COLONIAL PRIZE-FIRING REGULATIONS.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2146, 19 November 1875, Page 2

COLONIAL PRIZE-FIRING REGULATIONS.

There are several changes in the regulations for the next Colonial rifle competition, the most important of which we deem to be the. alteration of the " position " at 200 yards, and the number of points required to be made by District Representatives to qualify for the competition at "Wanganui. For the information of volunteers who may not be in . possession of the book of "Regulations," or who, having them, do not care for the trouble of comparing them with the regulations of last year, we have gone through the book, with the following results, which will be found to indicate the most important departures from the regulations which governed the tiring at previous meetings 5 with special reference to last year's firing.

1. In the " General Rules applicable to the competition for all classes of General Government Prizes," Rule 8 is an interpolation, and provides that " No artificial rests are allowed."

2. The next alteration is Rule 17, on (position. It stipulates that at 200 yards the position shall be standing. Last year any position was allowed. We give the new rule in its entirety—

17. Position: . (a.) At 200 yards the position shall be " standing," unless otherwise specified. No restriction will be placed upon the position of the fingers of the right hand; nor will any objection be made to the elbow restipg against the body, provided the little finger of the left hand is in front of the projection on the fore part of the lock plate. (5.) At distances above 200 yards, Competitors may adopt any position suited to the firing point. 3. Is important: the changes being no doubt rendered necessary by the volunteers being mostly in possession of breech loading weapons—Rule 31 of last year becomes Rule 32 this, and this is it—'

32. The attention of the Commanding Officers and Adjutants is particularly called to the following rules to prevent accidents, and which they are specially enjoined to enforce : — Competitors are on no account to be ■ allowed to load until coming to the spot from which they are to fire. Fo Competitor is to let the hammer of his rifle down on the nipple while tlite weapon is loaded. ; Competitors, before firing, are to take a few paces in front of all lookers-on, and to see that no objects are in the line of fire. The. practice of " blowing off" rifles on a range is strictly forbidden.

4. The Cavalry regulations have little interest to this district, but it may be mentioned en passant that tbi3 year Artillery Corps are eligible to fire with the Cavalry. The qualification competition will be severn shots at 200, 250, 300 and 400 yards; to be fired twice with an interval of three days between; the nine highest scorers will be the representatives (six only last year); but every competitor must hare made a minimum aggregate score in the two competitions of 160

points. 5. In rule Eo. 5 of "Rules for the choice of Representatives for the Colonial Prizes for Infantry," the ranges for the first competition are given, which are. the same as last year, namely 200, 400, 500 and 600 yards, seven shots at each range. Last year too this rule specified the targets to be used, which information is in the present book given in the general regulations, but an important alteration is made : the bull's eye at 200 yards is to be only eight inches square instead of 2 feet by 1 foot as last year. This reduction in the size of the bull's-eye, together'with the alteration in the " position" at 200 yards, will materially affect the scores. Firing to take place on or before 11th December, 1875.

6. The Thames is allowed 24 District Representatives this year as against 18 last year.

. 7. District Representatives fire between 13th December, 1875, and lOfch Jauuary, 1876. Ranges same as last year; small bull's-eye as in previous match. Colonial Representatives must id the two competitions make an aggregate minimum score of 165 points. This is another crucial test which was not in last year's regulations, for if it had been some good shots would have been I>ut out of the colonial competition. The Thames is allowed 4 Colonial Representatives ; extras on same terms and condi-

tions as before. These are the principal alterations in the " Regulations," '

8. The remainder ef the alterations are less important and refer principally to the matches and prizes. The Judging Distance Matches, for instance, are left out. The aggregate scores carry more prizes in number but slightly less in amount. Thus the Cavalry highest aggregate takes Champion Belt, silver medal and £15 (£2O last year), and carbine he fires with; second, £10; third, £7. In the Infantry the highest aggregate takes Champion Belt, gold medal; and £40 (£SO last year) and rifle he fires with; tecond, National Rifle Association medal and £30 (£35 last year) ; third, gold and silver medal and 1620 (£3O last year); fourth, gold and silver medal and £15 (£25 last year); fifth, £10; sixth, £s'; two last being additions. There are some further changes in the arrangement of the matches and the details of prizes, but they are not of very great importance. The above-will be sufficients show that the chances of qualifying for the colonial prize firing this year are smaller than last, in spite of. which, however, we have no- • doubt the Thames will be able to maintain its position amongst the volunteers of the colony. ~*.