COLONIAL PRIZE-FIRING

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1904, 9 February 1875, Page 2

COLONIAL PRIZE-FIRING

Presentation ci Irazes.

■■'|i ;A 11/ the Tham|fi • turned btifc |$f their \ Rouses to "^it^l^ the |di^i||ti6n of ijGfovernisnt prizes^to thejtepr€|ioitttati7es. I On the day when t)ie Beprfesentatives | arrived the crowd was large, and magnk j fiedbytbe extensile turn out of Voknteerg f: but yesterday afternoon the assemblage.' ot men,: women; and* children was greater* The affair was announced to take place at four o'clock. As that hour approached^ persons, flocked, irom direptiohs^' Ladies" thfbngecl x the %atcbny *of the Exchange buildings, which presented a lustrous confusion of beautiful summer dreslesr^and ajad there was room the sterner sex stowed themselves. Every window in the. Pacific Hotel that fronts /Brown street was a kind of peep-show o^human faces, and the topji ojtj thfe jjpjbrpKi.. which stands out from the Academy was inconveniently iat^n/:wifch^ humanity, wHose very appearance seemed to propound the perplexing conundrum as to how they got there, and in what mannerdisposed of their legs, and other hard-tqifbe-disposed-dif mcnibers of their bodies/ Tlie crowd beneath, these lofty points of iobsei^vation. ; was; a mixed and exceedingly numerous one. There were -blacks- and whiter ;men, women, and children of every shade in the social grades, /wearing, likewise., every.shade of costume, that the famed Hogarth could have put upon canvas witjtf tbeHpurpbsV of repre- ■ senting a throng as motley as that of /Vanity / iFafr^itself./ /^lie'- small-; boy element constituted an awful preponderance, and great difficulty wouldy have undoubtedly .been experienced in maintaining a; decent appearance of order on account of these latter (even with the aid »f our excellent police) but for the? gracious and efficient services rendered by.Mr Pineha, the individual, wjb.q jrdis'trnguishVcl himself at: the 1 "reception. Pineha rose with the occasion, ,the im;|)6rtinc¥BF^hifeH Ini-his^muidl was amply j manifested by the attention which he had paid to his "get up." and general equipment; .Dressed intuit o^black, t with a side belt upon' which ( were silver ornaments, his head decorated with a fashion-ably-cut bell-topper, this amusing old Maori danced around with'astonishing energy, and did great execution in dispersing a tfte smalTvboys with a really splendid taiahafa species of weapon used by the Maoris, and which old Pineha has ;doubtiess;received as'ailondf bt lheirlbbm. The old Maori was the subject of much amusement. The presentation took place on the pavement in front of the Pacific, which faces Brown-street> so that persons ,on:the Exchange JBalcqny r coul4r lObtain; a view of- what was going forward. Qarts happening to be in the vicinity were at 6nce taken summary possession of, as they a, good position for sight, seeing, and all round the crowd was very thick indeedrnr -': ■.T ,l;/ v -// : ' | \ The arrangements for the w%re*oif course^previously made. A table covered with red baize was placed opposite the Academy, and the prizes r^ere. arranged, upon and presented a goodly heap withal. There wer#the two,. the;-, s}^7f^ I QPM&ftVJ&Pi of the 5" highest on tlie winning side JSforth versus Sputh-T^the various gold and silver medals and money prizes* the jatter? being made vp 1 in envelopes, with the names of, the ; winnersc^written:u^p^l^hjernvfThe ten Snider rifles won by the winning team in the match between v the two islands were placed in three stacks around the table, an<| were decidedly |iandsome looking arms./ $hd?iPresS; pypvided themselves with a small t«|We, which, with remark(iibjei/cotisidera'tipn; was soon" laden with,, ammunition ; belonging to the ten Snider * rrifles, by an obliging official. A long form wa? placed .behind these tables for thVladils'and'others to sit upon. , . The Maori Cprpi were; in..attendance; it is presumed:' to^act-.a^aCs3iri '-of guard to jceep bac^/i^ putiugopdnumbers* ;/ikilin^in^;fcjie Pacific Corner, } Wjere^ '^i^i^ed, into/;sections i|nd iorm^gu^ridb'^"''^©. tight and left, ancj ..iti nius^be pinned .that in this capasityji they;.tfid^qd )seryicel/,vlpie-/Bepreßep-" tatives, who looked little the worse for" their 14 days' camp life, mustered in Albert street, whence they were marched and, drawn up in a line opposite the Standing thus, it could nbt fail to strike an observer that, taken ; collectively, they were, j, fine body of men,, iiplf a credit to ttiejvdluntejeriibrce of the.'•;■ J^ayi" k Tlii^TOed, oonstlbularj, who cannot be classed under the headof vplun>< ■fl|B^; ffl vef-.fisgnijfished' icfiiitalry ' Appearance, Jaiiif^^pimpr^e as snapping set of fellows as might be met with on a lone iournev. " :. ,

*;. ■ A;^^^elaft^^u^|^j^j^|||ljo^.' ing ladies were ir~! Mrs^ Pollen Ib^^^s^6\!^^v^b 3sjxx^ Mackay^ nnS Miss Brewerjliaping the^ir; ;seatsrin>the: rear;o£ the itabldjupdn which gthe prjpesr were" deposited. „There wete 'also present—^ Dr 1 Pollen^' acting Prime Minister in the absenc^e M i£e Hpn Julius; Ojyon^ Colonel St. ilphn^ aqd,^the, ( iiiaffi Qflicsrs» Mr, Charks D'Keill, M v H.R^and others. His Honor theSupe^nten^^ atid^:^ occupied at one of the ?Facific.:/wihdowsw:!-. f&-j.J-}'±lm tf' 'k'".-. .■}'?.;, i Thei orowdi•after theinannerlpf crowds'' generally, were ver^HrouWesbiQe in tltie n||^er pf,iprushing;, ;being. posspssed lot .■;aiiinsane.jid^l^lia^'t^e-; organs of sight., were to be assisted by a systematic attaci:-upon|heir-neighbours': cprio^sand general clb^in^^aiid^tiiLggifi^-buf iby the energetic efforts; of andp^pHc|i^en a tli(|y^w(a!re icept in a reasonable condition of bottlei effervescence. Every-* thing being readyr- * . V ■•.. r i

Dr Pollen came forward, and apologised for the absence of Sir Donald McLean, who was to hare presented jblje'sprizes. The Native MinisJtejtv he^lai^^aS ¥bient in the Waikato upon business of very great importance tp" the icp)ip^y,\;|uid,he had found >it imposisible toffee pr^ent at the distributibjPias-had;been||Sis intention. He (Dr. Pollen)? beingvthfe-oniy J^inister in Auckland, -had; :therefpre come); down that day to distribute^ the^prfizes. > , i The distribution of prizes was then ! proceeded with, Dr Pollen handing them W rthe'winnersT' vwere "nbfc': gnrten? in"' the order of any published list. A number of the smaller money prizes were given put first; 6(yrma^(^g^iik iM'C^tArf:-} The Belts were then presented to tjhe re-]i |pc^Te#amp|<§|!l(|ni3|ilir^ and£JifStlry) for the year. Mrs Fpllen presented these, and ■ j)lic'ecl mem /u^)bii> the shoulders of Lieut. Skinner and Constable Poelnitz, for whom it was certainl^a rl prpud ; da7. Dr PoilMadd^essldliew^ iidtds^£ (Sbngratulation and encouragement to the Champions. ; The. cerempny was ren^e.red more fimpressive^ by a^ Happy thought* bf*Mr ? McGomish, who is on an engagement with? the; tlieatrieal cpnapany;:iromr Auckland^ and who, as t^eic^rejnpny of presentation was cpnducfed, Jl&yeii upon :■ his cornet^ the Conquering Hero, but noticeably, and invidiously, only played for"thci Auckland Champion. The effect was heightened in" consequence of his intention being totallyv unexj)e,cted,7 torinpsfc:-pf; those.who were pres^i^d^lsßkin cph'sequenbe, his very? officious and gratuitous jServices were the more remarked fifoni-feeing rendered only to an Auckland man.,,,. The ,? piresentationl,;- hlvinjg :Toeen completedv our two Champions made their obeisance , and, retired/THey wete cheered Bearfcil^ by*i the crqw.d. , Seaiaan,;, Armstrpngj ; of the Thatties^ \N"a*vals, ami* one of the steadiest , andtes^shots^^u|>p^|he^^mes^w J astJ^en calledupon.to-receive the very handsbme f Cup .prize "for* theihighest scPijer;pf \tW Northern team. It is a really beautiful present, and one : which.the ;winner has a right to be proud of, as a memento of hisf success at this ■■> year'stfiringi; and; a costly ornament. <)nretiririgj Armstrbngreceivedv three cheers); tenj Snider rifles were then presented, the^ NbrtKeni team being, drawn up in'a line'forward of the ranks ■ tprreceiye them. ;^e:rest pJF; tl^e: prizes t ».#«rtol'iinen distei&Utied^litif of course^ were devoid of the interest attaching to those above alluded°tbr Amongst the prizes last given out was that presented by Sir /Donald McLean to the highest scorer in the National. Match, a#d r was handed to .Captain Murray.' ' ,: :>

I. x Co]^eV^sojs& callfed i ,';l^d;l|^iis^ ittuij^^^ ; each •^e';s^is^xi<^ \ the*' €haiii]i)iop''^Bip^djW^-^jnife^tty and iwprked;:a¥;soj4^ V v -,' :l :'^ 'to by ;t]be^|e^|l|(^t^^le^'" . . *4-. ■ .I' ;> ;l * CaptfdnvM^i^i^^^^camel&om. the ranks, and begged iear% to call for thrpe cheers ; forJElder^|]fcke ne^t; higliest aggref •gat^;-f:l'be-sch6ers'''wete <; most;; heartily .given,; sap, 'lnia^^vsympatJ^ is:>felt? Sf ipk'-i !l?l<|% ? iind^inany ,thin|i^ } sjiould "received* the!'?: bell-fe|^a^*vWv';' $ijsbr remarks were frequeAtJyS^arßye^terday. Three cheers K!for Dr Pollen? and Mrs PoU|n^anl Lyon, called fbr^bylOeuteiianti' Skinner; and three Aciieerifiwere Jgiven for Major Gordon jin response {'■ ton :^^3l^man^:K*f;S©i|ftai# ■Murray.|^As^9'^J^:.^^^'^^ ■■.■■: -r; ■. ?^3?hi* Jitern^atad^^lhe w^presentatidn. The ladies were escorted to their carriage, and the etowd Jbegatt^to in* all ;directiojQS;;^ s?'v >J '''H^"'':';fel...,- ''■■'':'■■.'.■■ ■ '. ' : ■f -Majo)rßtikpp addressing' tatives, informed; them that their attendance wMIH W-^i^axM in the Naval drill shed to discuss some matters of importance. "M^&^v-M : ;■• ;■■" \■•'■;,• ". '•^..

waslifelt|y^pii^oJel^lonsidSring any suggestions it would be advisable to make to the Government touching the manner of conducting future competitions between the yolunteers \M lhf|Dblony//. / Captain ;Hamlin was ypt^d to tjie chair. M'nvLrk^eif'of nibtipns vwe% %ade; sug-. gesting that the prwse firing should be ifi^din'tliis or >ilpar|icular istt #6fince nexl/yeari^utiirgresall«f^ , /^i resolution/proposed by Captain |Sprray,' waj; ; :^arned^—^lv^ the,: Govern-- ■ reqti^te(i|torif^ea's^ ,of,aggregat&'prizes/' v":i-• :• z.., / '^-■':■'-.:■; '•:.;, : '. v jPaptain Goldie then moved, '^at, in the event of the Enfield rifle being used in the next > competition, eaeht^ompetitor Be allowed to'use whateyer iimmunition he chooses, provided that it is ammunition ■^Isuedby/'the^GoyeTnl^ '/| r: \.;; ; y/Lieutenanii;Christie secondedy : /

?meritj^<fThat, in the event of the^Government sup. plying ammunition on the ground for eacn competitor as at this meeting, each competitor load his rifle in the froint ;pf- his squad officer before firing, sp^hat all might then fireirith the same aminu.'nition."u-.: •.. '■■. : ;". :■.■■ '•'., .:,'-.v -:. -■^';..- ---■ p laeutenayt Hbskins ;,; s^cdnde.d,^ pe'" whicli was carriejii o;" '•■ '^ A: report by Mr Soall; as tvifoeriiregii' larity in^^ weight of the .bulletf in Eley's cartridges, was thch^piicedbefore the meeting^^ by Gapt.M^rr^y. Eighteen bullets taken from the packages of Eley's ammunition were weighed, v The rej>prt gave the weight in troy grains of |eaqh Tbullet. The heaviest was 643 grams!and tte lightest 506, showing a difference fof 37 grains between twp bullets. n^Tte \ yariatipn was very irregular,; but tlieimean weigiit wa,s 1&25. $ grains; He also weighed 13 bullet? of 1870^ ammunition. a^Beaviejt^as only IS^grainsandCthe lightest 636., There were only; two bullets put 6f the 13 of the latter weight^-iipd only one of the former. All the others were; 637 grains], wMdh'^ was the mean; 'weight of the bullets. It was moved that the attehtiori of the Government kf z -called' to thesei> fec^i and that Jaxppyjol 'Wd report^o r'itbrfini^^

ment through the Chairman. The motion was seconded by Private Greer, and* carried. Resolutions were also passed embodying Ihe following sjMgeptions to be forwarded to the GoverdßpntW-That the Government should furnjfc, aompeti* tors with Snider rifles in sumeieat time for practice before the next colonial competition ; that the number of targets should be increased at future meeting*, or the number of competitors at each diminished ; thai the all-comers' matches should in future be with. Enfield or Snider rifles, and that small-bore rifles be'excluded from those matches, but - that a separate match' for siriall-bore riflei at ranges from 700 to 1,000 yards should be provided for., in regard to ; quilifieation of representatives, it was resolved to urge on the Government r that qualification should be by..two- or more matches, not one as at present. A vote of thanks was recorded' in favor of the Press for the accuracy of their reports during the firing; also votes' 1 of thanks were accorded to the officers and men of the Armed Constabulary, the Markers, and all on'duty air the firing*, the usual vote of thanks to the ChairnSan terminating the meeting. s> [A, proposition,was, made by a Thames volunteer officer to pass a vote of thanks to a section" of the local press, but the .representatives* wouldn't hear of it, much to the chagrin ofthe proposer.] „ .THE DEPARTURE.'' The representatives' took" their departure .this, morning in the Luna, which yesterday conveyed Dr Pollen arid family and others to the Thames. She left Tararu wharf'at! about. sI2U,b f clock, the departure being witnessed by a number of persons, who went to see the sentatives embark again. Dt Pollen and His Honor' the Superintendent'wWt by the Luna also, and will doubtleas be present at the ball which is tb.be gitjpi to the representatives in Auckland.,, f <