NATAL CADETS ANNUAL PRIZE SHOOTING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 70

NATAL CADETS ANNUAL PRIZE SHOOTING.

DUNEDIN BOY VICTORIOUS. From the Natal Meicuiy of December 13 and 14 it is apparent that vciy great interest is taken at Durban in the training of school cadet* as marksmen. On the first day 70 cadets and 15 officeis and masters competed, and it is gratifying to record that a Dunedin boy of 14, a former pupil ami cadet of Hiirh Street School, who wont to Duiban ii\e yeais ago with his parents, pro'^.ed to be the crack shot of the day. Cadet Eiic Hallev (says the Mercury) was by far the most succe-sful competitor, winning no less than five prizes — namely, the 200 yds open. 500} ds open, and 600 yds open, was highest (cadet) scorer in the Brock Cup at 200j ds, which was won by his school team, and crowned his victories by winning the grand aggregate with a score of 79, the- next on the list scoring 68.3. The piizcs won in these events by the New Zealand boy consisted of a siher cup, a siher and gold medal, a beautifully-bound volume of Shakespeare, a morocco wnting-ca6e, and a splendid watch and chain presented by Mr Henwood (Mayor of Durban) to the w inner of the grand aggregate. On the following day, in the Schools of the Empire Competition, Cadet Halley won the gold medal with a score of 59. putting on 28 at 200vds and 31 at 500vds. The B core was phenomenally good, considering the conditions (strong and gusty -wind). At the Transvaal Cadet Bisley held at Johannesburg (about 700 miles from Durban) a few days later the Dunedin boy was again successful against a. large number of competitors. Under the heading of '" Nata-l's Rising Marksman " a Durban daily remarks: — "The Johannesburg papers have been making a lot of Cadet E. H. Halley, of Smith Street Boys' School. Durban, who won sc\eral prizes at the Cadet Bisley. His record is as follows: — Within nine dajs at Durbar and Johannesburg he won four siher cups, two gold medals, one silver medaJ. one siher watch and chain, «md four other prizes. His age is 14 years and 1 month, and his prizes included the third-class giand aggregate at the Tiansvaal Cadet Bisley and two other aggregates, four first prizes, one third, and one fourth. He did not learn to shoot until 1906, and was solely trained and coached by Lieutenant E. F. Yates, N.CC. adjutant of the Smith Stieet Boys' School Cadet Corps." Cadet Halley was the smallest, and with one exception the joungest, of the 70 or 80 Natal boys who took part id the Transvaal Bisley. The prizes were presented by Lord Selborne at a gicat public gathering- in Johannesburg, and the youthful New Zealandei was called up fi\e times.