The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-04 00:00:00

The Volunteers.

The annual inspection of the Ist Staffordshire
Artillery Volunteers took place in front of Etruria-
hall, Newcastle, on Saturday afternoon. There
were on parade Captain-Commandant W. Roden,
Capt. Browne, Lieut. Strick, Lieut. Bull, and 203
non-commissioned officers and men, ten being absent

on account of sickness, and nine without leave. Not-
withstanding a heavy shower the volunteers at the
appointed hour marched from the Armoury-yard to
the field, *and received the inspecting-officer, Col.
Biddulph, of Woolwich, with the usual salute. They
then marched, and were put through the manual and
platoon exercise, garrison drill and field-gun drill,
in the midst of heavy rain, obeying the command of
the officers with the greatest alacrity. At the
close of the inspection, Colonel Biddulph com-

plimented the members of the corps on their fine
appearance and the satisfactory way in which they
had gone through their drill. Three cheers were
given for the Queen, also for the inspecting-officer
and the officers of the corps.
In Wiltshire the important event of the past week
was the grand county shooting meeting at Battles-

bury, near Warminster, which was commenced on
Wednesday and continued during the week. The
programme contained prizes to the value of £4OO,
and the entries of competitors were more numerous
than at any previous county gathering. At War-
minster triumphal arches were erected in honour of
the meeting, and everywhere decorations abounded,
with illuminations in the evening, finishing with a
grand county ball on Friday. The weather on Wed-
nesday was most inauspicious for the shooting, the
rain pouring down in torrents nearly the whole of
the day. On the succeeding days, however, there
was not much to complain of in this respect. TO
regulations were Wimbledon targets and scoring and
Eufields or rifles of bona fide Government pattern,
five rounds at each range. In Class A, open to
effective members only of any Volunteer rifle or
Yeomanry corps in the county, the prize given by the
president of the Wilts Rifle Association (Marquis
of Bath), value 35 guineas, was won by Quarter-
master Neale, 7th Wilts, at 200 and 500 yards,
with 32 marks ; 2d, Sergeant H. J. Ward, sth Wilts,
(7 guineas), 29 marks. The late High Sheriff of
Wilt's prize (Mr. T. H. A. Poynder), value 50
guineas, fell to Colour-Sergeant Jeffreys, 6th Wlits,
for 38 marks, at 300, 500, and 700 yards ; 2d, Pri-
vate J. Martin, 10th Wilts, 38 marks—prize, a Kerr
rifle. A second prize, value 25 guineas, given by
the same gentleman, to be competed for at 200,
400, and 500 yards, by Volunteers who had never
won a prize, was carried off by Private Ball, Ist
Wilts, with 36 marks. Sergeant Baker, of the 7th
Wilts, in the battalion match competition, won the
10 guinea prize (presented by Mr. R. P. Long,
my.), at 300 and 600 yards, with a total of 23.
Lieutenant-Colonel Everett's 10 guinea prize, at 200
and 300 yards, was won by Quartermaster-Sergeant
Neate, 7th Wilts, with 30 marks. At 400 and 500
yards Lieutenant-Colonel Ward's 10-guinea prize
was also won by Quartermaster Neate, with 37
marks. The 10-guinea prize presented by General
Buckley was carried off at 600 and 700 yards by
Colour-Sergeant Graham, 2d Wilts, with 29 marks.
The Challenge Cup, yalue £5O, with a piece of plate
of £25 in value, fell to the lot of Corporal Nott, sth
Wilts, for 41 marks, at 300, 600, and 800 yards (7
shots at the last range) ; 2d prize of 10 guineas,
given by Lord C. B. Bruce, M.P., Private Wake-
man, 10th Wilts, 41 marks. A prize of 10 guineas,
given by the ladies of the county, was won by Pri-
vate Perris, Ist Wilts, with 46 marks, at 200, 500,
and 600 yards. The prize of 10 guineas, presented
by Mr. T. F. Grove, M.P., for the highest aggre-
gate score, was taken by Quartermaster Neate, with
204. In class B, open to all residents in the county,
Mr. Sothern Estcourt's prize of 10 guineas was won
by Hon. Member E. Sloper, at 200 and 300 yards,
with a Whitworth, with 39 marks. At 400 and
500 yards the 10 guineas given by Mr. Marsh,
M.P., fell to Private Wakeman, 10th Wilts, for 40
marks. The Consolation Stakes at 200 and 500
yards—first prize, 10 guineas, was won by Sergeant
Adye, 9th Wilts, 37 marks.
InYorkshire, theßiponVolunteers have competed
for eight money prizes given by Lieut. Wood, for
which 40 members competed at 400, 500, and
700 yards. The winners were Private 11. Cliford,
42 ; Private W: Moorey, 32 ; Colour-Sergeant T.
Clarke, 31; Lance-Corporal Craven, 30 ; Private
W. Tinsley, 29 ; Corporal Pearce, 28 ; Private
Theakstone, 28 ; and Corporal Dudgeon, 27. The
Barnsley Volunteers (first-class shots) completed
their target practice, and Corporal George Brown
proved entitled to the Marksman's Badge, having
made 42 marks, to which the 42 of the second period
were added, giving the aggregate score£Bl4o.
Hull Volunteers competed for a prize ofd £5
added
by Colonel Lord Londesborougdh,thaird given
prizes, 400,
from the prize fund for second an
500, 550, and 600 yards,e rounds.
There were 48 competitors, an
at eachd
thraenzsfit
v.prize was
won by Sergeant E. Sl., Private 11. Best and
ICollison (of E company),
who made a score of 6
cr
each
56,
anJ wing the
Ser-
geant Collenshaw mr..l
The Ist West Yorkinn Artillery
two other prizes.
Volunteers have been at Morecambe for shot and
shell practice. Although at 1,200 yards the target
Was not hit, the shot fell so near as to denote a
creditable accuracy in laying the guns. The prizes
given by Capt. Jackson for the best five shots in
round shot practice were won by gunner Brooksbank,
Corporal Hirst, Gunner Travers, Bombardier New-
some, and Gunner Oates in the order named. An-
other prize for striking the target with shell was
divided between gunners Oates and Braithwaite,
who both accomplished the task. Lieut. Marshall,
R.A., who superintended the shooting, expressed
himself satisfied with the practice made with solid
shot, considering the very bad weather, and said the
shell firing was admirable. The Ist Administrative
Brigade of the West York Artillery Volunteershave
been inspected by Lieut.-Col. Ord, R.A. The men