The Express.
London, England, 1863-07-08 00:00:00

NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION PRIZE

MEETING.

On approaching the common from either Putney or
Wimbledon the camp presents a very gay and unmated
appearance, long lines of tents with their unexceptionably
white canvas stretching in long parallel lines near the wind.
mill, while in a circle are pitched the tents for the council,
secretary, clerks, statistics, and the representatives of the
prem. Two spacious marquees are devoted to the refresh•
meat department, over which Mr. John Jenison, of Belle-
vue-gardens, near Manchester, presides, and dispenses his
creature comforts in abundance, and at very moderate
prices. The arrangements which have been made for this
purpose seem to partake rather of a permanent than of i
temporary thwarter, for large erections have been set op
for carrying on the culinary proms, and it was stated that
Mr. Jemaon is quite prepared at any given time to supply
hot dinners to a thousand persona at a fixed rate; and
there is also a very salutary regulation, that if any waiter
solicit even the smallest gratuity he will be immediately
dismissed.

The large grand stand, by Langlands, has again taken ita
usual place, but this, of course, will be only used on the day
of the review on Saturd►y week, when it will afford ac-
commodation for upwards of a thousand persons. The
principal entrance was decorated with the flags of all
nations, and large banners floated from high masts in dif•
ferent parts of the common.
Messrs. Mappin Brothers exhibit, in the tent of the
association, a good selection of prize cups, &c., suitable for
prizes.

The camp urangementa are under the management of
I Captain Roston, and accommodation is provided for about
750 volunteers, one tent being devoted to every four poisons,
who are to be provided with a bed and all necessary utensils
for washing, water, lighting, At.. for 13. for the whole
period. There are also tenta for 200 of the Guards, who
are employed on the ground u markers, and 176 for the
metropolitan police who are on duty on the common.
The targets this year hove been increased in number, and
everything has been done to give éclat to the meeting. The
Running Deer, with the variation of the figure of a rifleman,
has taken its usual place, and is likely to attract numerous
competitors.

The only business for yesterday wee to shoot for the Mid-
dlesex National Rifle Association bronze medal, end a
county match contest between Glonontershire, Lenrashire,
and Middle's; five shots each at 600 and 800 yards. The
contest for the latter was carried on with great spirit, but
unfortunately in the course of the day it was attended with
three very serious accidents. The first occurred to Michael
Fagan, of the Hythe School of Musketry, assistant marker
at target No. 7, who was in the frost part of the mantelet,
when a portion of a ball splintered spinet the target, re-
bounded and struck him right in the eye, and it is
feared that it will involve the loss of the sight. He
we, immediately attended to, and conveyed to
St. George's HospitaL The second accident oc-
curred to Corporal W. Bailey, of the sid battalion of
Coldstream Guards, who was injured in the chest, just be-
low the nipple, by a bullet splintered from the target, and
also is the thigh. The third accident occurred to Private
A. Smith, of the Ist battalion of Coldstream Guards, who
wee seriously injured in the groin and thigh. They were
promptly attended to by Dr. Westmacott, of the London
Scottish, and surgeon to the emaciation, and at the time
this was written they were going oa favourably.
The following are the priucipel scores for the County
prise :

_ .
Comm MATCH.
Gloucestershire, lesocashire, and Middlesex.
GLOUCIBT3I3t3HIRL
Total points at
600 yards. aOO yard.. Total.
Earl of Dude 3O .. 33 63
First Lieutenant Penny, lit Glower-
t .r Artillery
Gunner Hyde, ditto 3l 20 61
First Lieutenant Hansom, ditto l9 .... 13 .... 32
Gur ler Hansom, ditto
Sergeant Gibbs, lit Gloucester 'Hike 33 .... 2.; .... 63
J. Baiter, ditto 33 29 62
0. Miller. ditto 35 31 66
Colour-Sergeant Clutterbuck, 6tb do 29 .... 33 .... 61
Sergeant Holloway, 6th ditto

296 211 568
Avenge

MIDDLV3/I._

_______.
Total points at
COO yds. 600 yrds Total.
M. Rutith, Sergeant. P.R. 36 IS 71
Lord Bury, Civil Service 33 13 46
11. Gregor, Captain. Lor don Scottish ft .... 26 .... 66
Porter Private, Queen',
Mills, Private, V.R. l5 .... 26 41
Thortibury, Sergeant 64 .... It .... 85
Hawker, Lieut., ,South If iddienex
Pell. Corporal, Inns of Court
Brooks, 8411,ea20, 12th Middlesex 22 .... 23 .... 47
Viley, Captain, 191.11 Middlesex.— 30 .... 30 .... 60

•vases

2t2 ISS MS
e 6.5

Total points at
600 yds. 800 yds. Total.
Kemp, Sergeant,3rd Manchester.... 3• .... 8! .. 66
Penton, Captaln,24th Lancashire .. 33 . 26 .... Ss
1 ,_lll, Ens4n, 61st Lancashire .... 31 .... 19 .... 60
Bahian, Private, list Lancashire.... 33 .... 33 .... 86
Heaton. Captain, arti Manchester.. 36 .... 36 .... 71
Mazwell, Captain, Liverpool .... 18 ....
Ashton, Private, Liverpool L 8..... 36 .... 37 .... 71
Sprott, Private. Liverpool LB. .... 30 114 . 64
Formby, Private, Liverpool B. B. .. 32 .... 86 .... 68
Blanch, Private, lst Lancashire.... 33 .... 33 .... 80

$23 •13 636
Avenge 63.6
Counties In Order of Ment
Lancashire
Gloucestershire
Middlesex 66.6

The contest for the trot stage of the Queen's prize will
be commenced this day, for which the competitors are very
numerous.

An important target trial took place at Shoebury-
nem yesterday. Hitherto the target have been constructed
on the principle th►t the backing must be elastic, but the
trial of yesterday wee to determine the value of the oppo-
site or rigid theory. Up to the test furnished by the old-
fashioned and still favourite 68. pounder the rigid theory was
sustained ; but a 150th. steel shot passed through the target
and it support, and a 3001 b. shell penetrated the target and
set the filling of the cella on tire. One of the Arrustrorg
gum need at the trial burst, that is to my the outer ring of
the gun gave way. There wee no one injured.

The inhabitants of Frankfort, in Germany, have
sent 1:1,000Ibe. of linen and lint to the Federal array.

Tae AUSTRALIAN RIPLYMEN.—A short time ago
a challenge was received in England from an Australian bat-
talion of volunteers to shoot with an equal number of volun-
teers in this country—the latter to be *elected from the beet
shooting company of enrolled volunteers for tin year Geld-
ing 1862, the firing to take place at any range not being the
ranged the respective corps. The challenge 111119 addressed
to the council of the National Rifle Association, and it
appears that the best shooting company of volunteer rifles
in England for the year 1862 was the No. 1 of the Notting.
ham Robin Hooda. This company baa declared its readi-
ng= to accept the challenge, and on Saturday morning
Lieut. Colonel Wright r: rived a letter from the council of
the National Ride Association stating that an answer
accepting the challenge had been sent to Australia. The
contest will take place in September. The distances are
200. 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, and 800 yards ; five shots, at
each range. The shooting will take place at the same time
is England oad Australia—tea moo from each corm.