The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-19 00:00:00

TEE w:

EETING.

The Common yesterday morning presented a
marked contrast to former days of the meeting, when
soon after the reveille had sounded hundreds of
*volunteers were to be seen emerging from their
tents, and afterwards indulging in those morning
luxuries and comforts so essential to fit them for
the business of the day. This was succeeded by
mutual interchanges of friendship, all inspired with
good wishes for the future. Breakfast was scarcely
over before little parties were formed discussing the
probabilities of so-and-so making a good score, and
opinions expressed as to the chances of success.
Before dinner time hundreds of ladies in elegant
attire graced the scene, and all was bustle and
activity. The chief attractions of the meeting have
now been disposed of. The Queen's Prize has been
shot for and won, and the Belgian visitors, laden
with proofs of Englishmen's goodwill, have departed
for their homes, and nothing could be more chilly
than the general aspect of the place yesterday morn-
ing, although a large number of prizes still remain
to be disposed of.
On the previous night there was a renewed illu-
mination by means of large Bengal and other
lights, in consequence of the great success which
attended the former display on Saturday last. The
affair on this occasion was on a more extended scale,
and at ten o'clock the whole extent of the common
became brilliantly illuminated. The many hundreds
of tents under the effect of the blazing lights pre-
sented a wonderful aspect, and the canvas appeared
ef snowy whiteness. The old mill displayed brilliant
lights, and could be clearly defined for miles round.
The butts were also brilliantly lighted up, and had
there been any desire to continue the shooting at
midnight instead of mid-day the light was just as
good, and every shot on the target could have been
marked with the same accuracy. The whole dis-
Play gave unqualified satisfaction, and loud plaudits
showed how it was appreciated by the visitors.
This mimic display had not been long disposed of,
and the "last post" sounded for all lights to be ex-
tinguished, when there were loud cries of " Fire
fire !" proceeding from a number of voices. The
Surrey Volunteer Fire Brigade, who are encamped
on the ground, were soon on the alert, and under
the direction of Capt. Irvine, Sergeant Woodward,
and Lieut. Lucas, they soon got out the engine, and
Proceeded to a spot outside the enclosure, where a
great heap of furze was on fire which had been col-
lected during several days of the past week. They
got out their hose and placed it in some stagnant
water close at hand and commenced pumping on the
fire, while the general volunteers in camp formed a
line from the water tanks on the common and passed
buckets of water from one to the other, so that in a
Icomparatively short time the fire was extinguished.
t is believed that this large quantity of furze, hav-
ing been dried by the heat of the sun, was wilfully set
on fire. Some difference of opinion appeared to exist
as to whose orders were to be obeyed, and conse-
quently with a divided responsibility there was not
that Complete organisation that should prevail on such
occasions.
This, however, appears not to be the
view taken by Colonel Colville, the commanding
officer, for about mid-day yesterday the following
order was issued:—

" Camp Orders, July 18, 186 G.
"1. The Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding has much
pleasure in expressing his thanks to tho volunteers in
camp for the smartness, steadiness, and observance of dis-
cipline shown by them generally last night, when called
out in consequence of the fire on the heath.
I'lidn2
". On Friday, tho 20th, the 'first post' will sound at
ight the 'last post' and 'lights out,' at 12.30 and
12.40 a.m. (21st).
"W. J. CoLviu.z, Lieut.-Colonel Commanding."
Last night a very ill-feeling was expressed by the
Guards, sergeants, and officers employed on the
common and engaged in the duties of scoring, in
consequence of it being intimated to them that a
reduction would be made in the pay they had re-
ceived on former occasions, and as they had re-
ceived no intimation up to that time they expected
to be paid as before for their services.
The men considered, as they had gone on so far
and so well without any previous notice, that this
sudden announcement was very hard upon them,
and especially so as they had very increased duties,
and the markers were in the butts from morning
until night, with one hour's cessation only, and for
all this work they only received 2s. a-day. Never
did the business of the meeting go on more smoothly and successfully, and the proposed reduction, there-
fore, came with a very ill grace. Yesterday morn-
ing,, on the men being mustered to be told off for
their respective duties, they all unanimously refused
to
go unless they received a guarantee that they
should be paid as they had been hitherto ; for
although the Guards receive their regimental pay
lu addition, yet in consequence of being separated
from their homes or their usual mess the whole of
the camp pay is absorbed in extra expenses. With
such a determination, there was nothing to be done
but comply with the men's demands, and having
recheived an assurance that they should be paid as
s
hiterto, they cheerfully marched off to their re-
pective posts, and the business of the day pro-
ceeded.
The programme for the day contained a large
ainount of business to be got through, 12ut the prin-
cipal new competition was the contest between eight
members from the Oxford University Volunteer
Corps and a similar number from the Cambridge
University Volunteers for the possession of the
Chancellors' University Challenge Plate, given for
annual competition by the Duke of Devonshire and
tEarl of Derby, five shots each, at 200 and 500
Yards. The next new competition was what is called
the Rifle Oaks, being a sweepstakes of 10s. each,
uivided into three prizes ; five shots each, at 200,
600, and and 600 yards.
The Albert Prize competition was continued at its
second stage of 800, 900, and 1,000 yards.
The Fourth Series of Extra Prizes at 800 yards
Was also continued, as was the Any Rifle Associa-
The Saturday Review Prizes, shot for breech-
loaders, excited a vast amount of interest, in conse-
quence of the attention which has l be-
stowed upon this subject, and theately
not been
ice which
Parliament has taken of the question.
The Windmill Prizes again went on, the ranges
being at 200 and 500 yards, and, from the numer-
ous The Prizes offered, they excited great competition.
Enfield Wimbledon Cup contest again ex-
;',l,ter‘d, a very lively interest. It is of the value of
al,,uu, but restricted to the winners of prizes of the
tionle of £2O and upwards in Enfield rifle competi-
at any of the Wimbledon meetings previous to
:,?°6, and to the highest scorers in the Interna-
roonal Plate matches previous to 1866. Therefore,
41. these conditions, great excellence in shooting
Was expected.
, reThere were some extra prizes given yesterday for
ech -loaders, both for rapidity of firing and mark-
',rag, and some high scores were made: Sergeant
'lrookes, of the 12th Middlesex, with a Spencer re-
11Peater rifle, at 200 yards, in three minutes made 79
.larks, with 30 shots and 28 hits. Mr. Peterkin,
4`,',le of the Cambridge University, however exceeded
81218, for with 33 shots and 31 hits he made
th„rnarks. He afterwards continued shooting with
cesaane weapon and was doing very well, but some
to "cle work in the chamber fould and he was obliged
discontinue it.

1:Iit REVIEW ON SATURDAY NEXT. •
The following
ei is a list of corps which have re-
,ie_Y
i vmbled ed authority to attend the Volunteer Review at
lon on Saturday next :
RENDEZVOUS—PUTNEY.

oex S
let Londn Engineer Volunteer Corps ... ••• trength.
109
Ist Middles do.
320
Ist Tower Ilanalets do.
113
ddo.
Loudon Rifle Volunteer Corps ••• ••• 330
Ist, 18th, and 36th Middlesex Corps ...
„. 376
2Gth Middlesex
4 Middlesex do. do. ... ... MO
do. ... .•. 347
do.
7,111, Surrey Rifle do. do. ... •.. 303
"44 Administrative Battalion Middlesex Rifle
~, Volunteers
... ...
'''' 4-clruinistrative Battalion Essex Rifle* Volun-
,atil teen
...
...
." ••• ••• 435
-"
2d Middlesex Rill.; Volunteer Corps ... ••• 370
do.
...
... 257
do.
Artillexy
Ist London
88th18t do. 175
Middlesex Rifle 350
do.
15th
do. 68
do.
Ist Surrey do. do. 304
18t Admi4 do. do. ... ••• 207
istrative Battalion Surrey Rifle
V.o4litteers ...

... 214

GEOICQE ERSELNE, 0010/1131.