PRESENTATION OF PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT PRIZES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 33, 10 February 1869, Page 2

PRESENTATION OF PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT PRIZES.

Yesterday, being the day appoiuted for the monthly inspection of the City Volunteers, was fixed upou as being an appropriate occasion on which to present the prizes offered for competition by the Provincial Government. The Hon. Col. Richmond, C.8., at the request of his Honor the Superintendent, had undertaken to present the prizes, and the Volunteers having been drawn up iv three sides of a square were addressed by him as follows : — 'Before proceeding to give out the prizes, I have to express the gratification I feel, as an old soldier, and the first Commanding Officer of Volunteers in this Province,' that I have been requested to deliver them to you. lam also desirous to congratulate you on the progress you have made in rifle firmg — the returns showing a very marked increase in the .scoring now made to that of some years back — and that you have reached a proficiency which could only have been attained by giving up much of your time to practice, aud by great perseverance and zeal ; but to maintain this proficiency I need scarcely add that it will require, on your part, constant attention aud practice. To encourage this, both the General aud Provincial Governments wisely giveyearly several valuable prizes, r.ud it is to distribute those that have been given by the Provincial Government, for last year, that we are met here this day.' The successful competitors for prizes were then called forward, and addressed as follows : ' Sergeant Catley, No. 1 Rifles, I am j happy to find that the Champion Prize has ; been awarded to one who in every respect < is so well entitled to it. You have already, I learn, distinguished yourself by being the winner of five previous prizes, and now by your steady perseverance you are ■ the successful competitor for the highest prize. It affords me, I assure you, the greatest pleasure to deliver over to you the Champion Prize as a token of your success, and as a reward for your perseverance and skill. ' Sergeant Gully, No. 1 Rifles, I observe that you have been the winner of a previous prize, and I am glad it falls to me to add another., to that former mark of your success. ' Private S. H. Drew, No. 1 Rifles, you have already been successful in gaining a previous prize, and by becoming the representative of the Nelson Volunteers at Wellington ; it gives me, therefore, great satisfaction to hand yon over the prize you have now won. 'Private E. Murrell, No. 1 Rifles, although you have not previously gained a prize, jet I find your firing has been generally very good, and I am glad that it is now -rewarded by the prize I present you with.

mmmm a m ta -m tm mt mm x**-m^km%***w* m m*eWm*W* a m^^ 'Gunner Adams, Gunner Dobbs, and Gunner Smith, of the Artillery) Gunner E. Gill, and Gunner C. Mansen, of the Wakapuaka Artillery, Private J. Arnold, Private T. Newth, and Private R. Fowler, of the Waimea Rifles, I learn that you are comparatively young Volunteers, but you all show promise of being good shots ; the prize therefore that I haud to each of you will, I trust, be au inducement for you to practice and attain further success.' ' L. Gully, an'l W. Adams, Cadets, you were both, I find, representatives of the Cadets for the General Government Prizes. This of itself reflects to your credit ; but you deserve still more credit for the progress you have made both in shooting and in your drill. I am, therefore, glad to preseut you with these prizes, as an encouragement for you to persevere as you have begun.' Cheers were then given for Colonel Richmond, Major Morse, the Superintendent, and the winners of the various prizes, and the volunteers formed in fours, marched back to town headed by the band. Previously to the presentation of the prizes, the arms were inspected by Major Morse, and the column having marched past in quick time, the men extended in skirmishing order and went through various evolutions, the parade being under the command of Captain Pitt. We cannot conclude these remarks without congratulating our volunteers on the very marked progress they have made in the manner of going through the different movements. It was quite competent for a civilian to see that the ' matching past' was done really well, but the more critical eye of a military man was necessary to form a correct opinion of the manner in which the other manajuvres were executed, and we were therefore much pleased to hear Col. Richmond express himself highly gratified with the whole of the parade. A decided improvement was also observable in tha band, both with regard to the style of their playing, and the selection of their music. They kept most excellent time, and we were very glad to find that they had ascended from the atmosphere of nigger melodies, with which they at one time appeared to be almost hopelessly surrounded, into a far higher and more pleasing sphere of musical composition.