THE NEW CHAMPION BELT OF NEW ZEALAND.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 96, 15 October 1873, Page 3

THE NEW CHAMPION BELT OF NEW ZEALAND.

L Abridged from the Dunedin Star.~\ Through the winning of the Champion Belt at the Thames by Volunteer Hoskins, and the Cavalry Champion Belt by Trooper Douglas, of the Howick Troop (Auckland,) as the first Champion Belt is retained by Captain Wales, it was determined to have two new ones made, similar to the last and equal to them in value. The rifle Champion Belt is of blue morocco, and the silver work consists of a breast-piece, eight clasps, buckle, slide, last-piece, and end-piece, and silver mountings on the cartouche or despatch box. The breast-badge bears the New Zealand coat of arms, consisting of a Bishop, a native, and an altar, the whole surrounded by a wreath of ferns, and surmounted by the royal crown. It is a circular, and has two crossed rifles in the centre, surrounded by a wreath of ferns and flax. The pouches are of black enamelled leather, with silver edging, with the backs covered by a silver design illustrating the interior of a gun battery. In the centre is a stand of arms, with banners, helmets, shields, &c., and grouped around are piles of shot and shell. A sentry is shown on the look-out; and on each side of the design a mounted gun is seen on the battery. With the exception that the rifle belt for the infantry is blue, while that for the cavalry is red, there is little difference between them. Around the badge on the infantry belt, are the words—“ Colonial Champion Belt for Rifle Competition.” The cavalry badge—“ Cavalry Cliampion Belt, New Zealand.” The silver used is the product of the Auckland mines. The design is to be left, with the winner, and Messrs. Hoskins and Douglas will have the inscriptions placed upon the first clasp according to their individual tastes. They will be forwarded to Auckland in a few days for presentation to Messrs. Hoskins and Douglas.