THE RECENT GUN COMPETITION AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 103, 30 April 1880, Page 2

THE RECENT GUN COMPETITION AT CHRISTCHURCH.

To the Editor op the " Evening Mail." Sir — As one who took part in the recent gun competition at Christchurch, I should like to say a few words in reply to Lieut. M'Credie's letter, which appeared in your issue of the 22nd instant. Alter mentioning that our excellent drill shed affords us every facility for practice, &c, he goes on to say: — "The Wellington Battery, I regret to say, have been for many years deprived of a drill shed, and consequently have had many difficulties to contend with. They have, however, never failed to keep up their efficiency, a fact borne out by the manner in which they acquitted themselves in Christchurch, and so favorably commented on by the press of that city." Now, Sir, as the Government are providing Artillery Instructors at some expense I was under the impression it was with the intention of bringing Artillery Volunteers up to a state of thorough effi ciency, and we have been taught to believe that any competition between them would be to test their efficiency, and accordingly worked by points. Acting under this impression our detachment worked for points,which is more than I can say of our opponents, but as Lieut. M'Credie seems to be an authority on this subject, and has boasted of the efficiency of his own Battery, I should like to ask him if he ever knew Artillerymen fire an Armstrong gun without using a lanyard, and if he thinks they would gain points in a competition by so doing, and also if points would be gained by coming into action at such a tremendous pace as to capsize their limber, when we are taught that in coming into action the limber should move at not faster than a walking pace. If points are to be gained by these means the Wellington Battery certainly excelled, for in coming into action they capsized their limber and went through the motion of firing three rounds without using a lanyard, and that, Sir, was where we lost ground, for we did use a lanyard, and could have fired the three rounds in the same time as we went through the motions. In conclusion, I would say that I do not think the report Lieut. M'Credie refers to emanated from any member of the Nelson Battery, and I feel certain that there is no chance of any diminution in the good feeling which has always existed between the Wellington and Nelson Batteries. I am, &c, No. 1. Nelson, April 29, 1880. [Our report was obtained from an entirely uninterested Source, and this letter is the first we have heard upon the subject from a member of the ' Artillery Company. — Ed. N.EM.-]