THE COLONIAL PRIZE FIRING.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 877, 17 April 1877, Page 3

THE COLONIAL PRIZE FIRING.

Lieutenant-Colonel Reader, who was chief of the staff at the recent competition of colonial volunteers at Hokitika has submitted a report on the same to the Defence Minister, and, accompanied by the complete returns, the report is published in the Gazette of the 11th instant. Colonel Reader says : " From these returns it will be seen that the average shooting throughout is very much higher than it was cither last year or the year before, which I attribute, in a measure', to the representatives haying tin's year been provided for the competition with new rifles of a uniform pattern, and first-class arms in every respect. The range, which was situated nine miles from Hokitika, on the Aralmra River, was everything that could be desired, and contributed not a little to accurate shooting. Our only drawback was occasional heavy rain, which interrupted the firing, and spoiled the ground for a time. "I cannot speak too highly of the work done by Assistant-Armourer Christie, who preceded us to Hokitika by a month to prepare the range. His was a very arduous 1 ask, for in addition to having to clear about 400 yards of brushwood and stumps, raise the butts and platforms, he had two bridges to build to enable us to get to the range, one of which had at least 40ft of span. How he got through so much work in so short a time, doing it so thoroughly and well, was a matter of astonishment not only to myself but to every one connected with the camp. " I was fortunate in having associated with me such officers as Licut.-Coloncl Packc, Major Stapp, Major Noake, Major Baillie, Captain Morrow, and Mr Spence, to assist me in carrying out the duties both on the range and in' camp. To them I must attribute the good feeling and content that existed amongst the representatives during the whole time we were in Wcstland, and the absence of any hitch or unpleasantness during the meeting. "To Mr Stevens, who acted as secretary to the meeting, my thanks are due for the able and energetic manner he carried out duties which have become by no means light, and which, to enable him'to comply with the perpetual references made to him by representatives as to the state of their scores, kept him employed late at night. " The only suggestion I have to make is, that the mode of marking I adopted, of painting out every shot, should be adhered to at future meetings, as insuring accuracy, rapidity in marking, and general satisfaction to the competitors themselves. "In conclusion, I beg to be permitted to record, on behalf of the representatives, staff, and myself, our grateful appreciation of the kindness and hospitality shown us by the inhabitants of Wcstland during our stay amongst them."