The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-26 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEERS.

The second annual competition for the prizes of
the Bank of England Rifle Association took place on
Friday last at the range of the Queen's Westmin-
ster Rifles at Wormwood Scrubs. The association
was formed two years ego for the encouragement of
rifle practice among the volunteers of the establish-
ment, and is well supported throughout the Bank,
the Governor also subscribing liberally to its funds.
The following regiments were represented at the
contest :---The Hon. Artillery Company, Ist Mid-
dlesex Artillery, Victoria Rifles, West Middlesex,
Queen's Westminsters, Civil Service, Artists, 40th
Middlesex, 46th Middlesex, Ist Surrey, 3d Kent,
32d Kent, City of London Rifle Brigade, and the
12th Tower Hamlets. The ranges were 200, 500,
and 600 yards, seven shots at each range. The first
prize, the chaflege cup, which became the property
of the winner for three successive years, was again
taken by Private H. :Banton, of the Civil Service
Rifles (with 56 marks), this being the second year
he has held it. A silver cup was also given with
this prize. The second prize, a field-glass, was
taken by Private Crossley, of the Civil Service
Rifles with 51 marks. The third prize, a silver tan..
kard, was taken by Corporal Latter, of the 3d Kent
Rifles, with 47 marks. The fourth prize, a case
containing six Apostles spoons, was taken by
Colour-Sergeant John Adams, of the 12th Tcwer
Hamlets, with 47 marks. The fifth prize, a silver
waiter, was taken by Sergeant J. B. Adams, of the
London Rifle Brigade, with 46 marks. Consola-

tion prizes were also shot for. Captain Scrivener,
of the Queen's Westminsters, and Capt. Frodaham,
London Rifles, acted as umpires. After the firing
the members dined together in the Pavilion, when
the prizes were presented by Captain Frodsham.
On Saturday last the 4th Kent Artillery Volun.
teers, under the command of Captain L. S. Magnus,
were inspected by Coloael Riddell, C. 8., R.A., the
officer appointed for that purpose by the Govern-
ment, on the tirand Parade at Sheerness. After
being put through the ordinary evolutions, the men
were told off into detachments and drilled at the
guns, and they concluded by firing from the 32 and
68 pounder smooth-bores at a floating target situ-
ated at about one mile and a half from the shore.
After making some very good practice Col. Riddell
addressed them, complimenting them on their sol-
dier-like appearance on parade, and on their gene.
ral efficiency.

In Essex the Ongar challenge cup has again been
shot for and won by Private C. Smith, of Ongar,
with a score of 23. The Chelmsford corps had a
competition for a prize of £5, offered by Mr Crabo.
The prize was divided into two portions of £3 and
£2, and the shooting was at 200 and 500 yards.
Private Aldridge won the first prize of £3, and
Corporal Meggy the second of £2.
On Monday afternoon the Norwich Administra•
tive Battalion of Volunteers, under the command of
Col. Black, mustered on Tombland, in that city, for
the purpose of undergoing inspection by Col. Ibbet-
son, Assistant Inspector General of Volunteers for
the eastern division. The troops marched to Mouse-
hold, where they were reviewed, each man having
12 rounds of ammunition served out to him. Col.
Ibbetson expressed himself pleased with the ap-
pearance of the troops, and said he should be able
to report to the Horse Guards that the Norwich
Battalion was perfectly up in drill.
Tae annual prize meeting of the Oxfordshire Vo-
lunteers. comprising the Oxford, Deddiugton, Ban-
bury, Woodstock, Bieeeter, Thane, and Henley
corps, has le ea held this week at the butt at North
Hinksey,Oxford. The competition was very spirited,
and, considering the stiff breeze which prevailed,
good scores were made. The chief prize, of £l5,
and the bronze medal of the National Rifle Associa-
tion was won by Lieut. Potts, of Banbury, who made
43 points, five shots each at 200, 500, and 600 yards.
Private Venables, of Oxford, gained the second prize

of £lO ; Private Page, of Banbury, the third of £5;
and Corporal Field, of Banbury, the fourth of £4.
The first prize for five shots at 200 yards was taken
by Corporal Palmer, of Henley,who scored 16 marks;
that for 500 yards by Private H. Underhill, of Ox-
ford, 16 points; and that for 600 yards by Sergeant
Ferris, of Oxford, 15 points. The smaller prizes
were gained by Prior, Jenkin, C. Underhill, Brown-
ing (all of Oxford), Collins (Bicester), Walker,
Newitt (Thame), Hewes (Henley), and Cobb (Ban.
bury). The silver cup, given by Lieut. North, M.P.,
the commandant of the battalion, was won by Pri-
vate Bacon, of Oxford, who scored 32 with five
rounds, at 600 and 600 yards. Private Collins, of
Bicester, and Corporal Field, of Banbury, took the
second and third prizes respectively. The Associa •
tion prizes (seven rounds at 500 and 600 yards) were
awarded as follows :—First, Sergeant Clutterbuck
(Stroud), 53 points; second, Capt. Fane (Oxford) ;
third, Sergeant Rose (Oxford) ; and fourth, Private
C. Underhill (Oxford). A silver cup, given by the
officers, was won by Private Collins (Oxford), by a
score of 35, in five rounds each, at 400 and 500
yards; Private Hewlett, of Oxford taking the second
prize. The non-commissioned officers also offered a
cup for the best score at 200 and 500 yards, seven
rounds each ; and this was gained by Private Bacon
(Oxford), the winner of Col. North's cup, his score
being 43. The number of competitors for the vari-
ous prizes ranged between 54 and 22.

The annual prize meeting of the Somerset
County Rifle Association was held on Tuesday and
Wednesday at Wells, and attracted a large num-
ber of Volunteers of the county. The prizes
offered in the various classes amounted to 60, re-
presenting in the aggregate about £l3O. Besides
the money prizes, the programme embraced compe•
titions for the bronze medal of the National Rifle
Association and for the Lord Lieutenant's prize, a
silver cup, value 110. The number of competitors
who entered for the various matches was 150, and
comprised representatives from nearly every corps in
the county. The silver cup given by the Lord-
Lieutenant was fired for by winners in the previous
matches, at 200 and 500 yards, ten rounds at each
range, and was won by Sergeant Green, of the 3d
Somerset, with a score of 59.

The annual prize shooting of the Devonport Rifles
took place on Monday at Keyham. A bleak easterly
wind blew across the range, and two or three heavy
showers of rain fell in the course of the afternoon.
Several hundreds of spectators were on the ground.
There were 107 competitors for the " all corners"
prizes, which were shot for at 200 and 300 yards,
seven rounds at each distance. The first prize of
£2O was won by Ensign Tremayne (16th Cornwall)
who scored 40; Serg.-Mejor Stupart (4th Devon
Administrative Battalion Rifle Volunteers) came
second, with a score of 39 ; and Sergeant Ralph (2d
Queen's Own Regiment) third, with a score of 38.
The whole of the prizes in this class were of the
value of £62. The battalion prize of £l5 was com-
peted for at the same distances, five rounds at each
distance. Sergeant Clemens (3d Devon) took the
best prize, with a score of 30. Other prizes, repre-
senting a total money value of about £4O, were also
competed for. The shooting, taking the unfavour-
able into consideration, was good, and superior to
that weather witnemed last year.
The 11th battery of Cornish Artillery were in-
spected in shot and shell practice by Lieut.-Colonel
Gilbert on Monday evening. He said he was pleased
to find that the high opinion he entertained of the
battery had been confirmed by the officer officially
sent from the War-office to inspect them, and by
whom he was informed that the St. Ives Battery
was second to none in the two counties. Oa Satur-
the Bth battery (Hayle) competed for four prizes
given by the County Association. Fifty shots were
fired; of these, as judged by Lieut.-Colonel Gilbert,
14 were in line, and the average deviatio❑ of the
other 34 shots was three yards from line. Gunner
Tucker took the first prize. Upwards of £l4O will
be competed for at St. Colomb by Rifle Volunteers
on Monday next.
On Saturday last. the 27th Lancashire Rifle Volun-
teers, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Gray,
M.P., were inspected at Bolton by Major Baynes,
her Majesty's Bth (King's) Regiment. The batta-
lion mustered nearly 700 strong. They were put
through a variety of manceovres by the command-
ing officer, after which Mijor Baynes made a brief
address, in which ho complimented both officers
and men.

The following very satisfactory letter has been
sent to Colonel Harcourt by the inspecting officar
who attended under the instructions from the War-
office, at the recent prize firing of the let Adalini•
strative Brigade of the Cinque Ports Volunteer Ar-
tillery :

"Dover Castle, Aug. 23.
" Sir,—As inspecting officer of the Brigade of
Cinque Ports Artiilary at Rye on the 9cla inst., I have
the honour to inform you that I cannot allow the
proceedings of that day to pass over without ex-
pressing to you as the commanding officer of the
corps the great satisfaction that I feel in being able
to make a most satisfactory report of the same.
"In the first place, the most fastidious artillerist
could not but have felt satisfied with the excellent
gun practice made by the different gun detach-
ments, although at the time there was a very
strong wind blowing frcm the right. The guns
were worked with celerity and regularity.
." And I may here remark that I am truly sorry
that few of the corps have the advantage of having
several different kinds of ordnance, repositary gear,
&c., at their different stations, to diversify their
drill, and to make it less monotonous to the men,
which would also have the effect of distracting their
attention from ' carbine practice,' as the time which
they can spare for drill I should wish to see solely
devoted to company and carbine dilll and to artil-
lery duties, leaving rifle practice to the Riflo Volun-
teers. I feel confident that the expense Govern•
ment would be put to in affording the different
corps opportunities of learning drill would not be
money thrown away.
"The brigade did itself great credit in the mans
nee
column, and past, both in open and
and also in the manner in
which
distance it
o!
quarter
in
which the men performed their carbine exercise—
but it is not to be expected that meeting as they do
only once in each year, the battalion drill could be
otherwise than interior.

"I must also compliment you on your soldierlike
appearance on parade, and on the manner in which
their accoutrements were put on.
" In case of the service of the brigade ever being
required to aid in repelling invasion f feel that the
fine body of men under your command would
render most prompt and efficient assistance, and
would not belie the spirit which seems to prevail
them.

6lt only remains for me to thank yourself and
the officers under your command for the assistance
given me in carrying out my duties as umpire on
the 9th inst.
" I have, &c.,
" CHARLES H. SMITH, Brevet Lieut. Colonel
Royal Artillery.
"Lieut.-Colonel Harcourt Commanding Cinque
Ports Volunteer Artillery."