The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-07-26 00:00:00

.44111.11

THE STOURBRIDGF OBSERVER_

got the ' resolution ' carried. It is not for me to advise
the exact steps which you Good Templars and other
staunch Prohibitionists should take in bringing your
political power to bear in the promotion of the much.
wished for legislation. I merely give you an idea of
how matters look from my standpoint, and can very
contentedly leave the organizing of the forces outside
to those earnest friends by whose efforts success must
be ultimately obtained, and who it will greatly please
me to find looking favourably on the tactics which at
present I suggest as calculated to promote our policy.
—Yours, truly, WILFRID LAWSON. _

THE WINNER OF THE QUEEN'S
PRIZE AT WIMBLEDON.

Corporal Taylor, of the 47th Lancashire, won the Queen's
Prize at Wimbledon on Tuesday, with the unprecedented
aggregate of 83 out of the possible 105 marks.—We take the
following particulars from The Times of Wednesday :

"The second stage of the 'Queen's' was shot on
Tuesday afternoon in very unfavourable circumstances.
The ground was so saturated with wet that it was im-
possible for the competitors to keep anything like a
line, some of them being placed several yards in advance
of others, in order to avoid the pools of water and the
quagmires of black mud that studded the ground.
Although the morning had been fine enough
the wind freshened considerably after lunch, and
driving showers of drizzling rain swept across the
common, making everything damp and uncomfort-
able. There was, however, a fair sprinkling of
visitors, probably friends of the competitors, who
crowded round the firing point and appeared to
watch the final struggle for Her Majesty's Prize
with much interest. The second stage of the
Queen's Prize competition is shot with the Govern.
ment Martini-Henry rifle at 800, 900, and 1,000
yards, seven shots at each range, the competition
being restricted to the 60 making the best scores in
the first stage, the prize being £250 in money, the gift
of Her Majesty the Queen, the winner taking also the
gold medal and the gold badge of the National Rifle
Association. The 800 and 900 yards' ranges are gene-
rally shot before lunch, but in order to meet the wishes
of many of the competitors who objected to the break
in the shooting, the competition did not commence
yesterday until after lunch. It was concluded at about
half-past five o'clock.

"At the 800 yards' range Quartermaster-Sergeant
Taylor. of the 10th Glocester, and Corporal Roberts,
of the Hon. Artillery Company, made 30 each, Private
Kydd, of the sth Forfar, coming next with 29.
Corporal Taylor, of the 47th Lancashire, made 28. Of the
three Scotch favourites, Private Rae, of the Ist Stirling,
the winner of the Queen's Prize of last year, made 27,
Private M'Vittie, of the 7th Dumfries, made 19, and
Lieutenant M'Kerrell, of the London Seottish, made the
same score. At the 900 yards range Corporal Taylor,
of the 47th Lancashire, at once came to the front with
27, making his aggregate score at the two ranges 55.
At the 1,000 yards, range Corporal Taylor made
another 28, winning the Queen's Prize with a total
score of 83. five points more than it was won by last
year, and nine points higher than made by any of the
other competitors, Private Kydd, of the sth Forfar,
taking second place with a score of 74. Directly
the last shot was fired three cheers were given for
the winner, who was seized and hoisted on to the
shoulders of some of his brother Volunteers and car-
ried to the enclosure in front of the Society's offices,
where he was welcomed by Captain Mildmay and
other members of the Council. His rifle having
been tested and his score verified, Corporal Taylor
was formally proclaimed the winner of Her Majesty
the Queen's Prize and of the National Rifle Associa-
tion gold medal and badge for 1879 by Lord Wharn-
cliffe, who congratulated him upon his success, and
expressed his regret that owing to the unfortunate
state of the camp Lady Wharncliffe was unable to be
present and to pin the gold badge on his arm in
accordance with her custom. Three cheers
having again been given for the winner, Corporal
Taylor was again mounted on the shoulders
of his comrades and carried off in triumph
to the camp of the Victories, whose band pre-
ceded him. playing "See the Conquering Hero
Comes." He was received on behalf of the Victories
by Quartermaster-Sergeant James Block, who, in the
absence cf the commanding officer of the corps, pro-
posed his health, coupled with that of all Lancashire
and English Volunteer Corps. Corporal Taylor, in
responding, said he was glad that the Queen's Prise
had been won this year by England and for the second
time by Lancashire., '

Corporal Taylor is a young man of 26 years of age,
very spare of limb, and about 5 feet 7 inches in height.
He is a fitter in the Bolt Iron Works, at St. Helen's,
and has been a volunteer only eight years. He began
shooting in 1876, and his supreme triumph has been
won on his first visit to Wimbledon. His quiet modest
demeanour when he was received with such hearty ap•
plause won the admiration of all beholders.