The Sun.
London, England, 1869-12-23 00:00:00

THE VOLUS El; HS.

The prizes won by the members of the 49th Mid-
dlesex (the Post-office) corps were distributed last
evening at Westminster Ball by Mrs. Du Plat
Taylor, in the presence of Mr. Scudamore, Mr.
Edmund Yates, and other gentlemen connected
with the Post-office. In opening the prozeedings
Lieutenant-Colonel Du Plat Taylor congratulated
the regiment on its efficiency, and not without rea-
son ; for, though it has only been in existence some
18 months, its strength is 810 men, of whom, for

the year ending December 1, 795 were extra-effi-
cient, 14 efficient, and there was only one non-
efficient—the honorary chaplain. Colonel Taylor
explained that this very exceptional state of effi-
ciency is not clue to exceptional advantages pos-
sessed by the corps, the memters of which are
not collected under one roof in St. Martin's-le-
Grand, but are scattered over the whole of the
London suburbs. No officer, it seems, are accepted
until they have gone through a course of in-
struction with a regular regiment and have passed
an examination before a board of officers. Colonel
Taylor claimed for his men that they were the best
accoutred corps in London, for all have great coats,
and he added that he should not be satisfied until
they had their baggage-waggons, tents, and equip-
ment complete, so that they might be fit for active
service whenever they were called upon. The prize
list was a long one. Among the chief prizes were
the Lieutenant-Colonel's annual Challenge Cup,
1869, won finally by Sergeant Parker ; ditto, 1870,
won in the fist monthly competition by Colour-
Sergeant Burnham ; Captain Cunynghame's Cup,
won by Sergeant Macdonald ; the Adjutant's badge
and £5 for the champion shot of the regiment, by
Armourer-Sergeant Daines. The Company Chal-
lenge Cups of 1869 were won finally by Private
Wheeler, Captain Arnall, Ensign Reeves, Corporal
Clarke, Colour-Sergeant Burnham, Private Phillips,
and Corporal Parker.
A meeting of the 26th Regiment of Middlesex
Rifle Volunteers was held on Tuesday evening, at
the St. Katharine's Dock-house, for the purpose of
hearing from Lieut.-Col. Collet a st)tetnent of the
steps that had been taken towards filling the va-
cany caused by the death of the late Col.-Comman-
dant Ralph W. Grey, who by his devotion to the
interests of the corps had succeeded in raising it to
its present position as one of the first metropolitan
battalions. Col. Collet said that a very responsible
duty had devolved upon him and the officers in the
selection of a commanding officer, and that they had
_ _ _

felt that the first requisite was that he should ba a

man of military experience, and at the same time of
sufficient means and leisure to be able to devote the
necessary time to the interests of the corps. He
stated that, although the appointment was in the
hands of the Lord-Lieutenant, he had no doubt the
wishes of the members of the regiment would re-
ceive attention, and he then announced that he had
been in communication with Capt. Kennard, of the
Bth Hussars, who was about to retire from the ac-

tive service of the army, but who would feel gra-
tified to command so well-known and efficient a
regiment as the 26th. Colonel Collet further state I
that Captain Kennard had served on the Duke of
Abercoru's Staff when he was Lord Lieutenant of
Irel tnd, during the last Administration. This state-
ment was received with most hearty and unanimous
approval, and Colonel Collet then said that be
would take the necessary steps for carrying the
wishes of the meeting into effect. A cordial vote
of thanks to Colonel Collet and a similar compli-
ment to the active and energetic Adjutant of the
corps, Captain Elliot, closed the proceedings.

The 29th (Notth) Middlesex Rifle Corp; held its
annual prize distribution in Middleton-hall on
Monday; Lord Enfield, M.P., honorary colonel
of the regiment, presiding. The proceedings were
opened in a short speech by the chairman, who ex-
pressed his deep regret that Colonel Whitehead
was absent through a family bereavement, an
called upon Major Peters to describe the condition
of the regiment. The officer referred to then gave
the returns of the regiment, and said the recruiting
had been carried on very briskly during the year,
and that the returns placed the regiment in a fair
position. With respect to the shooting, among
the marksmen of the year were—lion. Surgeon
Dr. Stewart, Coptain Wade, Captain Spenc...r,
Captain and Adjutant Wallis, Captain Rey-
noldg, Lieutenant Hopkinson, and Colour-Sergeant
Fraser, of No. 1 company, who was the winner of
the battalion medal, and, what is of more honour,
the badge of three stars as "best shot," ho
having made 107 points in his 2d and Ist classes.
The company prizes were very numerous, and were
chiefly given by the company officers. The bat-
talion prizes were presented by Lord Enfield, Col.

Whitehead, Major Peters, Major Goode, and others,
and the chief were won by Private Wilson, Private
Siegert, Sergeant Humphrey, Sergeant King, Pri-
vate Giles, and Private Wheatley. Three prizes
won at the Belgian Tir National, at Liege, were
also presented. These were won by Colour-Ser-
geant Heathcote, Private Thurston, and Private
Woodbridge. After the presentation some compli-
mentary speeches were made. The room was then
cleared for a ball. The whole proceedings were
carried out in a manner which reflected great credit
upon the shooting committee, whose labours
were heightened by the great distance from the
head-quarters.
The annual presentation of prizes to the Ist Mid-
dlesex Engineer Volunteers was held on Saturday
last, at the head-quarters, College-street, Brom?'
ton. There was a large attendance of the members
of the corps and their friends. In opening the
proceedings, Colonel M'Leod of 111‘Leod congratu-
lated tl e corps on its steady progress in strength
and efficiency, as shown by the following statistics•
1869 —total strength, 645; efficieots, 450; 1868"'
total strength, 563 ; efficients, 378, or an increase
in the strength of the corps of 80 men. Eighty
men had passed through the first class, as aiganlst
30 last year ; 88 in the second class, against 62 ;
and 34 i❑ the third class, against 32. Colonel
E wart, Royal Engineers, subsequently addressed
the corps, and pointed out the advantages which
would accrue to the engineer portion of the service
by occasional visits to the School of Engineering et
Chatham. The principal prize, a splendid silver
challenge vase, the gift of Colonel M'Leod, was
presented to the best shot of the corps, SaPPer
Ingram.