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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 2, 3 January 1868, Page 2

We have been requested to state that certain alterations have been made in the regulations for the General Government prize firing, which have been communicated to the commanding officer, aud will shortly i>e published in the Gazette. They i are as follows : — The number of shots at i each range for the first set of colonial prizes will be five, in.-tead of three. No prize will be given for a smaller score than 30 mark*, the highest possible score heing 60 marks. The number of shots at ea h range f-r the preliminary competitive firing is to he seven, instead of three; the highest possible score being 84 marks. One representative will he allowed to proceed to Wellington for every twenty men who score 42 marks, instead of IS, provided the representative himself scores 50 marks, instead of 24, as before announced. The officers and members of the Waimea Volunteer Rifle Company held a field-day m New Year's Eve, in the presence of tha M jor commanding the district, anil a large number of ladies ami gentlemen residing in the neighborhood. The company marched at. half-past 4 to the parade-ground near their drill-shed at Waimea West, headed by the Volunteer Hand, and were then'put through various company movements hy Captain Blundell, which included marching past ill quick time, and skirmishing, &c. At 7 o'clock they adjourned to the shed, which had been tastefully decorated with evergreens, bayonets, &c, nnd where a first-rate repast had been laid out by mine host of the Waimea West Hotel, Mr Palmer. About 50 sat down, includiug the Hon. Major Morse, Dr. Cusai-k (Sur- | geon fo the Volunteer Force), Captain and i Adjutant Lockett, Captain Slater, and i Lieutenants Collins and Huddleston, Captain Blundell being in the chair, and Eiisiiin Rutherford oeeupving the vicechair. Every justice having been done to the excellent viands prepared for the refection of the inner man, the usual loyal toasts were given from the chair and duly honored ; after which the healths of Major Morse and Dr. Cusack; the Wakapuaka Artillery, coupled with the names ol Captain .Slater and Lieutenant Collins ; Capt. Lockett ; the Nelson Cadet Artillery, (for wliich Lieut. Huddleston returned thanks); and Sergeaut-Major Aldborongh, were given and warmly received. The health of Capt. Blundell and his company was then proposed by Lieut. Collins, which" met with au appropriate response ; this was followed hy ' l'he Ladies,' acknowledged hy Mr Edmund Thomas, with many other toasts, iucludiug, of course, the health of the Host aod Mrs Palmer,

with thanks for the excellent dinner they had provided. Several capital songs enlivened the proceedings during the evening, wliich were brought lo a conclusion at midnight, after firing a volley in honor of the New Year. Altogether a most pleasant evening was spent, the only drawback heir.g the regret experienced that so few of the officers ofthe otlier Volunteer Companies had accepted the invitation to the dinner. A Sydney telegram in the Melbourne papers states that. H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh is expected to arrive in tl.at city ou the 1 -it 1 1 inst. His Honor Mr Justice Johnson, Tlis Honor Mr Justice Richmond, the Hon. Colonel Peaeoeke, Charles E. Hauirliton, Esq., M.H.R., a«.d James O'Neill Esq., M.H.R., have been appointed a Commission to enquire into _tnd report upon the working ol the prison laws, tbe management, &c, of the gaols in tbe colony, and the desirability of founding .a General Penal Establishment. Thy Commission is to report withia t.\x. mouths. The amount of Customs revenue collected at the various ports of the colony during the quarter enoing 30tb Seuiemher last, was £19(745.9, compared with £199,452 received during tho corresponding qua! ter of last year.