RIFLE MATCH.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 637, 18 May 1878, Page 2

RIFLE MATCH.

The rifle match between the Christchurch Engineers and the Oamaru Rifles was concluded this morning, and resulted in a victory for the Oamaru team by 25 points. Considering the exceedingly unfavourable weather, the shooting was very good, some of the scores being particularly worthy of praise. "We must certainly congratulate the Oamaru team on their vie'ory, seeing that the Christchurch Engineers are considered the crack corps of that city. The folio wing are the scores : o.ui.vuc i:tti.f.>. 21 Hi .;no -100 „, v<H v.U v.ls J Vol. A. ir.-ir.lv '-2-2 22 21—G5 Vol. 11. Harding 25 10 14-5S Vol. Ix-nnie " 21 20 15-50 Q.M. Scrgt. King 23 11 21—55 I l.t. lio-idl.-md 1!) 14 10—40 | V..1. K Iho-dhig IT 15 10—4S V,,1. Uua.Hirll " 20 -23 29—60 ! .-•nl.-biuiit. Morris ... 2:! 10 19-0! ! V,,1. Scott 10 22 10—00 r.-rpt. .-■ueipt'T 10 22 19—00 V..1. M'Ou-kimkb ... 21 IS 22-61 Vol. M'lutosh 14 21 15—5!) 243 220 220 089 fTT!!ISTCirt"RCII ENGINEERS. Snnpcr.leffivv.s 22 25 21—OS Sal.ncr CosMey 25 IS 18—Oil Sevgt -Major Mnmining ... 2L 1!) 17 —57 !.t.-Corpl.'('liupi>.uui ... 20 14 14—51

Ser-t. Bncld.-v 24 8 22—51 <}.}. i. fVru'fc. Keattie .. 23 15 B—4f> Corpl. .I'arsons 22 24 ]fi-«2 Sapper Mwhall 2<> 16 17—50 Sanper Teoiuo.-.&n... ... 2'2 20 IH —55 ('apt. V.'.-.rn-.-r l'J 17 10—52 Sapper Trevolia 17 17 19—5:-! Corpl. Pierey 10 2 22—43 •2'M J95 203 6(14 We understand that it is contemplated to Sire the ret urn match shortly at Christchurch. THE IHXXEK. At the conclusion of the mateh the competing teams, at the invitation of Captain "Snmptav. on behalf of the Oamartt team, sat down to a capital dinner at the Criterion Hotel. The chair was occupied by Captain Smnpter, of Xo. 1 Company ii.V., the vice chair by Captain Warner, of the Christchurcli Engineers. The Chairman and ViceChairman were supported by the oilieers of the two Companies, the members of which were seated alternately round the table. The spread being everything that could be rl'-sired, and the competitors' appetith eiug sharpened by a day's i exposure j the keen weather, it was not

long after the commencement of the repast before the table wore a different ■ aspect, and the toasts of the evening were I proceeded with. The Ci airman proposed " The Queen,"' - and iu hing so said that he felt sure that I at this, time more parde : - ..ly all would , be possessed of a iVelin , >•' patriotism ■ towards the Mother Country, ."-d 1- valtv i towards Her Majesty. This ; as ; heartily responded to. "The heahh of the Governor' is i th-"'n drunk on the motion of tiie ~\ leo- ■ j Chairman. \ The toast "Poth Houses of Parliar mont" was then propo.-od by the Ciiair- • man. He bad no doubt that that toast • would be drunk wiih sonic warmth, . although <.'■■_■: t•■■:.■:■>'-iw.-n'r ih-it, the volun- • leers i.ad n e-ived in tin' past could uoi ■ but lie nr.-ived with, regret. (Hear, ■ hear.) He thought t' ,-t ;i iinie liberality ■ at tiie pres:-i!f juncture would only be - judicious. If was a mistake to sunnos.. - that tiie volunteers were a useless body. - There could be no doubt that, although. •- the vohmr.'e-vs might regret tint occasion t should require Ihem to do if, they would come to Hie fore we.-u required. It I would be only nc-ceswry to call upon i them, and ;:s of old. they would hasten i to protect their hoarihs am! homes. The Vice-Chairman proposed, '•'TinMayor and Corpora; ion and City of

'jtSamnni." He said that Major Steward, • the Mayor of Oaniarii. was well known to i al! pre.-cnt. From what he could underi stand the Mayor and Corporation had ' always not only treated the Volun- :' teers with courtesy, but had encouraged • flic Volunteer movemeiii i>y every means r in (heir power. ; Sergeant-Major King requested that he ' mitiht be permitted to ask Capt, Sumpter to respond to the last toast, as ho was the ! predi c.ssor of the present 3 lay or. : Caorain Sumpter said Unit ho took the I suggestion ihat, he should respond a? a : double compliment, namely, to the pre- ' sent Mayor and to himself. He was sure ■ that ho was quite safe in saying that they , were both exceedingly anxious to promote ; theinterestsand welfare of the town, audit ■ was quite evident that they must natuvalby : have a friendly feeling towards the Volun- • teers, as they were both officers. He j would take that opportunity of apologising ; on behalf of Major Steward for his ab- : senco, as other pressing duties prevented • him from being present. I The Chairman then proposed the toast ; of the evening, " The health of Captain ; Warner ami the Christchnreh Team." r He complimented them for the courage : displayed by them in coming to Oamaru, : as it was at all times difficult to get a • team together numbering twelve men to > travel so long a distance, and it was quite i probable that Captain Warner had left ■ some of his best shots at home. Speak- : ing for the Oamaru team, he might say i that it was hardly to be anticipated that the city of Oamaru, as it had been correctly termed by Captain Warner, the population of which was so greatly outnumbered by that of Christchnreh, could select a team as able as one coming from the latter city. He was pleased to have met the Ch.ristohurch men at the range, and doubtless good would result from friendly contests such as that which they had engaged in. Their good firing, notw -'thstanding the boisterous weather, at t'-e 200 yards range, would cause the O nmru team to use still greater efforts to improve their shooting. It was doubtful as to which side would bo victorious, but he hoped that if the Oamaru team's scores did not equal those of their opponents, they would not be far behind. He asked them to heartily drink the health of the Christchnrch team, coupled with the name of Captain Warner, and invited the visitors to the Philharmonic Society's concert. After thi had been dc 3, with musical I honours, ~■

Captain "Warner, in responding, said that some of the Christchurch people considered that he was guilty of presumption in bringing his men clown to Oamaru, seeing that it was the headquarters of the crack shots of North Otago. (Cheers.) He, however, told such people that they were not courageous enough to fire with his company, and that it must fire with somebody. Notwithstanding the difdculties of getting men away from their businesses, he thought that lie had brought down with him a team that fairly represented the company. Ho hoped, witli Captain Sumpter, to win yet; but whether they won or not, he was satisfied that the m;iteh could only have a good effect. The meeting of the companies to engage in a little friendly competition would have the effect of cementing the volunteers. Such occasions as that which had called them together were far too rare. Volunteers saw too little of each other, and three or four days spent in competition such as that they had engaged in would do them more good than three or four years spent apart from each other, for it was generally acknowledged that there was always something to be learnt on occasions like that which had brought them together. He thanked the Oamaru Company for the kind way in which the toast had been proposed and received, for the liberality with which they had been treated, and for the kind invitation to the Philharmonic Society's concert. He would propose—" Success to the Volunteers of Oamaru, coupled with the name of Captain Sumpter/' This toast was drank with musical honors.

"The health of the ladies" was next proposed by Lieut. Headland. The Chairman then proposed, "The health of the Press, saying he did so with great pleasure, and lie must say that they as Volunteers had no reason to complain as regards the treatment they received at the hands of the Press, for they always willingly inserted any information concerning their movements, and he trusted that thoy would continue to use their influence in forwarding the Volunteer interests.

The toast was coupled with the name of Mr. Smith, who was asked to respond on behalf of both papers, Mr. Jones being unavoidably absent at this stage of the proceedings. Mr. Shrimski, M.H.R., having hero entered the room, the Chairman said lie was quite sure that Captain Warner would allow him to introduce him, and request him to say a few words. He wished to mention to that gentleman that he must not think it was from any want of courtesy either to himself or to his co-

representative that thoy had not been invited to attend, as he might state that, no invitations were issued. He might tell him that the toast to both Houses of Parliament had been duly honoured, but as none of the gentlemen present belonged

to either House, he was quite sure they would like to hear a few words from him, and he trusted that, after having been amongst them, he would endeavour in his place in Parliament to do what lie could in their interests, as he was convinced that, even looking at it financially, especially under present circumstances, it would be an advantage to the Government to have the aid of Volunteers.

Mr. Shrimski, M.H.P., in responding, said that he would not hesitate to say

that, in the past, he had opposed the movement, us it seemed like playing at soldiers, hut after what iio had lately observed, he felt inclined to change his ouinion, and lie could assure them in future he would advocate (heir interests. (Oheers.) tie then stated to the chairman that he would hand him a cheque f.-.I- L 5 us., to ho competed for by the teams present. (Cheers ) Captain Warner, on behalf of the Engineers, thanked Mr. Shrimski for his prize, and in. doing so said that doubtless what lie had said as to the Volunteers had, in some measure, been true, and that, in cases where Volunteers did not endeavor to keep themselves n;i to the mark, they did not deserve support. It did riot only rest, with the officers, but with the men. They should always do their best to make themselves efficient Volunteers. The health of the Hostess and Host were duly honoured, and they were much complimented for the manner in which they had made arrangements. The Chris; church team left by train this morning, several of the Oamaru team being present in uniform.