The Express.
London, England, 1866-07-17 00:00:00

NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

After the first stage for the Queen'a Prize there
is always a great thinning of the Volunteers on the ground,
and the great bulk of them have taken their departure for
their homes, as the number of empty tents fully testify.
The programme of yesterday was a very full one, and
contained about 14 or 15 competitors. A new prise,
started this year for the first time, and called the Wind-
mill Prize, was commenced yesterday. The aggregate value
of the prizes is 3001., that is to say, 45 prizes at 200
1 yards, and 45 at 500 yards, divided at each distance as fol-
lows :—One prize of 154., one of 101., eight of 51., fifteen of
31., and twenty of 2/. Five shots each at 200 and 500 yards.
Another important contest commenced yesterday, being
what is called the second stage in the competition for the
St. George's Challenge Vase, and the prise the Dragon
Cup, value 501. The St. George's vase was shot for last
week, and won, but that is merely a challenge piece of
plate, and only held by the battalion for a year, but this
prise becomes the absolute property of the winner. The
competitors were restricted to the sixty best shots in the
first stage, or vase. Each competitor to have seven shots
at 600 yenta. A large photograph of the cup, handsomely
framed, would be presented to the company of which the
winner is a member. Seven shots each at 600 yards.
The following competitions,which havebeen opened some
days, were continued :—Sir William Martin's Prizes, at
600 yards ; the Alexandra Prises, at 600 yards ; the Albert
Prises, at 600 yards ; Mr. Bee's Prises, at 500 yards ; the
Swiss Carton Prizes, at 200 yards ; the Earwig Prize and
Pool, Running Deer, and Running Prises.
In consequence of the transition which is now taking
place in the important arm of the rifle, from muzzle-
loaders to breech-loaders, the competition by breech-
loaders, for which two targets have been set apart, is an
interesting one. It is a question as to the largest number
of shots that can be fired within a given time, and
some excellent scores have been made. In one
instance we heard of 26 shots being fired with a
Remington rifle, by Mr. Dunlop, in three minutes,
making 60 marks ; but Sergeant Kerr, of the Leaden Scot-
tish, who used the Remington carbine for rapidity shot 49
times, and only made 33 marks. Lord Riche, with a Ber-
dan's breechloader, fired 23 shots ; and Lord Mahon (of
she Grenadier Guards), Robb, Mackey, and Ranting made
21 shots in the stipulated three minutes. For rapidity,
Mr. Peterkin made 76 points in 29 round', with a Spencer
repeater ; Mr. Dunlop in 20 shots made 59 points ; and
some other high scores were made.
Last night the St. George's Rifles gave their second per-
formance in the camp theatre.
The following are the entries for the international con-
test for the Elcho Shield : England.—Mr. J. Baker, Bristol;
Mr. I'. Fletcher, Liverpool ; Mr. J. Miller, Bristol ; Mr.
Evans, Derbyshire ; the Earl of Dude; Captain Bland,
76th Foot ; Mr. W. Wells, Middlesex ; Mr. Anaworthy,
Middlesex ; Corporal Pell, Inns of Court, the ninth man
in reserve. Ireland.—Mr. Arthur Barlow, Dublin ;
Captain Cash, Donegal ; Mr. M'Coyd, Belfast ;
Sir. J. Rigby, Dublin ; Mr. J. Rogers, Belfast ;
Mr. W. Rigby, Dublin ; the ninth man in waiting
is Captain Annenly, of the Hythe School of Masketry.
Scotland.—The Master of Lovat, the Hon. James Gordon,
Mr. Dunlop, Mr. Maxwell, Mr. Wilkins, Mr. Malcolm,
M.P. In the preliminary contest at Hythe, Captain
Horatio Ross made 10 bull's-eyes out of 11 shots ; they
failed to obtain a qualification to shoot for this prize.
The whole of his 10 bull's-eyes were within a space of
nine inches in diameter. The following are the members
of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge who will
shoot for the Chancellor's Challenge Plate :—Oxford--
Captain Morrell, Exeter College; Ensign Rolle, New
College ; Sergeant Parkinson, Magdalen College ; Sergeant
Candy, Magdalen College ; Sergeant Blackburn, Brannon.
College ; Corporal Wenser, Pembroke College ; Private
Carslake, New College ; Sergeant Holmes, Exeter College.
Cambridge—Captain T. White, Corpus Christi College ;
the Hon. B. P. Bouverie, Trinity College ; Lieutenant C.
B. Dyer, Emmanuel College ; Sergeant M ICerrell, Trinity
College ; Corporal F. Roe, St. John's ; Hon. J. Gordon,
Trinity College s Private T. Templer, Trinity College ; and
Private Hon. Nit . 0. Puulett.
The band of the Queen's Westminster was on the ground
during the day, and discoursed some eloquent music in
front of the Cottage.
The illumination of the windmill, butts, tents, Pre.,
which gave such general satisfaction on Saturday night,
will be repeated to-night and Friday next.

MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS. —A meeting of
the governors of this institution was held yesterday at the
offices in Great Queen-street, Linooln's-inn-Helds ; Mr.
John Udall in the chair. It appeared that the receis for
the quarter ending 31st March last were 4,0061. 12a.,
while the disbursements were 2,8571. Bs. 6d. A resolution
in favour of the non-confirmation of a portion of the
minutes of the last quarterly court, wherein it was proposed
to give two votes to each annual subscriber of one
was moved and unanimously agreed to. A gratuity of 961.
was voted to Mr. Frederick Russell, late heed master of
the school. The secretary stated that there were 41 candi-
dates for the election to be held in October next, and he
believed there would be 4 more at the quarterly court in
August. Thermos' compliment to the chairman concludedthe business.
CRYSTAL PALACZ. Oil SZELLINO DAY:—
MONDAY, JOLT 16.—AdMied002 OS plyalle 8,302 ;
I ditto by season tickets, 1,469. Total viiitsra, 9, 1.