The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-10 00:00:00

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Rifle ChAllenge from Australia. c. - 7
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A copy of the following correspondence has been
forwarded to the council of the National Rifle Asso- -
elation from the War Department :
Adelaide, South Australia, March 26.
Sir,—l have been requested to forward a challenge : --,
from the Mi!ang Rifle Company to the company
who made the best classification in England for the
year 1862. The Milang Rifles made the highest
scores in the colony, and are therefore desirous of
trying their skill with au English volunteer cow-
pauy. I beg to forward the terms of the match, and
also a statement of the strength and classification
of the challenging company. I trust the match will
take place, as I can assure you that the shooting of
the home riflemen is watched with 'great interest
by therSouth Australian volunteers.--I am, &e.,
(Signed) W. BLYTII, Major 40th',Regitnent,
Colonel Commanding V. Forces.

Col. Blyth, V.M.F. Milang, March 23.
Sir,—l have the honour to request that you will
be good enough to forward by this mail the accom-
panying challenge to the proper quarter, with a
certificate of the position held by the Milang Com-
pany as marksmen. 1 regret not having sent it to
you a little sooner, as 1 doubt not your time will be
fully occupied, the time of departure of the mail
being so near.—l have, &c.,
(Signed) JAMES RANKINE, Capt. M.R.

To the Captain Commanding the Company of
Volunteers in England having made the highest
proportion of marksmen at the classification of
the year 1862.

Sir,—l have the honour to propose a friendly
match between our respective companies, on the
following conditions. viz. :—Ten men a sido ; rifle,
the Long Enfield ; distances, 200, 300, 400, 500,
600, 700, 800, and 900 yards, 7 rounds per man
at each distance ; position, at 200 yards standing,
other distances any position ; system of scoring,
that adopted at last meeting at Wimbledon ;
neither company to fire on its own or customary
practice-ground, and no practice to be allowed on
the day of the match; the match to take place in
the next September—the day of the match to be
named by each party not less than seven days pre-
vious in order that umpires may have sufficient time
to make their arrangements for being present; no
person to be allowed to fire who has not classified
with the company he represents at the classification
of 1862.

The above challenge is offered simply on the
ground of the challengers having taken the highest
position as marksmen in this province, a certificate
of which fact from the colonel-commandant of the
volunteers in this province will be handed you along
with this challenge. A reply by return mail will
oblige.—l am, Sir, yours, &c.,
(Signed) JAMES RANKINE,
Captain Milang Rifles, South Australia.

MILANG RIFLES.
Target Practice Classification, 1862.
V. M. F. Office, Adelaide, March 25, 1863.
Number of Third-class Men--None.
Number of Second-class Men—None.
Number of First-class Men-30.
Total number of Men classified-30.
Number of Marksmen-22.
(Signed)

T. H. BEGGS.

United Kingdom Railway Officers and

Servants' Association.

A numerously attended public meeting of the
subscribers to this association was held last evening,
in the large room of the Bridge House Hotel, Lon-
don-bridge. The meeting was convened for the
purpose of promoting the general interests of the
institution, and establishing a fund in connection
with it to be called " The George Stephenson
Fund," for the purpose of giving annuities and as-
sistance to railway officers and servants who, from
accident or old age, might be unable to attend to
their duties.

Mr. H. B. Sheridan, M.P., one of the vice-presi-
dents of the association, having been voted to the

chair,
Mr. DYNE proposed a resolution to the effect
that, considering the important influence that rail-
ways had exercised in developing the resources of
the kingdom, and that they owed the existence of
their great railway system to the genius and energy
of the eminent engineer, George Stephenson, the
meeting, as a mark of respect to his memory, de-
sired that his name should be permanently allied
with the United Kingdom Railway Officers and
Servants' Association.

Mr. WILLIAM CLARK, of Pickford and Co.'s,
seconded the resolution, which was unanimously
adopted.

Mr. THOMPSON, of the Great Western Railway,
next moved a resolution to the effect that the meet-
ing was of opinion that the best mode of connecting
the name of the late George Stephenson with the
association was by establishing a fund in commemo-
ration of his memory, to be called after his name,
for the temporary and permanent assistance of those
in the service who from accident or other emer-
gency might be unable to perform their duties, and
that such fund be now publicly inaugurated.

Mr. LANE, of the South-Western Railway, hav-
ing seconded the resolution,
Mr. ALFRED BURR, the secretary, stated that
several subscriptions for the fund bad been already
received, and he read a list of them to the amount
of £lOO, one of them being a donation of £25 from
Mr. Cloy ther, the contractor, of Reigate. Some
600 subscription cards had been circulated, but
only about 50 had as yet come to hand, with sub-
scriptions varying from one to two guineas, and it
was expected that a considerable amount would be
realised from them. The association now numbered
very nearly 1,000 members.

The resolution having been put from the chair,
was then cordially adopted, and the proceedings
terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman.