The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-28 00:00:00

National Rifle Association

The May general meeting of this association was held
yesterday afternoon at Willis's Rooms—the Duke of Cam-
bridge, president of the association, in the chair, supported
among others by Lord Grosvenor, Lord Dacie, Lord Tan-
kerville, the Marquis of Donegal, Lord Radstock, Lord
Bolton, Lord West, Lord Elcho, M.P., Lord Bury, M.P.,
Hon. Arthur Kinnaird, M.P., Mr Frederick Byng, Mr
R. Forbes, Lieut.-Col. R, Loyd Lindsay, 17. C., Hon. Lieut.
Col. Charles Lindsay, Col. J. S. North, M.P., Major Tin-
ley, Lieut.-Col. Grey, Lieut.-Col. Bigge, Major Harrison,
Mr. Martin R. Smith, Major J. S. Oxley, Major H. A.
Templer, Lieut.-Col. Hon. A, Egerton, Lieut.-Col. Man-
ners. Mr W. Wells, Mr A. G. Mackenzie, Mr J. C. Lux-
moor?, Captain Macgregor, Lieut. Thos. Scott, Lieut. Mar-
rine:, Lieute-,ant-Col. Bower, Lieut. Hawker, Mr F. G.
Goodliffe. Major Aldridge, Mr. Westley Richards, Captain
L?ech, Mr C. D. Bedford, Mr A. S. Tomkins, Capt. Wil-
liams, Capt. S. Flood Page, and Capt. Edmond St. John
Mildmay.

The meeting was ennoußced to commence at half-past 2
o'clock, but as the Duke of Cambridge had not arrived at 3
o'clock,

Lord ELCRO stepped on to the platform and sail that
having waited half an hour he would read a few notes that
he had put down for the noble chairman. By the time that
he had read them he hoped his royal highness would be in
the room; until then they would have no formal chairman.
The association was very prosperous. They were receiving
additional favourable support, and two new county associa.
tions, Cornwall and Northumberland, had joined them.
They had invested £3,245 9s 5d in Exchequer Bonds, and
upwards of £427 in India Bonds, making a total of £3,673
4s 5d invested in good securities. They had a balance at
the banker's of £74418s 7d, and a sum of £222 13s 5d in the
hands of the secretary. The balance in favour of the associa-
tion was £4,646 16s sd. (Hear, hear.) The prize list showed
a considerable increase. In 18'e3 the number of prizes com-
peted for was 3!6, amounting in value to £4,125, while this
year they had 626 prizes to be shot for, of the aggregate
value of £5,173. Altogether there were 1,070 more prizes to
be competed for by volunteers this year than last year. The
entrance fee for the Queen's Prize had been increased to
20s, giving corps more representatives to shoot for it. The
change had already proved advantageous, as there were
1,675 entries as agaiest 1,145 last year. That gave a certain
income to the association of £1,675 to face the Wimbledon
expenses. With regard to the prizes, he had the gratifica-
tion of stating that the Earl of D-rby and the Duke of De-
vonshire, as Chancellors of the Universities of Cambridge
and Ox'o:d, had presented a challenge plate. The Marquis
of Tweeddale had given a prize to be shot for by gunmekers.
Lord de Grey and Ripon had given a £5O prize. The Wim-
bledon Cup was also a new prize; it would be only second to
the Q ueen's,and was intended for those who had distinguished
themselves on former occasions. Then there was the Enfield
Association Cup, Mr Bass's, M. t'., prize of £5O, Mr Dill-
wyn's, M.P., prize, value £5O. The City prizes would also
be a feature; £520 had been collected through the exertions
of Mr M. Smith, of the Victories, and Major Oxley. They
would be shot for by volunteers in two classes. Among the
donors were the Lord Mayor, the Bank of England, fee.
Out of the 30,000 Volunteer artillerymen only 14 shot at
Wimbledon last year, and to induce a greater number to
compete prizes this year would be given for their weapon—
the carbine. (Hear, hear.) The targets would be the same
as those hitherto used, Last year it would be remembered
that Mr. Hill's system of marking was adopted, but with
considerable departures from his plan, resulting in acci-
dents. Cardboard targets on the the Swiss principle had
been introduced to them, but would entail £5OO additional
expenditure. They had seen Mr. Hill's system on his
ground, and considered it safe, and therefore resolved, if
possible, to use it. With a view of scertaining if it was
safe they had communicated with Lord Paulet, who sent
down Captain Wigram, of the Coldstream Guards, to see
the system in operation. That officer, in his report, said
that it was impossible for any accident to happen, and that
the markers were safe. They would, therefore, adopt Mr.
Hill's system of marking in its integrity. They would
have a tramway laid down, horsed by the military train,
which would be a great improvement and save competitors
the fatigue of walking from one firing point to another. It
weuld cost from £2OO to £3OO, but would soon repay itself.
There would be a great many men in camp ; four corps had
arranged to pitch tents. Corps could have tents, provided
that they had not more than 60 men on the ground, and
not less than 20 men, two-fitths of whom must, however, be
members of the association, The distribution of przes
would take place at Wimbledon, and not at the Crystal
Palace as heretofore. Lord Elcho concluded by announc-
ing that the Duke of Cambridge (who had shortly before
this entered the meeting and taken the chair) had consented
to review the Volunteers on the last day of the meeting.
The Duke of CAMBRIDGE said that he was now ready to
receive suggestions,
and he invited discussion.
Captain TEMPLER complained that a sufficient number of
prizes was not given for competition by the breech-loader.
A trial had taken place on Saturday at Harrow between
the Prussian needle-gun and the long Enfield, which gavo
the palm to our weapon.

Lieut. GooDLIFFE, London Rifle Brigade, did not approve
paper targets, and considered that " any position " should
be allowed for the second stage of the Queen's Prize.
Mr. LUXMOORE said that the volunteers were
taught to
fire kneeling, and that it would be unfair to have any posi-
tion for the second stage of the " Queen's."
After some further discussion, in which Capt. Osooon,
3d City, recommended prizes for unknown distances at
Wimbledon,
Tho Duke of CAMBRIDGE said, as the owner of woods in
rear of the butts, he must proustagainst prizes for unknown
distances, as already, with known distances and good shoot-
ing, bullets found their way into his woods.
After some further discussion, in which Gen. Boileau,
Col. Bower, Capt. Williams, Mr Hemming, Mr. M. Smith,
Capt. Macgregor, Lord Bury, Lieut. Marriner, and others
took part, the Speaker of the House of Commons was Luau-
nimously elected one of the trustees of the association.
The Duke of CAMBRIDGE then said that he hoped they
would not be led away Ly the Prussian needle-gun. Ho
hoped they would encourage breech-loaders. He had seen
the needle-guns in the hands of troops, and there was a great
a
escape of gas from them. He must remind them that in the
question of ammunition they must bear in mind the replen-
ishing the
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fancy. He was sure the council were anxious to meet the
views of everybody, but it was impossible to please all. Last
year he had asked them not to overlook the claim of the na-
tional weapon, and he still had to do the sane. As regarded
the position for shooting, "any position" would give an un-
due advantage to one man over another. he concluded by
apologising for being late, which was owing to the day of
the meeting having been altsred.
On the motion of Gen. BOILEAU a vote of thanks was
passed to the Chairman, and the proceedings terminated.

A Berlin letter states that Meyerbeer in his will
has indicated all the arrangements which ere to be observed
for the execution of the " Africaine," which is to be posi-
tively represented at the Grand-Opera, but under the title
of " Vasco di Game.

The Mayor of Rouen has publist,el a notice flz-
:ng the openieg of an exhibition of the Beaux Arts
in that city for the Ist October next, and the cloe
for November 15. Works of all nations will ho ad-
mitted, subject to the approbation of a committee.
The game and poultry market, held on the Quai
des Grand3-Augustins, is about to be removed to
the eig►hth pavilion of the Central Hades.