The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-09-20 00:00:00

VOLUNTEER MOVEMENTS

THE CHESHIRE RIFLE PRIZE MEETING.

Although Lancashire had its grand fete at Knowsley,
—which, through the liberality and munificence of the
Earl of Derby, was a day that will ever be remembered,
not alone by every volunteer who had the pleasure of
taking a part on that occasion, but also by the tens of
thousands of spectators who received such delight and
amusement. in witnessing the evolutions of the volun-
teer corps 'as they treaded the green sward of that
ancient and noble barony—the display by the Cheshire
Rifles, on the common of Leasowe, was a sight which, -
if not on the same scale of magnificence, will still
be chronicled in the history of that county.. If
there is one thing more than another that Liver-
pool has to be proud of, it is being the first to
inaugurate this great national movement, and our
friends on the Cheshire side of the Mersey may
equally well be proud and boast that they so speedily
took up the cry, and can now with truth say, if not as
to numbers; they possess as fine a body of volunteers as
any county in the kingdom. On the Leasowe Common
yesterday were assembled the "crack shots" of the
Cheshire volunteers. how they performed their diffi-
cult.duty will be best seen by the subjoined details of
the points scored by each man ; and as we do not
profess to be fully up to military tactics, our readers
will be able to form their own opinions the points
excellence and proficiency the Cheshire Rifles have
attained, without any comments of our own. After
Knowsley, yesterday was a great day in the volunteer
movement. Cheshire has nobly come forward and set
an example to other counties, an•l when we say that the
day's amusement—amusement for the million, bat of
practical utility to the volunteers—was got up under the
supervision and patronage of the following distinguished
noblemen and gentlemen, it is quite sufficient to say that
their exertions and efforts were crowned with success.
Amongst the patrons we observed the names of the
Marquis of Westminster, K.G., Lord-Lieutenant of the
County ; Field-Marshal Viscount Combermere ; Earl
Spencer, Lord de Tabley, Earl Grosvenor, M.P. Major-
General Hay, Colonel Wilbraham, C. 8., J. Tollemache,
Esq., M.P., Hon. Sir Edward Cast, W. E. C. Egerton,
Esq., M.P., P. S. Humberston, Esq., M.P., Hon. Cap-
tain Egerton, R. v., Robert Vyner, Esq., Earl Shrews-
bury and Talbot, Lord Stanley of Alderley, Lord Eger-
ton of `fatten, Lord Elcho, M.P.. Col. Clarke Kennedy,
C. 8., Sir P. Egerton, Bart., M.P., Cornwall Legh,
Esq., M.P., Sir Richard Brooke, Bart. J. C. Ewart,
Esq., M.P., J. R. Shaw, Esq., Sir Charles Shackerley,
Bart., Lieutenant-Colonel' Fielden, John Laird, Esq.,
Capt. W. Chambres, 3rd C.R.V., Capt. H. A. Grey, 4th
C.R.V., Capt. F. P. Jones, 4th C.R.V., Capt V. A.
King, 2nd C.R.V., H. H. Laird, Esq., S. Led*ard, Esq.,
John Ravenscrott; Esq., Capt. J. CadeTl, Ist C.R.V.,
Joseph Aspinall, Esq., Capt. Edwards,. 11th C.R.V.,
Capt. G. Harrison, Ist C.A.V., Cape, W. Hope-Joues,
14th C.R.V., Herold Littledale, Esq., Capt. Nicholson,
30th C.R.V., Capt. W. Laird, C.A.V., Capt. Reynolds,
3rd C.A.V.; Wm. Inmau, Esq., Colonel Clarke Kennedy,
C. 8., and W. Hadfield, EN. The morning, as far as
the weather was concerned—and that is no small item
in a day's pleasure when enjoying a rustication--was
all that could be wished for. The ground for the rifle
practice was well selected, the targets being placed just
below the Leaso we embankment of the Mersey, with ranges
for the riflemen varying from 300 to 600 yards to the
south. To the east of the butts was to be seen Leasowe
Castle, which, with some of its antecedents, has been
thus described by it . local historian :—" A fine old
building, pleasautly situated on the sea coast, four milea
northwest of Birkenhead, between the rivers tree and
Mersey. Some parts of this castle have a very anti-
quated appearance, whilst others are evidently of a more
modern construction; Visitc,re are allowed to go on the
roof, from which they have a most delightful and exten-
sive view of the .sea and of the neighbouring country.
fleasowe Castle was formerly the seat of the Egertons,
and races were held in its vicinity until the year 1768.
It is now the property and country residence of Colonel ,
' Sir Edward Oust.- About a quarter of a mile from the '
castle is a substantially built lighthouse, which displays
a fixed light at an elevation of 118 feet, and is seen
fifteen miles off. A mile or two from Seacnmhe a monu-
ment is erected in memory of Mrs. Boode, of Leasowe
CaStle ; it has a small spire rising from it, and an in-
. scription on the base informs us that it was raised for
the purpose of commemorating a fatal accident which
occurred to that. lady near the spot."
' The business of the day commenced shortly after
eleven o'clock, and the following regulations were
observed :—Those prizes competed for by the volunteers
of Cheshire : the companies to send those only who are
bona fide effective members, in the following propor-
tions : each company numbering sixty and upwards,
three,—and each company or sub-division below sixty,
two ; each competitor to pay an entrance fee of five
shillings, which, with local subscriptions, is to meet the
expenses, The prizes were competed for with long or
short Enfield rifles, of the government pattern of 1853,
with minimum pull of 3 lbs.. There .were six ranges
viz. :—A, 300 yards ; B, 500 yards; C, 600 yards;
D, 700 yards ; P., 750 ; and I', 800 yards. The shoot-
ing at range A was off the shoulder ; at the other
ranges from the knee; and in all ranges Hythe position.
The size of the targets were--A, 300 yards range, 6
feet by 4 feet, with S inch bull's eye, and 2 feet centre.
B, 500 yards, and C, 600 yards ranges, 6 feet by 8 feet,
with 2 feet centre. Remaining ranges 6 feet by 12 feet,
with 3 feet centre.
The following prizes were offered for competition
at ranges A, B, C
Prizes given by ,T.'Laird, Esq.—One Lancaster
j Rifle; one. Westley Richard's Rifle; and one Whit-
t worth Rifle. _

Prize
,given by Captain Y. A. King, 2nd C.R.V.-
Twenty five Pounds.
Prize given by 3rd Cheshire Rifle Company, to be
called Wallasey Prize.-Twenty Pounds..
Two Prizes given by. R. Vyner, Esq.-One .Fifteen
Pounds, and One Ten Pounds.
Each competitor to have five shots at each of the
above-named ranges, and he placed in order of merit
according to the number of points made.
The Prizes to be adjudged as follows :-
To the best shot at A, 3io yards 1 Lancaster Rifle.
B, 500 „ 1 westley Richards Rifle.
C. 600 ~ 1 Whitworth Rifle.
The money prizes (or plate if preferred) shall he
adjudged as follows, according to the aggregate number
of points made at ranges A, -B, C
To the best shot, Ca )t. V. A. Ring's Prize £25
To the second Walasey Prie £2o
To the third R. Tyner, Esq.'s Prize £ls
To the fourth R. Vyner, Esq.'s Prize £lo
These prizes to be shot for with short or long Enfield
rifles, and the competition to be confined to the
winners of the three rifles at ranges A, B, C, the
winners of the £25 and £2O, £l5 and £lO prizes, and
the ten next best in order of merit by the aggregate
number of points at ranges A, B, C.
The following is the result of yesterday's practice, as
far as it could be officially obtained from the- committee-
room, at the conclusion of the firing, about 4 o'clock :-
FIRST RANGE, 300 YARDS.-.4nd Cheshire Artillery
Volunteers: Sinicock 3; 3rd : Willins 2 ; 4th : Grey 4,
C. Willins 4 , sth Bevis 1. Ist Cheshire Rifle Volun-
teers Watson 7, Brerely 5, Golbourne 6 ; 2nd: Knight-
come 1, Whittings 5, Lunt 5 ; 3rd : P.ollett 5, Lloyd 4.
Bradley 3, Cunliffe 4. Total-59.
'SECOND RANGE, 300 YARDS.-sth Cheshire Rifl;
Volunteers: Borley 2, Hill 4, Beresford 7; 6th : Far-
ren 5, Weaver 5, Littler 5, Prescott 3, Wakefield 6,
Ingrain 2, Ward 5, Corrop 4, Hughes 1; Bth :
Aits-
head 4, Adledhead 2, Gibbons 4, Barker 6. Total-65.
THIRD RANGE, 300 YARDS.-11th Cheshire Rift(
Volunteers: Gregory 4, Webb 5, R. Webb 5 ; 13th
Ashworth, 4 ; 14th : Jones 1, Littler 5, S. Frost 6 ; 16th
Woolf 2, Plant 3 ; 17th : Johnson 2, Walker 3, Shaw
cross 3; 18th : B. Jefferies 2, Turner 1, HugheS 5.-
Total, 50.
FOURTH RANGE, 300 YARDS.-20th Cheshire Rifle
Volunteers . Waring, 2; 22nd : Marshall 3, Bradbnrne
4 24th : Hitchen 2, Lanceley 4, Stewart 2; 26th ;
Worthington 6, Davis 2; 27th : Grey, 3; 30th Dolby,
2, Morgan 3, Roberts 5. Total-38.
FIRST RANGE, 500 YARDS.-2nd Cheshire Artillery
Volunteers : Simcock, 2 ; 3rd : Williams, 2 ; 4th :
Grey 1, Briggs 1, Wilkinson 2 ; sth : Bevis, 3 ; Ist :
Watson 6, Bierley 6, Golbourne 4; 2nd • Kingcome 1,
Williams 2, Hornen 51 3rd: Rolle 3, Lloyd 4,
Bradlepil ; 4th : Bower 2. Total -45.
SECOND RANGE, 500 YARD9.-sth Cheshire Artillery
Volunteers : Bailey 3, Hill 3, Beresford 2; 6th: Ferrer
7, Weaver 5, Little 3, Prescott 1, Wakefield 5, Ingram
5, Ward 3, Cowop 6, Hughes 1; Bth : Adshead 3, S.
Adshead 3, Gibbons 5, C. Barker 1-56.
THIRD RANGE, 500 YARDS.-11th Cheshire Rifle
Volunteers : Gregory 5, Webb 4, R. Webb 3 ; 13th :
Ashworth 3 ; 14th : Jones 3, Littler 4, Frost 7 ; 16th :
Plant 1 • 17th : Johnson 2, Walker 2, Shawcross 5 ;
lath: Jefferies 2, Turner 1, Hughes 2-44.
FOURTH RANGE, 500 YARD9.-22nd Cheshire Rifle
Volunteers : Captain Marshal 2, Bradburn 3; 24th :
Kitchen 2 ; Stewart 2 ; 26th: Worthington 5 ; Dower
2; 27th : Grey 3 ; 30th : Roberts 3-22. •
On such occasions as this it would he out of pla:e to
criticise the arrangements ; but we may say that, as far
as the public were concerned, they were, perhaps, the
worst. that we haVe ever attended, the whole object
seemingly being to get money by every possible means,
and that often done without much connesy. The
number of visitors was not large, and those speculators
in ginger beer and ginger bread stalls, with the proprie-
tors of the rifle galleries, and Aunt Sally's grounds, did
not reap a rich harvest..
The following is the programme for this day
(Thursday) :-
Competitors to be b0;24 fir& residents in the county,
or members of Cheshire Volunteer Companies. Each
competitor to pay an entrance fee•of £1 ; one-half of
which is to be appropriated to other prizes, for all-
comers, as the committee may decide, and the balance
to go towards the general expenses of the meeting.
There shall be three ranges, A, B, C. The shooting
at range A shall be off the shoulder, at the remaining
two ranges any position, but no artificial rest will be
allowed.
The following prizes shall be offered for competition
(and others if the funds admit of it) :-
To the best shot-S. Ledward, Esq.'s, prize of £2:5.
To the second best shot-John Laird, Esq.'s, prize of
a Whitworth rifle.
. George Francis Train, Esq., a Colt's revolver.
Competitors to fire five shots at each of the ranges,
and the prize to be adjudged according to the aggregate
number of points.
The above prizes, open to all-corners, may he shot for
with any description of rifle, but magnifying sights or
hair triggers will not be allowed.
Ties shall be decided by firing one shot at range C
until the best shot be returned.

SCOTLAND WARD CORPS.—A meeting was held on
Tuesday evening at the committee-rooms, Groat Nelson-
street North, for the purpose of furthering the above-
named corps ; James Crellin, F.,41. in the chair. The
secretary gave an outline of the rise and progress of the
corps, after which the chairman made an excellent
speech cornwudatory of the Volunteer movement, and
concluded by handsomely subscribing ten pounds towards
the expenses of the corps. It was then moved and
carried—" That this meeting views with satisfaction the
progress already made in the Scotland Ward Rifle Corps,
and pledges itself to use every exertion to encoM r. urage and
promote the same." A voie of thanks to Crelliu
for his kind support and conduct in the chair concluded
the proceedings.
Tier. Citeorcrserrn VOLT'NTFYR Rrvt.r.w.—The total
the ground,
;Artillery,
, number of
issued, wasof troops on
accordin
---Of Cavalry, 440 g
21ho ; 2nd do., 1340 •.3I .d do., - 380;
Ist Brigade. Rifles, LES;
total, 6093. Some of them were an hour or two after
the .appointed time in arriving on the ground, through
railvio &lays or other
,carpes:,: but, Pqnsidering the
extraordinary pressure on the railway resources the
arrangements were wonderfully carried out. The'spec-
tators are estimated at 15,000. The sight was a splendid