COLONIAL PRIZE FIRING.

Tuapeka Times, Volume IV, Issue 220, 18 April 1872, Page 6

COLONIAL PRIZE FIRING.

(From the Eveniug Star b Correspondent. )

Christchurch, April 6.

Friday's rain, though heavy, left no visible impression, to speak of, on the streets of Christ hurch, and the strong wind that b'ew in the evening had the effect of completely drying up the ground in the country. It was, therefore contrary to general expectation that when the men went on to the range on Saturday morning they found the ground improved, if anything, as the dust was well laid down. On parade, Colonel Harington informed the men that the committee, chosen two days before, had made arrangements for giving a banquet to Major T . C. Wilson, C.8., in return for his kindness in lending his ground as a range, and that it bad been decided to issue invitations to the hon. the Premier, the hon. W. Reeves, resident minister, the Superintendent of Canterbury, the Mayor of Cbristchurch. the Captain and Officers of H. M. ship Rosario, now in Port Lyttleton, and to the representatives at the firing of the Lyttelton Times, Press, Otago Daily Times, Dunedin Evening Star, and Hawke's Boy Herald. The Colonel also intimated that he had placed himself in communication with the Hon. the Defence Minister, who had agreed, if necessary, to postpone the steamers a day to enable all the men to compete for the special and extra prizes. These special prizes are the marksmen's and allcomers' matches, and the extra one the ladies' natch, for a prize which is sure to be very handsome, as the fair sex of Cbristchnrch are subscribing for liberally towards it. Besides these, tii re are several other matches on tbe tapis ; but it is doubtful whether our men will stay for aay <>£ them. As it ia, it will be Friday or Saturday before they leave, as they will stop for the all- comers' match, which will be wor .h entering for. The whole of the representatives will compete; and nearly every man in Christchurch wbo can handle a rifle and obtain one, and tbe necessary time to fire, will do so ; because it is expected that the first prize, to which the Government will add LB, will be worth over L2O.

recurring to the subject of the dinner to Major Wilson, I may mention that it has given dissatisfaction in some quarters, which ia to be regretted, as it would have lookerl much better had the dissatisfied not allowed their grievances to st >nd in the way of making a decided success of what is intended to be a compliment to the liberal owner of Cashmere, who is a most enthusiastic volunteer. The Cavalry Repr. sentatives consider, on what grounds I have not been able to discover, that fmm the outset they have been snubbed by Colouel Harington, and have n>t neglected any opportunity of letting their opinions be known. Thus it happened that on tbe parade in question the cavalry to a m<in refused to take part in the proposed demonstration Their Cinterbury confreres, however, are determined to entertain them instead, and to-night they will be the guests of the mounted corps of Christchurch. Let me add that the citizens of Christcburch are equally dissatisfied. It appears that thfy took steps to entertain the representatives at dinner, but Colonel Harington informed them that time could not be spared for the proposed dinner to the men. Seeing that time has bdn made for the ether affair, tbe townspeople naturally grumble, and say they have been very shabbily treated. Judging, however, by present indications, the representatives will not have much cause to complain of the treatment fiey ihave received. The local volunteerare confining their attention to the ball to be <iven on Thursday, which will certainly be the grandest affair ever seen in the solony, and will cost not much under LSOO,

The shooting on Saturday commenced a little later than usual. At the start there was scarcely a breath of wind, while the sun was disagreeably warm, but as tbe day advanced a slight breeze sprang up, and though at times it blew pretty strongly, it did not mat. rklly affect the shooting. The match was the Seventh Match. — Ranges 200, 500, and 6uO yards ; seven shots at each ; any position ; targets at 200 yards (6ft x 4ft), centre 2ft square, bull's-eye Bin square ; at 600 aud 600 yards, 6ft x 6 ft, centre 4ft square, bull's-eye 2ft square ; a trial shot at each range. Ties to be decided as provided for in General Rules. First prize, LI 2 ; second, L 9; third, L 8; fourth, L 7 ; fifth, L 5; sixth, L 4; seventh, L 3; eighth. L 2.

The flung, remarks the Lyttelton Times, was very good, more especially when it is understood that during the greater portion of the last range, tbe light on the targets was very deceptive, and one of them was half covered by the shadow of the marker's butt Last year there were only five shots at each range in this match, consequently it is not very easy to analyse the respective winning score. There is no doubt, however, that Saturday's firing was much better, not only in the winning scores, but all through, than for the same prizes in 1871. On the hitter occatipn tbe winner made cix points liort of

au averagjof centres, but it will be seen that Uoleman's prize score on Saturday, though iucladmg a gr at number of shots, which makes it all the more difficult to ke >p up the) average, is an average of one point more thai* centres, This is sufficient to show that there! was an improvement, but to carry the com-pa-ison further, it may bs stated that be-> tweja the first and second ptize scores last year, there was a drop of six po nts, and that the lowest prize score was 10 points less than the first prize score, whilst on Sa urday there was only a po nt or two between first and second prize scores. The shooting at 500 yards uas exceptionally good. Gordon's 25, Humphrey's 25, Bassett's 25, Sop.r's 24* and Harrison's 24, out of a possible 28* being the result of very steady shooting. '1 he unusual number of 23's at this range, which is over centres, is worthy of mention, as also the fact that Major Stapp's squad at this range made the unusual average of 21.54 When the men moved to the la3t range there was a considerable feeling of excitement by reason of so many being cloce together, and the progressive chances of the competition were keenly debated upon. Muir had the misfortune to fire his second shot at this range on to the wrong target, and no doubt the five successive misses which followed are in a measure explained by this unlucky accident, Greer's fifth shot was also aimed at the wrong target, and narrowly escaped the boy who was engaged marking at the time. It was said that a bull's eye was made by the shot, but how far that may be correct we are unable to say. (by electric telegraph.) April 9th. EXTJRA PHIZES. Representative Match, between the ten Highest scorers from North and South respectively in the eight principal matches. Kanges 200, 500, and to'OO yards; seven shots at each ; any position ; uo trial shots. Targets— at 200 yards, 6f fc. x 4fc. centre, 2ft. square, bull's-eye Bin. square ; at 500 and 600 yards, 6ft. by 6£c, centre 4ft. square, bull's-eye 2ft. square. Prizes for the winning team :— Ten new Snider rifles, and L 5 a man, aud the challenge cup holdable for a year, and if won twice in succession or three yean ac intervals by the same competitor, to become hits absolute property.

200 yds 500 yda 600 yds Tl Coleman • • 3334333 4334340 4403433 64 Soper • • 3433444 2344432 0433322 63 Humphreys - 3433443 3434443 0223322 6.: Lean - - 3423443 4222332 3443043 62 Gray - - 4432334 2243333 2342233 62 Basaett - - 3444433 3432244 0303243 62 M Garland - 4324332 3332242 4234332 61 Wilson - - 3333334 2332443 4232223 61 \] 'Donald -3333333 3343444 2432030 60 Buchanan • 4333334 3433342 3240303 60 Wales - - 4333334 3344332 2203322 59 Kelly - - 2223333 4342232 4433330 58 Hamliu . • 3334333 3330442 3424202 58 Taylor - - 3434343 2342423 0430033 57 Oowie - - 3333333 0233323 3334043 57 Blatch - - 4332233 3324432 4230340 57 Liddel - ♦ 4334333 0342244 3203430 57 Philpotts - 3442333 2032334 2322242 56 Hoakins - 3334333 3243333 2220403 56 Key . - 2333344 2043423 43R3330 56 Morrow • 2333233 3344430 3042240 55 Christie- - 4442333 3330232 3233032 55 Chamberlain - 4333342 2242433 2222023 55 Dixon - ♦ 3323334 4233243 3242020 55 Keid - - 3333334 2232423 034*032 54 Carter - - 3324442 2223433 3402220 54 Churton- - 3343233 2023232 2r34334 54 Harrison - 4334343 4230332 0424002 53 Fenton - - 3222343 0240222 3233334 53 Gordon • - 4333444 2232342 2230020 52 Paton - - 3*22423 2040444 3032302 51 Brown - - 4442233 3442234 0302200 51 Close - - 2334342 2033324 4002223 51 Gulliver. - 2333343 U023330 4034403 51 S. Greer- - 3233333 2200223 3324323 51 F. Greer- ■ 3433332 3000443 2243004 50 Henderson - 2334343 2002242 0422233 50 Duncan - . 2343234 2043220 2302234 S.Cameron - 4334333 0232433 0322002 49 Curtis - - 3233333 3000223 3333223 49 Skene • • 23*32332 3244024 3244024 49 Moore - - 3343343 2222223 3230030 49 M'Laren • 4433333 3322222 2020203 48 Partington - 4433323 2032323 0004223 48 Fox . . 4243333 2022400 3304033 48 Todd - - 3333432 3232422 2300400 48 Sutton - - 4333323 2042343 2020003 46 Muir - • 3343334 2232333 3000002 46 Marshall - 4223322 2000332 2234' 142 45 Wiley - - 3222233 0223334 3303000 43 Innes - • 3323323 4043320 0302020 42 Shepherd • 3323320 2244043 0300030 41 Oates • • 4333333 0000200 3004243 40 Snodgrass - 3042332 0203430 3033200 40 Pavitt . r 2333243 4033004 4000002 40 Payne • . 4322333 0200022 2024000 34