The Sun.
London, England, 1869-03-04 00:00:00

MBER.

Hampton 21, 22
Western (Ayr) 22, 23
Hendon
Monmouth... • 23, 24
Newmarket i st 0et....28, &c.
Lanark... 2O, SU

7RE NA7IONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

-

The annual report of this association has just
been issued, and gives interesting information con-
cerning the progress of rifle shooting, not only in
this country, but in distant colonies, settlements,
and all places where our countrymen have congre-
gated—in Canada, India, Australia, and China,
where shooting is c trried on just the same as at
Wimbledon. In 1860, when the association was in-
stituted, 67 prizes were given, of the value of £2,238,
and such has been the progress made that at
last year's meeting 1,045 prizes were given, of the
value of £10,592 10s. The Queen has headed the
prize list from the beginning with the special prize
of the "Volunteers, every competitor being the spe-
cial representative of a regiment. The prizes gene-
rally have been usually divided into two classes,
" Volunteer" and "All Comers," but last year au
addition was made of " Army" prizes for certain
selected men of the army to shoot for without pay-
ment of either entrance fee or sighting-shot
money. There were 1,830 entries for the
Queen's prize last year, a decrease of 27-1 on the
year before, but there was an increase of 120 in the
St. George's Challenge Vase competition, the mode
of entry for which is 10s. for each selected man of
his regiment, being half the fee paid for entering
the Queen's. For the Enfield All Corners, with
entrance fees of 10s. and ss. each range, the
numbers of entries still keep very high.
For the Alexandra, with an entrance fee of 10s.
each range, the entries for prizes amounting to
£275 each range, were at 200 yards, 1,118,
or 559, double the amount of the prize ;
at 500 yards, 1,121 entries, or £650 10s. ;
and at 600 yards, 1,088. For the Albert (any
rifle), in which no one enters except the smallbore
shots with the smallbore fancy rifles, there were
184 entries for the 8670 offered in prizes, and the
entrance fees will bring in about £644, the
amount being at the rate of £3 103. each competi-
tion for the four ranges. This proves that fancy
ride competitions do not pay. Another instance,
in addition to the Alexandra, of the manner in
which the soldier's weapon pays in competi-
tions is shown in the Windmill prizes, the entrance
fee to which was ss. each range. There were, at
200 yards, 1,025 entries, for £175 in prize value,
and 1,019 entries at 500 yards, for prizes of the
same value. It would appear from this that the
favourite entries of the crowd of competitors are
for those prizes which are shot for with what is
still, so far as the volunteer service is concerned,
" the national weapon"—the muzzleloading Enfield.
One of the most interesting matches of last
year was for the breechloading prizes. The sum
of £5O was given by the Duke of Cambridge for
competitors with breechloaders, and it was decided
to give this sum as a " second stage prize"—i.e., for
winners in a first stage to shoot for. This com-
petition, from which much utility was to be ex-
pected, was not a tempting one to enter, for in the
first stage no prizes whatever were offered in the
book of prizes, all the information given being that
competitors might enter three times at each range
(200 and 500 yards), on payment of ss. each entry,
making a total of 30s. in money. Lord Elcho has
been elected as President, his old post, in place of
Earl Spencer, who has been obliged to resign in
consequence of taking the position of Lord-Lieute-
nant of Ireland.

Bank of England Returns.

An Account, pursuant to t.
cap. 32, for the week ending

ale Act 7th and Bth Victoria,
Wednesday, March 8, 1869.

ISSUE DEI
Notos issued ....431,927,110

ARTMENT.
IGovernmt. Debt..£ll,ols,let
Other Securities.. 6,984,900
Gold Coin and
Bullion ......... 16,927,110
Silver Bullion

X3l, 027,110

-31,927,110

BANKING 1,
Proprietors'Capi-
000
tal ............... X 14,553,
Best ................ 3,651,468
Public Deposits
(including Ex-
chequer, Sav-
ings' Banks,
Commissioners
of National
Debt, and Div.
Accounts 5,563.996
Other Deposits.. 17,550,588
Seven Days and
other 8i115..." 422,571

~PARTUENT.
Governint. Secu-
rities(including
Dead Weight

- .
Annuity) . •.. - 6,537
Other Securities 18,160,879
Notes 8,369,860
Vold and Silver
(join .„„ 1,094,347

£41,691,623
WPM

£41,691,623
IZ I'9/Mail Chict Gmkin..

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS.-TEUS EVEM Q.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

Their lordships were occupied the whole of the earlier
part of the evening in discussing the merits of the Pafila-
mentary Proceedings Bill, a measure brought in by .the
Marquis of Salisbury to enable the house to take up mea-
sures at a future session at the point at which they were
left at any closing session.
(LEFT SITTING.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS—Tms EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clock.
ELECTION PETITIONS.

The CLERK read the report of the Judge stating that
Mr. O'Beirne was not duly elected for Cashel, and also
stating that Msjor Knox was not duly elected for Sligo.
STOCKPORT ELECTION.

Mr. GILPIN pre:=ented a petition stating that further
info.mation had come to 14;ht relative to corrupt practices
since the petition against the sitting member had been
withdraw,.. Ife prayed that a Royal Commission might
inquire into the roil jest.
uNIVERSITY TESTS BILL.
Mr. MOWBRAY gave notice that on Wednesday, on
the s. c nd resting -Of this bill being moved, ho should
more that it be react it second time that day six niouth
DISENDOWAIEN r OF THE IRISH CIILTRCII.
Mr. G. HARDY gave notice, on the part of the right
hon. gentleman the rm nib T for Buckinghamshire, that on
the second reading of the oisemiownieot of the Irish
Church, biil he should move that th.' sal be read a second
(Hear, hear, from the time that d,,y six months.
Oppo-
sition.)

MALT TAX.
The CHANCELLOR. of the EXCHEQUER, in tn-
swer to Mr. Is.N.;oinbie, as to whothJr the Government
were prepared to rink.) any alteration in the ma!t tax
during the present sess'on, said he must be excused
making any remarks on the subject at present. The finan-
cial statement would shortly be made, when the whole
question could be raised._