The Sun.
London, England, 1862-07-04 00:00:00

THE GRAND NATIONAL RIFLE

CONTEST.

The national rifle contest was resumed at Wim-
bledon yesterday in the midst of what may now be
considered real volunteer weather, inasmuch as it
was carried on in an almost incessant and pelting

rain, to which strong gusts of wind were at times

. _
superadded. The volunteers by this time, how-
ever, have become used to this sort of thing, and

punctually as the gun fired at half-past nine for the
commencement of the business of the day was heard
the sharp crack of the rifle simultaneously at the

different targets spread over the ground. With the
shooting on Wednesday evening closed the first
range of 200 yards for the Queen's Prize, and yes-
terday morning the second range of 500 yards was
commenced. The first corps that appeared was the
Honourable Artillery Company, who were followed

by several Middlesex corps. The contest for the
Association Cup was resumed at 200, 600, and 600

yards, as well as that for the all-comers and extra

prizes.
In the notice of yesterday's proceedings allusion
was made to an objection which had been taken to
the rifle used by Mr. Edward Ross, and he had

been disqualified for the Queen's Prize and the
extra prizes in consequence. There were also several
other rifles rejected, which included those supplied
by the London Armoury Company, the Govern-

ment Enfield rifles, even some of those supplied by
the National Rifle Association itself. This whole-

sale rejection of rifles has led to a good deal of dis-
content and angry feeling, and it has been urged,
and apparently with good reason, that it is too late
to take objections to rifles after they have been per-
mitted to be used, and especially as some of the
rifles now objected to were those with which prizes
were won last year, and no demur to them was
made. Mr. Ross feels himself particularly aggrieved
in this matter, as he considers that he used the only
means in his power to obtain a rifle which should
be in strict accordance with the regulations.

It seems, according to the statement of Captain
Ross, that a few days ago he ordered a new rifle
to be sent down by the London Armoury Com-
pany to his son, Mr.. Edward Ross, who was
then in Scotland, to be used by him at the pre-
sent meeting at Wimbledon. The rifle reached
him only a few days before he left Scotland, and
having no opportunity of testing it before he quitted
his home for London, on his coming to Wimbledon
he went to the Council tent, where he saw the ser-
geant-armourer, and he asked him to inform him if
that was a bonafide authorised rifle. The armourer
ib-wass- slok-hig duty., butt,-we- o firrour, Im-would
examine it. He tried the pull, and said it was one
pound too light in the pull, which he increased by
two pounds. He also passed the long gauge down
it, and having having returned it to him, said it
was all right. Believing that not a doubt existed
as to his rifle, he shot with it, but afterwards, to his
great surprise, he found that his rifle, supplied by
the London Armoury Company, was rejected be-
cause the wind plug would not go into it,nor would
it into the Government rifles, those issued by the
Association, and even some were rejected from
Hythe. On the other hand, Mr. Kerr, the manager
of the London Armoury Company, contends that
their rifles will take the plugs, but in consequence

of the precision required it can only be done by
machinery. A meeting of the Council was held
yesterday to take the subject into consideration,
and after some consultation they came to a decision
that they would allow those holding Government
Association rifles to shoot with them under protest,
but they would not allow those to be used made by
private individuals under any circumstances. This
decision will have the effect of excluding several
gentlemen from any chance for the Queen's and
other prizes, inasmuch as the preliminary ranges
have been passed over.
The shooting for the Association Cup presented
some most remarkable shooting, particularly by
Sergeant Hutton, of the 40th Lancashire, who
made three bull's eyes and three centres at 200
yards, two bull's eyes and two centres and an outer
at 500 yards, and five bull's eyes at 600 yards, hav-
ing made a total, with the hits added, of 54 points.
This is most extraordinary shooting, and although
the contest will be kept open for several days, it
will be only by almost unprecedented skill that he
can be deprived of the prize.
At the advanced range of 500 yards, the contest
for the Queen's prize was commenced in a very
spirited manner, notwithstanding the unfavourable
weather which continued throughout the day, and
it was indeed an improvement upon the shorter
range of 200 yards. The highest score obtained
at 200 yards was 18 points, by Mr. Hay,
from Lancashire, whereas at 500 yards, 17 points
were obtained by Mr. Pixley, of the Victorian;
Mr. Hitchcock, of the 7th Wilts ; Mr. Stratton, of
the 17th Worcestershire ; and Mr. Richardson, of
the 11th Surrey. Mr. Edwards, of the 6thofSttafe
fordshire made 16 points, and Mr. Foster e hCity of London, made a similar number. Th
fol-
lowingthroughiosuat
the statementday,
asoffatrhaesptrhiencripetaul
obtained : returns
soroeosu
lmdabd
be
. or 500 YARDS.
QUEEN'S PRIZE.—FIRST ,TA .
.p. °tots. Hits. Total.
5 15
Morris, West Middlesex _
5 14
Hall, West Middlesex .... v,..
5 13
4 13
10 4 14
TProsser,hom as , N3V2eds t
Middlesex Middlesex., 1A" dd les x.... .. 3
Edmonds, 48th Middlesex 8
4 12
Bird, 24th Middlesex
Field, 5 12
Smith, 11n.
23d Art.
1 Pa
8
5 15
Oxley, 19th Middlesex 4 12
5
19th
,x
Middlesex
oldCes Company
" • • 170
8 4 12
y, m
28th9,h A
4 12
Wood, 28th Middlesex 8
4 12
Lesvie,33thMiddlesex(Artists) 8
lllVioliaet hlna, 1
A t Middlesexiid a l
-a e
5 13
Cunningham, 18th Middlesex 8 5 13
Seymour, Queen's .......... 10 5 15
Porter, Queen's ... 10 5 15
Shipwa3, Queen's .......... 8
5 13
Bonetto, Queen's .......... 9
5 14
Black, Queen's ............ 9 5 14
Anderson, Queen's 9 4 13
Hewitt, Queen's 8 5 13
Leete, Queen's ~ . ,