The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-11-21 00:00:00

ocaanb gistrict San.

ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES TO
THE RIFLE VOLUNTEERS.

The annual distribution of prizes to the members
of the Stottrbridge Rifle Corps, took place in the
Corn Exchange, on Tuesday evening last. There
was a large muster of the men. Previous to the dis-
tribution, the baud played a selection of music in a
very creditable manner. The prizes consisted of
silver sups presented by Major Walker, and the offi-
cers of the corps, besides a whole host of miscella-
neous articles which hail been presented to the corps
by the inhabitants of the town.
Previous to the distribution,

Captain Grosvenor addresse'd the members of the
corps, cud said it was a great gratification to him that
the first practical duty he had to perform in connec-
tion with the corps was to preside at that interesting
meeting, which had been convened for the purpose of
distributing the prizes to the corps. The shooting
for the prizes had taken place on the previous Tues-
day, and although there had been no extraordinary
scores madet the average was very good indeed; and
be wa- very glad to see that there was such MI array
of prizes for the successful competitors. The prizes
were divided into five divisions. The cup by Major
Walker formed the first prize for the best shot innong
the 20 men who had attended the greatest number of
drills during the year. The second was the cup given
by himself, the competition for which was open to all
efficient members of the corps ' • and the next was the
cup by Lieutenant Orazebrook to be competed for by
the non-commissioned officers; the cups for the other
two competitions, for the recruits and and the band,
having been given by Mr. Philip Walker and Mr. J.
S. Williams. Before presenting them, he must thank
Corporal Bridgwater and Private Cook, for the trouble
they had been at in getting together those prizes, and
to the inhabitants of the town for their generosity in
contributions. /le was quite sure it must serve as a
strong inducement to the limn to make themselves
efficient members of the corps, when they found he
inhabitants of Stonrbridge acting so liberally towards
them. He then rolled upon Major Walker to distri-
tribute his- prizes.

Major Walker said A gave him very great pleasure
to respond to the call made upon him by Captaiu
Grosvenor, to give away the prizes belonging to that
corps. And he was quite sure he was exprmising the
feelings of all of them when he said they were very
grateful to the inhabitants for presenting to them
such a large and varied stock of articles to be distri-
buted as prizes amongst them. The fact that the in-
habitants annually gave each a number of prizes to
be shot for must be very encouraging to them, andact
as an inducement to them to go on in such a way as
they might in future years have even it better prize
list thou they had now—(eheirs). Hut, if it was no
worse th-y would have no cause to grumble—(hear,
. hear)—and he hoped they would take care to do no-
thing to disgrace the corps to which they belonged,
and he hoped that nothing would happen during the
! ensuing year to influence the inhabitants not to give
the prizes the same as they had now—(applause).
He then proceeded to distribute the prizes amongst
the successful ionyetitors
First Competition open to the twenty Men who had
attended the greatest number of Milli iiu.ing toe year :
Private George Holmes, cup and £2; Private Widjam
Hid, 15s ; Corporal Alfred Bridgewater, lOs ; Corporal
Edward Cardoe, silk hat ; Private George H Rossilnr,
hat boy; Private William Dunn, felt hat Rini S.; Private
Henry Hill, bat; Private Henry Richard., sergeant
Samuel Harper. fis ; Private Alfred Green, lamp; Prorate
William H. Cook 58 ; Sergeant Elijah Round, each;
Private John It. A. Rogers, Ss; Private Herbert Reynolds,
Si; Private Thomas Everton Ss; Private John Chamber-
lain, 3. ; Private Alfred Johnson, knives and forks; Pri-
vate Thomas Levi, barrel of ale; Corp.ral Joseph
Hammond, gloves, scurf and Is 6.1; Private Joseph Hop.
croft, alippen and
Second competition open to all efficient Members of
the corps :—Corporal Edward Canto., cap and SO.;
Sergeant Samuel Harper, 10s ; Private George Hoitll,ll,
1011; Corporal Alfred Bridgewater, Umbrella; Private
Thomas Holden 1.1. Tea and re. ; Colour Sergeant 0. P.
Chapman, picture ; Private Thomas Lt., kettle ; Corpor-
al Jaha Emig. pip- and three bottles ; Sergeant Wrlli4lll
Haines, dressing ease ; Private Alfred Johnson. bat; Pri•
vete William linen. ham ; Private Charles Hall Ss ;
'oral Joseph Male S. ; Privets William Hill, Shirt and 3
battles ; Private bathe Stalk ens, Ss.
Competiliiin open only to Non•comn nod Officers :
—Sergeant William Harris, cop; Sergeant Elijah Round,
hat,

Competition for Recruits I —Private Alfred Ronan, etip
and 150 ; Print o Alfred liennesay, tobacca jar and :is ;
Pfllfale Green, cake; Private Henry Cook, gloves,
scarf and 2. 6d; Private T. H. Hall, silk bat tko.; Private
Charles Nokes. waistcoat ,tc.

Conipetition for Members of the Band :—Private
Thomas D. Walker, cup and Lis; Priva'e H•rry Smith,
tea pot ; Private I. redrick Walker, Locket &G.; Privste
tleiberi taylor 5.; Private George Handley, ss; Private
Edsrprdi Wilkinson 5s ; l'olvaLe Daniel Taylor, &c,
Private George tileokarne, tea and Scant.; Private
111-mas Wright, hiecuits.

At the end ,•f the digribntion, Major Walker said
he had reserved a prize for one who was disqualified
from competing, and that was their drill instructor,
Sergeant Walker. Whilst they viti,e praising the
broth they must not foiget the cook ; and whilst they
Were congratulating themselves on receiving prizes
they must not forget to whose guiding skill they were
indebted for the ability to obtain them. He then
presented Sergeant Walker with a goose, amid great
cheering. He then 111411111111CCII, by way of an induce-
ment to keep tip tile number of drills, that he would
give another cup next year to be competed for under
the same conditions as that which he had given that
year.
The meeting then terminated.

Tittnn It will he aeon that News Thomaa
an I co. hate opened part of the cell-known pre-
crtr lA, rp n, in the tea and coffee
age I eon, the ong pig•tiog experience of Mr.
in th.. tea awl coffee bnsineew Na partnere in the
of Roost Roberts aud Co., Liverpool, he will,
Jouloleae ensure a large share of public patronage.