The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-01 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEERS.

Referring to the conditions for the annual trial of
rifles which appeared in The Sun a short time since,
the following addition has been added to condition
111. :—Length.—The length of the barrel to be 33
inches.
The members of the St. James's Company Queen's
(Westminster) Rifle Volunteers competed for the
Bidgood Challenge Cap and association Prize on
Monday last at Wormwood Scrnbbs. The ranges
were 200, 500, and 600 yards, seven shots at each
range, Wimbledon targets and scoring. The cup
was won by Private Hewitt, with a score of 54
marks ; Private James taking the second prize with
a total of 51 marks.

On Saturday last a match between two tens of
No. 2 company of the 2d or South Middlesex
Rifles, took place at the ranges of the corps at the
rear of the head•quarters, Beaufort-house, Walham-
green. The butts of the Queen's (Westminster) and
St. George's Rifles, at Wormwood Scrubbs, will be
opened to the regiments all day on the 3rd and 17th
of September, and on the Ist and 15th of October,
while those of the West Middlesex will be opened
all day on the 13th and 27th of September, and on
the 11th and 25th of October. The Regimental
Challenge Cup of the corps will be shot for by
members of No. 1 and 2 companies on Saturday
next, at Wormwood-scrubbs, at the ranges of the
Queen's (Westminster).
The annual prize meeting of the 12th Middlesex
(Barnet) Rifles has been brought to a close at the
ranges of the corps at Moat Mount, Highwood, in
the grounds of Mr. E. W. Coz. The arrangements
this year were more extensive than usual, including
an encampment which lasted four nights. The
tents were arranged to form three sides of a square,
and were about 10 or 12 in number. The camp was
protected against intruders from without by a rope
stretched upon stakes, and the only legitimate way
of ingress and egress was through a handsome
arched entrance of evergreens guarded by sentinels
night and day. One tent to three persons was one
of the camp regulations.
The vacation of the 7th Surrey Rifles will cease
on Wednesday next, September 7, on which day
the usual drills will be resumed. The annual
regimental prize meeting will be held on Friday
and Saturday next at the rifle ranges on `Nimble•
don-common.

In Essex the Ist County Corps has been hospit-
ably entertained at the residence of Major Russell,
its captain. Several members of the corps have
competed at the butt for a pewter, which after some
smart firing, was won by Private Unwin. A con-
test has taken place among the Chelmsford Corps
for a challenge medal given by Major liringhurst,
and held during the past year by Private Aldridge.
The conditions were two shots at 200, 300, 500, 600,
and 900 yards, The highest score (10 marks) was
made by Corporal F. Meggy, to whom Major Bring-
burst accordingly presented the medal. Corporal
Meggy has now won the medal for the third time
out of four contests. The annual prize competition
among the members of the Colchester Corps com-
menced on Monday, and was continued on Tuesday.
sum of /10 was presented by each of the borough
members, and was competed for by separate com-
panies. The ranges were 300 and 600 yards, seven
shots at each, and the winners were as follows ;—A
company, first prize, a silver cup of the value of
17—Major Bishop ; B company, first prize, a silver
cup of the value of £7—Sergeant Pertwee. Batta-
lion prizes were presented by Lieut.-Col. Sir Claude
de Crospigny and Major Bishop, open to two mem-
bers in the Essex County Administrative Battalion,
of which the Colchester corps furnis a part, the
prizes being given for the highest scores at 600
yards, seven shuts each. The first prize, of £4, was
won by Private G. Farmer, 6th Essex. The Har-
wich winners' prizes were competed for at 200 and
500 yards, seven shots at each, the highest scores
to take their chance, and winners at Harwich not
to compete. The first prize, a clock, presented by
Private Bagg, was won by Bugle-Major Aylett.
Tuesday's shooting commenced with a compe.

tition among the members of both companies for
a London armoury rifle presented by Mr H.
Green, a silver powder flask presented by Armourer
Hast, and a silver card-case presented by Private
Dold. The ranges were 400 and 600 yards, seven
shots at each, and the winner of the first prize was
Corporal Farmer. Skirmishing prizes were cffered
—L6 to each company, to be divided among the
three best targets of each company, ranges between
400 and 200 yards. A volley firing prize of £5
was competed for by 10 men of each company, the
winners to receive 10s each ; 10 shots each. The
average of the A company was 9.70 and of the B
company 6.50; the representatives of the A cone•
pany were therefore the winners. The shooting for
one of the remaining prizes was continued yesterday.
The Oxford City Rifle Corps had its annual prize
shooting on Monday at Hinksey butt. A silver cup
given by Private Underhill was won by Private
Prior, who made 26 marks in seven rounds, each at
500 and 600 yards. A cluck offered by Mr Parsons,
banker, was carried:off by Corporal Green-39
marks, seven rounds, at 200 and 500 yards. The
challenge rifle, presented by the late Mr S. Mor-
rell, was gained by Private Prior-31 marks, five
rounds at 500 and 600 yards. Private Venables
won a silver cup for the highest score (27) at 300
and 400 yards, five rounds. Two University pewter
tankards, offered by
Ensign Hussey, prizemen be-
ing excluded from the competition, were won by
Private Bartlett (24 marks)
and Sergeant Jacob
(20), five rounds at 250 and 450 yards.
In Suffolk the third annual contest has just taken
place for the challenge vase presented to the Had-
leigh corps. Other prizes were also shot for. The
vase must be won by a member for two consecutive
years before it becomes his property. It is conse-
quently open for future competition, as it has this
year been gained by Lieut. Robinson, Sergeant
Kersey, the last winner, having failed to secure it.
There were four other contests, the first being for
£B, or a silver cup of that value, presented by Capt.
Thornley, and which was won by Ensign Freeman,
who made 34 marks at 650, 700, 800, and 900 yards,
five shots each. The next contest was for another
challenge vase, together with a handsome clock
presented by the Hon. Lady Rowley. The vase
was competed for subject to the same conditions as
at the two former contests, and was won by Lieut.
Robinson, who made a total of 28 marks at 300,
500, and 600 yards. The third contest was for three
prizes offered by Lieut. Robinson—for £3, £2, and
£l, at 150, 200, and 250 yards.
A rifle contest between the first and second bat-
talions of the Staffordshire Rifle Volunteers took
place at Sudbury-park, Derbyshire, on Saturday.
There were 16 competitors on each side, the dis-
tances being 200, SGO, and 600 yards, with five
shots at each distance, and the rifles used long En-
fields. The first battalion scored at the respective
distances as follows :-200 yards, 214; 500 yards,
200; 600 yards, 178; total marks, 502. The second
battalion made 222 at the first range, 196 at the
second, and 144 at the third ; total, 562. This
made the eleventh match which the firbt battalion
had shot with different corps, and in every one of
them they have been the victors.
The winner at the first prize at 300 yards in the
match at Bury
was Sergeant Harding.
The annual shooting of the Leicestershire regi-
ment took place last week for the challenge prize, a
cup value 25 guineas. There were 19 competitors.
The terms were five shots each at 300, 500, and 600
yards, and six answers at judging distance. This
prize Was won by Private Kelsey, of the Ashbysdee
l-Zouch corps. The
Ladies' Prize, a cup value
£lO, shot for by marksmen only of this year,

seven rounds at 700 and 800 yards, was won by
Private Anderson, of Melton, who made 34 points.
For Sir Henry Halford's prize, first £lO, second £7,
and third £5 (the second and third prizes being
given by Colonel Halford), five rounds at 200, 500,
and 600 yards, there were 37 competitors. Mr
Brookes, of Croft, was the winner of the first prize ;
Captain Millican and Ensign Biggs tied for the
second prize, and then fired each a shot at the 600
yards' range ; Captain Millican scored an outer, and
Mr. Biggs a bull's-eye, thus winning the second
prize, and Captain Millican taking the third.
The annual prize shooting of the Tavistock Rifle
Corps took place on Monday. The weather was
favourable, and there was a large concourse of ladies
and gentlemen on the ground. Major Duperier,
adjutant of the battalion, acted as umpire. The best
of several moue y prizas given by the Dnke of Bed•
ford was won by Sergeant Daw, who made a total
of 23 at 300 and 600 yards, five shots at each dis-
tance. Privates Hindmarsh and Bickford tied for
the second prize with 22, but the former was dis-
qualified on account of using a rifle not Govern,
meat pattern. The Mining Cup and £l7, given by
gentlemen connected with mines of the Tavistock
district, were competed for at 200, 400, and 600
yards, five shots at each range. Sergeant Askham
won the cup with a score of 41. Privates Minhina
nett and Hindmarsh tied with 40 for the best money
prize, but Hindmarsh was again disqualified for the
same reason as in the previous class. The borough
prizes were shot for at 200, and 500 yards, seven
shots at each distance. The first prize (the Por.
treeve's Cup) was carried off by Lieutenant Perry
with a score of 41. Sergeant Daw and private
Hindmarsh tied with 39 for the best money prize,
but the latter was again disqualified. The best of
the recruits' prizes was won by private Rapson,
with a score of 16, made by five shots at each die•
tance of 200 and 300 yards.
The annual competition for prizes offered to the
Great Yarmouth Administrative Battalion com-
menced on Monday at the practice-ground on the
North Denes. There were 15 competitors for a cup
of the value of £5 55., presented by the Mayor
(Mr. R. Steward), the ranges being 200 and 590
yards, seven rounds each. The highest score was
made by Corporal Wilshak, at present the champion
shot of Norfolk, who obtained 42 marks, Sergeant
Chipperfield coming next with 37 marks. Corporal
Wilshak accordingly won the prize. The second
prize was of the value of £lO, and was presented
by the members for the borough, Sir E. H. K. La-
con, M.P., and Sir H. J. Stracey, M.P. Tho ranges
were 200, 500, and 600 yards, five rounds at each,
and there were 22 competitors. Here again Corpo.
ral Wilshak proved the winner, making 41 marks,
while Sergeant Pearson came next with 38 marks.
As the rules of the competition prevented more than
one prize going to any one person, Corporal Wile-
hak had to resign the second prize to Sergeant
Pearson. The third contest was for a series of
prizes offered by Major Orde and the officers of the
battalion. Major Orde's prizes were £5, £3, and
£2, option to ail efficient members of the corps who
had never won a battalion prize. The ranges were
200 and 500 yards, five shots each, and there were
45 competitors. About 30 failed to score 20 marks,
and the highest score was made by Corporal Davy-
-28 marks.