The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-16 00:00:00

National Rifle Association.

The usual winter general meeting was held on
Wednesday at Willis's-rooms—his Royal Highness
the Duke of Cambridge in the chair. The attend-
ance was not numerous ; but on the platform were
Lord Elcho, General Seymour, Colonel Lindsay,
Earl Ducie, and some others of the prominent sup-
porters of the rifle volunteer movement.
The Duke of CAMBRIDGE, in opening the pro-
ceedings, remarked that he had not much to say.
The annual meeting of the year would begin under
very favourable circumstances, and the financial re-
port was of the most satisfactory character. The
balance in hand was £8,371 4s. 7d., being an
increase of £1,e44 Bs. 4d. over the balance of
1865. With regard to the meeting of last
year nothing could have been more propiti,
ous or gratifying. The greatest cordiality and
good feeling prevailed throughout, and those
who took an interest in the association and in rifle
shooting assembled in such numbers that it was
scarcely to be wished that it should be exceeded ;
but there was no reason that it should not be as
large in the present year, seeing that the applica-
tions for space for volunteers were as numerous
and the same facilities would be afforded as in the
last year to all who desired to take part in the forth-
coming Wimbledon meeting. The Prince and
Princess of Wales honoured the last meeting with
their presence. The Belgian volunteers were
also there, and a deep interest was evinced,
not only by the British, hut the colonial public,
and all who were in any way affiliated with the as-
sociation. As to the general proceedings, he
had no particular remarks to offer. It would be
seen that the prize-list had been increased. The
report had been made more simple in its form, and
he hoped more acceptable to those who were inte-
rested in it. The only other subject he had to refer
to was the visit of our volunteers to Belgium last
year. The meeting knew how cordially and how
well they were received, and he was certain that the
reception the Belgians who might favour the coming
meeting with their presence would meet with would
be equallysatisfactory tothemselves. Nothing could
be more beneficial than the interchanges of good feel-
ing in attaching nations together which were kindred
in many respects, and had many interests in com-
mon. There had been no breech-loading competi-
tion for small bores this year. The reason was that
the council thought, and wisely in his opinion,
that it was possible the breech-loader, and not the
muzzle-loader, would be the weapon that would be
used for the future. It would be waste of time to
have a small-bore competition. The small-bores
had therefore been given up, and the Council had
requested the Government to furnish theta with
Snider's breech-loaders instead of the small bores.
The Secretary of State, however, considered that
in the present state of the Snider small arm it
would not be advisable, consequently the Snider
would not be brought into competition at the
next meeting. The Queen's Prize would therefore
be shot for with Whitworth rifles, and the prizes
would be given in money instead of rifles. Those
rifles shot remarkably well, and there was no
cause to regret the decision. There was no
cause of complaint against the Snider, and he cor-
dially agreed with the policy of the Secretary of
State in introducing it for the army. It had been
said that it was wild in its shooting. No doubt it
was, and that would always be an objection to any
weapon when it first became a subject of largo
manufacture. In the original experiment, under
Gen. Hay, nothing could be more satisfactory than
the result, and it was reported on by Gen. Hay as
better for conversion than the Enfield. Some way
or other defects had been found, but not so much
in the arm as in the cartridge ; but even with
those cartridges the result had been improved
shooting, and the Snider breech -loader was as
good or better than any other converted arm in
the hands of other nations. He did not say it
was in all respects perfect, but it was a very valu-
able conversion, and one that would save the
country a large expenditure. A large portion of the
troops was in possession of the Snider at a time
which it was important they should be, and there
was no reason to regret the step taken by Lord
llartington, and subsequently extended by General
Peel, in introducing it.
On the motion of Lord ELCIIO, seconded by Mr.
Ross, the report was adopted.
The vice-president and members of council retir-
ing by rotation were re-elected ; after a desultory
discussion upon points of detail in connection with
the Wimbledon meeting, his royal highness the
chairman was requested to allow himself to be
elected president for the present year, which he
assented to, and was elected accordingly ; and a
cordial vote of thanks to his royal highness for pre-
siding concluded the proceedings.