The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-29 00:00:00

POLICE IN'

THE VOLUNTEERS.

Capt. A. J. Mundella, commanding the Ist company of
Robin Hood Rifles, has issued the following challenge to
the Volunteers of Australia :—" On behalf of my company
I am preprared to shoot a match during the ensuing year
with 20 members of the company in Australia which has
made the highest register as to marksmen in the year 1863;
riflEs to be long Enfields, issued by Government, 61b pull
of trigger, 7 shots at each, at 200, 500, and 600 yards,and 7
shots file firing, at 300 yards, and 7 shots volley firing, at
400 yards, all in Hythe position; the individual firing to be
scored as at Wimbledon—vis , outers counting two, centres
three, and bull's eyes four; the file and volley firing to be
counted according to Hythe regulations ;:the whole score to
be added together, and the company making the highest
score to win. No sunshades allowed, no misses to be sig.
nailed, and the whole to be shot in one day, and in all re-
spects in accordance with the Hythe regulations. Each
company to fire on its ewn practice ground, the umpire to
be appointed by the National Rifle Association, and in Aus.
tralia by the officer commanding the Yolunteers in the
colony; time of shooting, July, in England, and in Aus.
tralia any month the Volunteers may select." The regis-
tering practice return of the company for 1863 is as follows
—lst period, 70 ; 2d period, 66; 3d period, 65. The num-
ber of marksmen was 50, and the strength of the com-
pany 91.
A company has been formed for the purpose of building a
large hotel on Wimbledon-common for the accommodation
of the members of the National Rifle Association and those
who visit the locality for rifle practice and military ma.
nseuvres. A site for the building has been obtained on the
common commanding a view of the ground on which the
National Rifle Association holds its annual meetings, near
the rifle ranges of the 15th Middlesex (London Scottish)and
Civil Service (21st Middlesex) Rifles, and within a mile of
Richmond-park. It is proposed to provide cabs, carriages,
and horses for the convenience of the visitors. The build-
ing will be a handscme Italian structure, divided into two
separate departments. It will contain club, billiard, and
ball rooms, and a masonic lodge, and upwards of 200 bed-
rooms. Among the directors of the company are Col. Colt,
C. 8., of the Ist Administrative Regiment of Surrey Rifle
Volunteers; Col. Creed, C. 8., Ist Middlesex Artillery Vo-
lunteers; Major Wright, let Middlesex Engineers; Mr. B.
Smith, 23d Middlesex (Inns of Court) Rifles. The archi-
tect is Mr. A. Trimen, of Adam-street, Adelphi.
On Saturday last a large number of both battalions of the
Queen's (Westminster) Rifle Volunteers assembled at West-
minster.hall, and after blank cartridge had been served out
to each member marched, accompanied by the bands, to
Hampstead, where they were put through a variety of
movements in light infantry drill. A sub-committee has
been appointed to consider the whole question of the finances
of the corps, which will be reported to the meeting of the
central committee on Jan. 8. The result will be communi-
cated to the corps at the distribution of prizes on the 9th,
and it will then be notified what reduction can be made in
the annual subscriptions in consequence of the Governmen
gran*

The quarterly competition among the second•class shots
of the London Rifle Volunteer Brigade for three University
tankards given by the Brigade Rifle Association has been
brought to a close at the rifle ranges at Plaistow, Essex.
The ranges were 200 and 500 yaids. On account of the
shortness of the time allowed for the contest and the large
number who competed, the 600 yards range was omitted,
but, as the winners of the tankards and several other com-
petitors made more than the proportionate number of marks
in the two ranges, they qualified themselves for future badge
competitions. The tankards were won as follows—Private

Woolley, N company, 27marks; Lieut. Christie, C company,
24 marks; and Private Thomas, E company, 20 marks. The
condition of these association contests are five shots each at
200, 500, and 600 yards, all who make 25 marks and up-
wards being entitled to shoot in the next competition for
the gold champion badges.
The grand volunteer rifle contest, open to all the World,
for prizes amounting in value to nearly £2OO, Will be held
to-morrow at Totnes. The money will be
divided into
prizes of £lOO, £2O, £l5, three prizes of £lO ,
each and four
of £5 each. The ranges will be 300:and 500 yi:rds, seven
shots at each, hits and points added, at
300 yards Hythe
position, at 500 yards any position. There will be a Rifle
Derby for small bores, and Rifle Oaks for Enfield on the
following day.

The fourth annual distribution of the regimental and
company prizes of the St. George's Rifles will take place at
St, James's-hall on Tuesday, the sth of January, at the