The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-29 00:00:00

geant Churchill, with 99, won the Salters' Company
prize of five guineas and bis company medal, and
Private Frere, with 98, won an equal amount given
by the same company. Private Fisk, with 97,
Colour-Sergeant Abbiston, with 95, and Colour-
Sergeant Stuckey, with 94, won three prizes amount-
ing to ten guineas, given by the Fishmongers' Com-
pany—the latter two also winning company
medals. In a long-range contest with any rifle
(which means, of course, the small-bore) for
prizes given by Major Sir W. A. Rose, Colour-
Sergeant Churchill, in seven rounds at 800
and 1,000 yards, won a prize of seven guineas
with 44 points; Private Wyatt, with 41, came in for
a five guinea prize ; and Private Hammerton, with
40, won a three guinea prize. The challenge trophy,
value 100 guineas, presented by the Cripplegate
Ward (prize a silver model of Old Cripplegate), was
shot for at the Queen's ranges, five rounds each.
Corporal Fletcher with 42 won the prize, and with
,it a money prize presented by the Ward ; Sergeant
Wortham and Corporal Hayes, with 39 each, won
the second and third places. In a competition of
seven rounds at 500 yards, for a cup, value 15 gs.,
presented by Colonel Warde, the commandant,
Colour-Sergt. Heath made 23 points; for a second
prize, presented by Gen. Sir G. Bowles, K.C.8.,
value s'gs., Sergt. Wanosbrocht made 21; for the
third place Ensign Wadd made 20. To each of these
scores will be added a point for every commanding
officer's parade attended during the year. In a similar
competition for prizes presented by the Butchers'
Company and by the officers, Corporal Fletcher
and Privates Westrupp and Carmichael won with
23 points each. In a competition of seven rounds
at 600 yards Private Gray, Private Clarke, and
Corporal Atto won a challenge cup, value 21
guineas, presented by the Grocers' Company, with
five guineas added, and prizes presented by the offi-
cers. The brigade gold medal, shot for by the
winners of the company silver medals, was won by
Private J. M. Gardner, with 44 points, at 650,
700, 750, and 800 yards, his previous score made for
the first prizes, 110, being added. Prizes presented
by Mr. Joseph Fenn, and by Lieutenant and Hon.
quartermaster Walker, were shot for, some of
them being limited to members who had never
won a prize, and others being limited to those
who had never won a prize until that meeting.
Sergeant Green and Private Blaithwayt won the
first in these competitions. Sergeant Drane, in a
contest at 200 yards, won the Ironmongers' first
prize of seven guineas, and Private Winsor won the
second ; and Lieutenant Dean won the first prize
presented by the Clothworkers' Company. In a
competition for prizes given by the members of the
Brigade to the non-commissioned officers of the
Staff Sergeant-Instructor Grainge won the first,
Sergeant Smith the second, and Sergeant-Major
Southgate the third. In the skirmishing contest the
rules were that the competitors must have attended
double the number of drills required for the Govern-
ment test of efficiency; each competitor to be allowed 5
minutes, and to " fall in " loaded opposite the target
at 500 yards. On the " advance " being given the
competitors advanced as quickly as they could to
400 yards, where they fired for a minute, when the
" advance" was again given, and so on at 350, 300,
250, and 200 yards. Every rifle had to be fairly
loaded from the pouch, and at the conclusion of the
contest it was decided that Corporal Hayes, with
24 points, had won a cup, value £2l, presented by
the Broad-street Ward ; Private Goddard, with 18,
had won a cup value £5, given by Mr. Bannister,
in memory of his son, the late Ensign Bannister ;
and Lieut. Dean was third. In the " rapid firing,"
which was for prizes given by the Messrs. Silver
and Co., each competitor fell in at 200 yards, and
was allowed five minutes, the loading being fairly
from the pouch, and in military order. Sergeant
Walker,
,with 50, won a prize cup value 12 guineas ;
Private Marsh, with 48, won a Rob Roy case ; and
Private Buller, with a like scare, won a third prize.
The firing was conducted under Captain and Adju-
tants Evens and O'Callaghan.

AGRICUL2URAL PROSPECTS.

The week opened with a fine morning ; a little
drizzling rain about noon, but nothing worthy of
notice, and the remainder of the day was dry.
Monday was a hot forcing day. Wind S.S.E.,
thermometer in the morning 65 degrees, 73 at mid-
day, and 80 later; barometer 30.10 inches, but fall-
ing. At 10 p.m. a heavy thunderstorm commenced,
with a continuance off and on until 5 o'clock the
following morning, and at times it rained in torrents.
This proved one of the heaviest and most disas-
trous storms of the season, and was more general
than any previous one, in some situations prostrat-
ing the crops. Tuesday was dull and showery dur-
ing the early part of the day, but became fine
in the afternoon. No harvest work could, how-
ever, be proceeded with. Our advices nn that day
were as under. From the West Riding of York-
shire it was stated : " Since Friday harvest opera-
tions have commenced in many places on the south
of Yorkshire district. Yesterday I had au oppor-
tunity of seeing many thousand acres, in a tho-
roughly agricultural part, and the wheat crops
mostly looked bright and healthy, and horse-reapers,
scythe, and hook going in all directions. Some of
the barley and oat crops were laid a good deal, but
a portion of each, and especially the former, was
fine and nearly -ready to cut. I heard no com-
plaints of want of reapers. Heavy rain during last
night- will no doubt have stopped work in many
places. Turnips and potatoes look well, but there
are still complaints of the unsoundness of the
latter." From the East Riding of Yorkshire:—
" Weather, with the exception of a few hours'
rain in the early part of the week, has been hot
and forcing, harvest has already commenced,
and in a few more days, with a continuance
of such weather, will be general." From Suffolk,
north-east part of the country :—" We have fine
weather for our harvest, which is just commencing,
and farmers do not speak favourably of their wheat
crop as they cut it up. A few samples appeared
to-day, which exhibited great variety of quality."
Wednesday was a fine breezy day, and harvest work
proceeded vigorously. From the west coast of Scot-
land it was stated, " Since last week we have had
several thunder-storms, with pelting rain and
sharp' atmospheric changes." From the east
coast, " The weather has been changeable during
the past week. Yesterday we were visited with
a severe thunder-storm, which has laid our
crops seriously. Fine sunny weather is much
to be desired now, for we are to be late."
From Great Yarmouth, " The weather has
been fine during the past week, and harvest opera-
tions are now general. We hear some disappoint-
ment expressed at the yield, but it is too early to
venture an opinion -thereon." Thursday proved a
most favourable day—hot and sunny, and much
harvest work was 40cOmpligled in line order, Our