The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-03 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEERS.

The annual fete and regimental dinner of the
Queen's Westminster Rifles took place on Saturday
at the Crystal Palace. Besides an amateur thea-
trical performance, which was given in the theatre
that last week was known as " Richardson's," there
were footraces far a series of money prizes, steeple-
chases, blindfold racing, long jumping, and high
jumping. At the dinner Lord Grosvenor presided,
supported by Lady Elcho, Lady Charlotte Russell,
Lord Elcho, Lady Constance Grosvenor, Lieut.-Col.
the Hon. C. H. Lindsay, Major Geo. Russell, Major
Hughes, &c. A large number of ladies were pre-
sent. The Chairman proposed the toast, The
Army, Navy, and Volunteers," to which Col. Lind-
say replied for :he army and Major Hughes for the
volunteers. Lord Grosvenor replied to the toast of
" The Queen's (Westminster)," proposed by Lord
Elcho.

The annual inspection of the Ist Tower Hamlets
Administrative Battalion, comprising the 3d, 7th,
10th, and 12th Tower Hamlets Corps, by Colonel
Morris, C. 8., took place on Saturday evening at the
Cricket-ground, Cockburn-road, Bow-road. The
Volunteers, to the number of 700, were under the
command of Lieut.-Col. Buxton, M.P. The inspec-
tion commenced shortly after seven p.m., and the
inspecting officer, Col. Morris, having examined the
arms and accoutrements, the regiments went through
a variety of evolutions in a creditable and soldier-
like manner. At the conclusion of the inspection
the regiment formed square, and Col. Morris, in ad-
dressing the Volunteers, said that, with regard to
the general efficiency of the corps, the battalion
movements were fairly executed, and the ground not
being of a satisfactory nature he must congratulate
the commanding officer, Col. Buxton, on the manner
in which he had handled the regiment. The
arms appeared to be clean, but the firing was defec-
tive. Next year he hoped to see them on ground
where they could skirmish a little. The regiment
then marched to the Whitechapel schoolrooms,
where an excellent supper was provided by Colonel
Buxton, to which 720 sat down.
The third annual prize meeting of the Ist Surrey
Rifles was held on Wednesday, Thursday, and
Friday last, the 29th, 30th, and 31st of July, at the
regimental ranges, Rye-hill, Peckham. The chal-
lenge cup given by Lieut. Puckle, hunorary secre-
tary of the corps, value 10 guineas, conditions 150,
200, and 300 yards ranges, five rounds, was won by
Private C. Waterman with 46 marks. Mrs. Mac-
donald's prize, value 10 guineas, conditions,
200 and 300 yards, five rounds, was won by
Private Curtis with 30 marks. The Kenning-
ton (No. 2) Company's Challenge Cup, value 20
guineas, conditions 500 and 600 yards, five rounds,
was won by Private Macrone, with 25 marks. The
Camberwell (No. 1) Company's prizes were com-
peted for at 450 and 550 yards, seven rounds. The
first prize, £l5 15s. was won by Private Fisher,
with 45 marks; the second, £lO 10s., was won by
Private Macrone, with 37 marks. The principal
officers' prize (at 500 or 600 yards, five rounds), £lO
10s., was won by Private Macrone-31 marks.
Throagh an order received from the War-office on
Friday to stop the shooting at the range until fur-
ther orders, no prizes were won that day. The long
range shooting and unfinished prizes are to be shot
for at Plaistow this day.

The Essex Volunteerscontinue to " keep the game
alive." The Tendring Hundred Company has had a
competion at the butts at Wheeley for an electro-
plated tankard. The shooting Was at ranges of 200,
500, and 600 yards, and Colour-Sergeant Bones
proved the winner, making 41 marks. Five rounds
were fired at each range. On Wednesday ten of
the Colchester corps and ten of the Tendring

Hundred company had a match at Weeley. Colour-
Sergeant Bones again made the highest score and.
became entitled to a cup, which was subscribed for
by the whole party previous to the commencement
of the shooting, which was conducted at ranges of
200, 300, 500, and 600 yards, five shots e^.ch. The
score at the close stood as follows :—•Colchester,
414 ; Tendring Hundred, 389. The 2d Essex
battery of Artillery has had a competition for prizes
at West Tilbury. The first prize, a silver cup of
the value of £lO, given by Captain R.
Baker, for competition among twenty members
who had attended the greatest number of drills from
January 1 to June 8, 1863, was shot for at 200 and
300 yards, five rounds each, and was won by'
Gunner Mann, who made 23 marks. The Fecund
prize, of the value of £5, was given by Lieutenant
C. Asplin, and was open to all members who had
attended eight drills from January 1 to June 8 ;
the shooting was at ranges of 100 and 200 yards,
and Sergeant Sackett and Sergeant-Major Biddell
tied ;in shooting off the former won. A prize, of
the value of £5, was given by Lieutenant F.
Asplin, upon the same condition as the former ;
Gunners Reeve and Tomlin tied, and in shooting
off the former won. A party of 17 of the Brent-
wood company have competed at their butt for a
silver cup, which was won, after a well-sustained
match, by Private Meadway, who had to shoot off
a tie with Sergeant Taylor.
The Suffolk County Me Association will hold
ite annual prize meeting at Ipswich on Thursday
and Friday, September 10 and 11. The 2d Suffolk
battery of Artillery shot for a number of prizes
last week. The first contest was for a challenge
cup presented by the honorary members, the shoot-
ing being of 200 and 300 yards, seven rounds each.
After several ties had been disposed of, Surgeen
Rand was proved the winner. The next prize, the
ladies' cup, was won by Gunner J. Cardy. The
third competition was between second-class shots
for a silver cup presented by the commandant of
the corps, Lieutenant R. D'Eye ; the ranges were
200 a►nd 300 yards, seven rounds each, and Second-
Lieutenant Cobbold proved the winner. The third-,
class shots competed for three prizes of £2, Xl,and
10s., given by Captain W. R. D'Eye ; the ranges
were 150 and 200 yards, five rounds each, and the
prizes were won respectively by Gunners Laws,
Emmany, and Bartlett. A prize offered to the
corps by the honorary memberr was won by Capt.
E. D'Eye, who made 25 marks at 100 and 200
yards, five shots each.

The Ist Norfolk Administrative Battalion formed
an encampment on Wednesday in Gunton-park, the
seat of Lord Suffield, Lieut.-Col of the battalion.
The encampment was continued on Thursday
and Friday, and was broken up on Saturday.