THE COLONIAL PRIZE FIRING

Evening Star, Issue 3728, 3 February 1875, Page 3

THE COLONIAL PRIZE FIRING

[By Telegraph ] {From our Special Reporter.) Parawat, February 3, Noon. Tenth Match (Marksmen’s Prizes). —Open to all qualified representatives (including cavalry) who have become marksmen during the Volunteer year ending March Gl, 1575. Colonial Pepresentativns who are marksmen (as provided in foregoing nrle) must be furnished with a certificate to that effect from the officer commanding the district to which they belong. Ranges, 700 and 800 yards. Seven shots at each range, Targets, Bft by Gft; centre, Oft by 4ft; bull s-cye, Gft by 2Ct. Range prizes: Highest scorer at 700 yards, L2; at 800 yards, L2. Match prizes : Ist, LG : 2nd, L 5; 3rd, LG. The firing at the 700 yards range was very bad. Collard and Dey are leading with 13 points at the close of the fifth shot. About a dozen shots struck the telegraph wires—Partington hitting them twice, Wilson twice. Christie, Skinner, Leigh, and several others are supposed to be dead on for bull’s eyes. 1.7 p.m. At the close of the 700 yards competition the highest scorers were- M‘Laren, S.IXR,, Otago, 21; Fenton, Thames, 21. ; Lieut. Barriball (Waiuku), Collard (Wanganui), Hoskins (Thames), and Black, 20 each. M’Laren is the winner of the range prize. A large number have retired and will not fire at the 800 yards range. Eighth Match (Skirmishing).—At a single (Gft. x 2ft.) target ; centre, 2ft. across target. The competitors will be formed, by lot, into squads of equal strength ; but should any squad have a man less than the other squads, the average firing of that squad will be added to the score. Squads will fall in as skirmishers in extended order, any position, a target being opposite to each at an unknown distance. They will fire at such distance on sound of bugle, advancing or retiring as may be directed by word of command. After ten (10) minutes, firing will cease, when the squads will advance with the officer in command and examine their targets. Squads to come loaded to the firing point, and will cock their rifles by word of command, and fire on bugle sounding one “ G.” One point for each hit will be added to the score. Ties to be fired by the squads at an unknown distance to be appointed by the officer in command ; five shots per man. Each squad will elect a, captain as them representative; the prizes to be disposed, of in such a manner as may he determined by the winning squads. Prizes : The squad making the highest aggregate number of points, Lls ; the squad making the second highest aggregate number of points, LlO. The competitors drew lots for squads, and elected each a captain. The following is the winning squad, with totals : - Campbell, Armstrong. Murray. Christie, Murray, A.C., Thomson, Skinner, Soper, Partington, Fox* Tomlinson, Renouf, and Curtis. Total, 150.’ Squad 2 (Captain Murray, second prize), 433 • third squad, 412 ; fourth, 409 ; fifth. 364. ’ A Press Agency telegram states that a protest will be lodged against Skinner, the winner of the champion belt, for an alleged breach of the rules. The Auckland men are very much annoyed at this, stating that numbers of the representatives filled their sights and measured charges of powder. All the crack shots will compete in the small bore match, and there has been a good deal of betting. Wilson and Christie, of Otago, and Walker, of the Thames, are heavily hacked. Hoskins, of the 'Thames, is also considered likely to make some good shooting. A match between the Thames and Auckland representatives is contemplated. During yesterday morning the heat was unbearable, as the range is closed in by hills. In th® the intending competitors in the small bore match were allowed to practise.