The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-07-25 00:00:00

THE WIMBLEDON MEETING.

The first week of the present meeting closed with
an eventful and pleasant day. At times the weather
was threatening, the sky being overcast and the sun
only peeping out at intervals, while the wind was
gusty and inconstant. There was, however, a
favourable grey light in the early part of the day,
and the occasional eccentricities in the scoring,
outers and misses alternating with bull's
eyes, were doubtless due to the jerky cha-
racter of the wind. The camp was full of
life and activity. Many were busy with preparations
for leaving, and before nightfall a number of volun-
teers had left for their distant homes. Visitors were
more numerous than on any previous day, and mild
festiNities were proceeding during the afternoon and
evening in many of the regimental camps. Postpon-
ing for a brief space the details of the shooting, pre-
cedence must be given to the visit of the Duke of
Cambridge to the Canadian camp. His Royal High-
ness, attended by Colonel R. Hale, A.D.C. in waiting,
arrived about half-past four, and was received by Sir
Henry Wilmot, V.C., M.P., President of the Associa-
tion, and Sir Henry Fletcher, M.P., and Captain St.
John Mildinay, representing the Council, Colonel
Eaton, camp commandant, and other gentlemen, and
conducted to the rear of the reception tent, where the
Canadian team, with Colonel Ross at their head, were
drawn up in full uniform. Having formally inspected
the men, front and rear, the Commander-in-Chief
entered into conversation for a few moments with
Captain Clark, whp was wounded in the recent cam-
paign while serving under General Middleton against
Riel. Then addressing the team, his Royal Highness
said he was always pleased to visit their camp, and
on this occasion it gave him especial gratification to
be able to congratulate them on the loyal manner in
which the volunteers of Canada had come forward in
defence of the country. A practical proof of their
experience and patriotism had been afforded during
the recent troubles in the North-West, where they
had had a very good man in General Middleton to
lead them. He saw before him an experienced officer
who was wounded during those troubles, and that was
only another proof that 'L'ne volunteers of Cansda
were quite equal to `„lue engagements which they were
called upon to fulfil. Since last year, when he had
the pleasure hi addressing them, there had been an
°Pril':nity for the soldiers of our colonies to
in line with her Majesty's troops, and he had no
doubt that if another emergency should arise there
would be again exhibited the same feeling of unity
between the colonies and the mother country. Visits
such ns those paid by the volunt-ers from the
Dominion tended' only to increase the feeling and res-
pect for her Majesty and the mother country, which,
far from diminishing, he was gratified to see was
greatly extending. It was very pleasing to him when
he came there, as be had done for some years, to wel-
come his old Canadian friends, and to tell them how
much we in the mother country reciprocated the
friendly feeling exhibited by cur colonial brethren,
and he hoped tbat when they returned home they
would carry with them agreeable recollections of the
time which they had spent in England. Colonel
Ross, in reply, said that in the name of the Dominion
Militia he begged to return thanks to his Royal High-
ness for the kind manner in which he had expressed
himself. Speaking as one of the oldest officers in the
Canadian Militia, he begged to convey to her
Majesty the assurance of the undying loyalty
of the Canadian forces, and if at any time
their services were required they would only be too
happy to take their share in the defence of the
Empire. At the conclusion of the inspection the
duke entered into conversation with some of those
present, among whom was General Sir Selby Smith,
K.C.8., formerly in command of the Canadian
Militia. His Royal Highness subsequently visited
The Cottage, after which he returned to London.
During the afternoon Sir Henry and Lady Wilmot
entertained a very large number of visitors. Among
those present were his Royal Highness the Duke of
Cambridge and Colonel R. Hale, A.D.C. in waiting;
the Duchess of Marlborough and Lady Sarah
Churchill; the Earl and Countess Spencer and the
Hon. R. Spencer; Earl Brownlow ; Earl Manvers,
Earl Waldegrave, the Countess of Romney,
Viscount Newark, Lord and Lady Chelmsford, and
the Hon. Mrs. and Miss Thesiger ; Lord Tolle-
macho of Helmingham, Lord Byron and the Hon.
Misses Byron, Lord and Lady Edward Clinton and
Lady Florence Clinton, Lady Anna and Miss
Chando3 Pole, Lady Harriet Fletcher, Lady Harlech
and Hon. Miss Ormsby Gore, Lady Lamington,
Dowager Lady Castletown, Lady Knightley, Lady
and Miss Sutton, Hon. E. and Lady Fanny Marjori-
banks, lion. Mrs. Newdigate and Miss Webb, Capt.
Hon. Henry and Mrs. Drummond, the Hon. James
Leigh, Captain the Hon. Vesey Dawson, the Hon.
Mrs. Pascoe Glyn and Miss Glyn, Hon. Mr. and Mrs.
W. Portman, General Sir Gerald Graham, General
Sir Selby Smith, Sir John and Lady Hartopp, Sir
Henry and Lady Fletcherand Miss Tottenham, Sir F.
and Lady Herschell, General Sir Seymour Blane,
Admiral and Lady Henrietta D'Eyncourt and Miss
D'Eyncourt, General and the Hon. Mrs. Higginson
and Miss Higginson, General Elkington, General
Bulwer, Colonel and Lady Jane Penclarves-Vivian,
Colonel and Mrs. Julian Hall, Mr. Monk, M.P.,
Colonel Walrond, M.P., Miss Magniac, Mr. G. Gipps,
C. 8., Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ross.
For the Silver Medal and places in the Queen's
Sixty there was an exciting contest. After a tie with
Private Paish, 19th Middlesex, Sergeant Dodd, 3rd
Middlesex, and Private Geddes, sth Lanark, who had
each scored 189, Colour-serg,-ant Simonds, of the
Inns of Court Rifles, won the Silver Medal. For
the last four places in the Sixty twelve men tied,
each with an aggregate of 177 points, and on shooting
off Major Pearse, 4th PO%-on; Corporal Barrett, 2nd
Norfolk; Lieutenant Heapt, 6th Lancashire; and
Lieutenant Backhouse, of the same regiment, were
successful. In the match for the Maharajah of
Vizianagram's Challenge Cups the Lords team beat
the Commons by seven points. The China Challenge
Cup was won by Dumfries, the Belgian Cup by the
Ist Berkshire team, and the Prince of Wales's Prize
of £lOO by Colour-sergeant Garnett, 3rd South Staf-
fordshire.

The principal contest on Monday was the interna-
tional, between four teams of 20 men each, represent-
ing the four nations comprised in the United
Kingdom. It was won by the Scotch, who made an
aggregate of 1688 marks, which was seven above the
number scored by the English.

On Tuesday the Queen's Prize was won by Sergeant
Bulwer, 2nd V.B. Lincoln, with an aggregate score of
307 points, the number made at the last two ranges
being 65 and 62. Private Guy, Ist Ayr, took the
second prize with an aggregate of 201; and Private
Newns, Ist Surrey, the third, with an aggregate of
288. A number of minor competitions were also
brought to a close.