RIFLE MATCH.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 148, 30 March 1872, Page 3

RIFLE MATCH.

No. 3 A. R. V. v. T. S. V. Yesterday six members of Captain Clark’s Company, Auckland Volunteers, came down per Golden Crown to fire a match against the same number of the Thames Scottish. The match was rather hurriedly arranged, and can, in consequence, be only termed a scratch match. It was arranged that five members should fire on either side, but as six came from Auckland Captain Murray got one of his men who was on the ground (Sergeant Schofield) to make up the number. Schofield was labouring under a disadvantage in not having his own rifle, being obliged to borrow one on the ground. The team that fired for the T.S.V. were certainly far from the best they have got, and even those who fired made far below the usual averages. Corporal Somerville, who has won the provincial medal this year, breaking down completely, and making only 14 points. The Auckland men also fired very badly, making a very poor average though they did win by 17 points. The only score worthy of mention during the match is Captain Murray’s, who made 47 points, having secured 19 at the 200 yards, and not missing at all. There were two scores of 41 on the Auckland side, and one of 41 on the Thames part, the others being none of them up to 40. The day was very hot indeed, and the glare of the sun very great, which may partly account for the bad shooting, but it ought even under these circumstances to have been far better than it was.

Very sad.—A railway traveller is reported to have caught cold through sitting next a wet nurse.

THE PROGRESS OF COROMANDEL. It is a fact worthy of notice that, although Coromandel was worked years ago, and subsequently almost wholly abandoned, again to come into prominence, its relapse was not caused by any want of faith on the part of some of the early prospectors. Captain Brackenbury worked on the field in 1861, employing four men for about twelve months, and only leaving when his funds were exhausted. He had considerable practical knowledge of goldmining, having been a Warden and Resident Magistrate on the Mclvor diggings, the first goldfield proclaimed in Victoria. The knowledge then acquired caused him to be favourably impressed with the appearance of the Coromandel country. His operations were conducted very near to the Green Harp ground, but, fate being against him, the magnificent finds which have since made that mine famous did not enrich the early prospector. In a letter to the General Government, dated November 9, 1861, and published in the Neiv Zealand Gazette of November 23 of the same year, Ca_ptain Brackenbury urged the necessity for thoroughly prospecting Coromandel, and pointed out that the close vicinity of Auckland had prevented the field from being fairly tested, as, unless miners were immediately successful, they returned to town and abandoned the field. In that letter Captain Brackenbury gave the following reasons for regarding Coromandel as a rich gold producing district :—“ lam of opinion that eventually gold will be found in considerable quantities at Coromandel, for the following reasons :—l. The external features of the country are very similar to those exhibited by the most auriferous parts of Victoria, viz., Ballarat, Bunninggong, Castlemaine, and Bendigo. 2. The geological formation indicates gold. 3. The specimens seen by me denote the existence of threo sorts of gold, obtained in three different modes—one from sand at the bottom of creeks, round and shotty; one from purely alluvial sinkings, weighty red gold ; and one from quartz, of which there appears to be any quantity. I fully believe that Coromandel is destined at no distant period to take its place amongst the large goldfields of the Southern hemisphere.” These predictions are now in a fair way to be completely verified.— D. S. Cross.

We append the scores :■ NO. 3 COMPANY rA 'S A.R.V. 4 ki S OB U n u ci U CJ ’ % y A o o O o 1 H Reid - ri 44244 22323 20340 3!) Aitkin 44442 03430 33430 41 Boardman - 42322 34230 43342 41 .McIntosh 43324 33230 03200 32 Sibbalil 22323 44332 30302 30 Thorne 02432 00032 20302 23 Average . . . 212 35J T.S.V. Captain Murray - 43444 42332 43223 47 Sergt- Campbell 4-4402 43333 30233 41 Vol. McLeod 22302 23330 22230 29 Corporal Somerville 30033 00030 00200 14 Volunteer Bums - 32024 24403 00220 29 Col.-Sergt. Schofield 24044 22044 02430 33 Average . . 195 32J