COLONIAL PRIZE FIRING.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 160, 13 April 1872, Page 3

COLONIAL PRIZE FIRING.

The firing for the colonial prizes at Christchurch is now finished, and we certainly think that this district has cause to be proud of the representatives sent down to contend with those from other provinces. With one exception they have taken prizes which is not at all bad, and we think that, speaking of the North Island, we can safely say that they have carried off the palm. Otago, of course, comes in for the lion’s share of the prizes, but we are gradually creeping up, and we will, wo hope, yet wrest from her the honors she has so long liehl in rifle shooting. Hoskins, on whom our greatest hopes were fixed, lias come very well out of the ordeal—though we cannot but t'.i’nk that he has not done as much as was expected of him, as everyone thought that he would pull up in the rapidity firing, even if he was behind in i some of the other sets. Unaccountably he

(has fallen off in this, and only made about inlf his average points, notwithstanding which becomes out third in the aggregate scores, showing that he fired well all round. Fenton, too, our youngest representative, has not been idle, and has gained, we consider, great honour in winning the Marksmen’s Prize. If he goes on as he has commenced he will make his mark amongst colonial riflemen yet, as this is his first essay in that line of my consequence. Partington and Payne nave come in well at the end, and have noth won good prizes. At the next competition we hope that the Thames will be as well, if not better represented than it has been this time, and we must say, without at all wishitlg to take away from the merits of those men who went South this year, that there were some Volunteers left behind who can shoot “ just a little,” hut who were not fortunate enough to qualify. Before concluding, we must say that we cannot approve of the test given by Government for the choosing of representatives. Were they lo he chosen by their average shooting in a series of matches, it would he much fairei than to pick them out by the scores made on one particular day, as lire best shots are at times not fit to fire in a match or competition of any consequence. Until the Government adopt some method of this sort, they can never depend upon having really the best marksmen in tire Colony all brought together.