through the streets at the camp, where forty-two tents and marquees have been erected. All the Otago men appeared in good spirits, and feel confident of carrying off a large portion of the prized Lieut, Greer, of Napier, who ran Hamblin so close last year for the Belt, has been at the Thames during tho past week, keeping quiet. A telegraph line has been extended to the camp. Firing commences on Monday morning. The first event will be judging dislance. About fifty armed Natives, under Captain Taipara, took part in the demonstration on the landing. January 24. The first match, infantry judging distance, commences at nine to-morrow,with 1870 ammunition. At the close of this match the representatives will retire to the Thames usual firing ground for the remainder of the day, and practise, two shots each range, with the prize ammunition, which will be used during the firing. This resulted from the dissatisfaction experienced at the Thames men being the only men who had practised with the 1870 ammunition. At the request of the representatives, Colonel Lyon and Major Gordon decided to exclude the judging distance matches, infantry and cavalry, from those which make up the aggregate in deciding the championship. This has given universal satisfaction. A strong S.W. wind has been blowing to-day, and there is every appearance of rain. The butts are situated in the Kanearanga Valley, and the prevailing winds always blow on to the targets. The butts are placed at a considerable elevation up to 400 raids—almost like an amphitheatre of hills. The remainder of the distance is level, but very deceiving for judging distance-firing in the morning, the sun being in the face of the marksmen in the left front. Nearly 1,100 people visited the camp to-day.