The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-26 00:00:00

The National Rifle Association.

Yesterday afternoon the May meeting of the
members of thin association was, held,at
Rooms, under the presidency of his Royallliiimess
the Duke of Cambridge.
The Duke of CAMBRIDGE, in opening the pro-
ceedings, said that he had only a few facts to men-
tion. The Wimbledon meeting would open on the
9th of July. The prizes would amount to £4,020,
whereas in 1865 they amounted to only £3,935.
Consequently there was a considerable addition to
the prizes this year. The increase had been given
mainly to the Enfields—a course of proceeding
which he thought would be eminently satisfactory
to the public and to the large and increasing body
of volunteers. If anything there had been a reduc-
tion in the small bore and other prizes, in order that
something more might be given to the Enfields.
There would be 658 prizes this year ; last year
there bad been 580. There was, however, a certain
risk in all this, because he was sorry to say that the
£6OO due to the Birmingham Arms Company had
not been discharged since it was ander discussion
at the last meeting. At that meeting he expressed
his strong conviction that that sum ought not to be
brought against the National Rifle Association, be-
cause there was an evident mistake in putting out
the tenders. No arrangement, however, had yet
been made, and therefore there would be some little
risk in awarding the additional prizes. But as the
funds were tolerably good—not, however, better
than they should be—the council thought they
were justified in taking the risk. At the same time
he could not help hoping that the Birmingham
Arms Company would eventually relent, in reference
to the demand which they had made, for in so do-
ing they would act in a graceful and acceptable
manner, and in a manner, too, which would tend
to promote the prosperity of the National Rifle As-
sociation. He had to announce that the Belgian
gentlemen had appointed a committee of their own
number, and the council had placed at their disposal
a sum of £5O, to deal with as they liked. He thought
that was a very liberal way of dealing with their
Belgian friends, who were entitled to high respect
for the manner in which they treated the gentle-
men who went from this country to their meeting
last year. (Cheers.) With regard to the camp at
Wimbledon, he might state that it would be opened
on the 6th of July. The arrangements of the camp
last year gave general satisfaction, and this year he
believed they would be equally acceptable. There
was one subject, personal to himself to some extent,
which he might be allowed to mention—it was in
reference to a volunteer review in Hyde-park on
Saturday, the 2d of June. It had been said that the
council of the National Rifle Association had thrown
difficulties in the way. The difficulties thrown in
the way of the proposed review were not those of
the association, but his own. It was proposed that
10,000 men should assemble in Hyde-park, and on
looking into the matter he came to the conclusion
that there were difficulties about it which could not
be got over. There was not sufficient space for
such a large body of men. They had a brigade of
Guards there, and the extent of their movements
had been an advance of line, and a change from
right to left. That was all they could do. In addi-
tion to that, he believed that the large body of people
who would assemble on such an occasion would com-
pletely destroy thepark. He was very anxious, how-
ever, that the Earl Grosvenor and the volunteers
should not be disappointed ; and he should therefore
feel great pleasure in placing Wormwood Scrubs at
their disposal. It was not a very accessible place, as
they all knew, but there was more space there than in
Hyde-park, where a field-day would invitably prove
a failure and a disappointment to those who wished
to show off the volunteers to advantage. He thought
it right to make these remarks, because if blame
attached to any one it was to himself. At
the forthcoming meeting at Wimbledon there
would be a number of breech-loaders at
hand, from which anybody might select those most
advantageous for his own interest. They had not
adopted any arrangement about breech-loaders, but
they had found a means of conversion which he
thought would prove advantageous. He had gone
through the whole matter with Mr. Schneider, and
had come to the conclusion that nothing could be
more satisfactory than his plan of conversion. If
they could introduce conversion from Enfields to
breech-loaders, he thought they should adopt it. I
He did not say that it was the best scheme that
could be adopted, but as the scheme now proposed
was the best they had seen, he thought it would be
very foolish on the part of the Government if they
did not adopt it. He would only add that the
money on hand was £2,321 17s. Bd., and that the
review would take place on the last day of the
meeting.

Captain HAWKER objected to one of the new
rules, which provided that mechanically-fitting
bullets should not be allowed in the first stage of
the Albert prizes. The rule appeared to be directed,
he thought, against Mr. Whitworth. Such a rule
tended to break down the principle on which the
association was founded, and he therefore suggested
that it should be withdrawn.

Captain TEMPLER, of the 18th Aliddlesex, drew
attention to the 4th rule,—" For volunteer prizes
the shooting at 200 yards shall be off the shoulder ;
at the remaining five ranges it shall be from the
knee, Hythe position, unless off the shoulder."
He hoped the officers would have instructions to
construe it liberally. He thought that something
should be allowed to kneel upon if thought ne-
cessary.
Major LESLIE advocated similar views.

Lord ELCHO assured Captain Hawker that he
was labouring under a mistake in supposing that
the rule alluded to was aimed at Mr. Whitworth.
With regard to the llythe position, the council had
always felt that changes might be introduced in
position, but that such changes ought not to bevsug-
gested by the council. There might, however, be no
limit to such changes, and convenient stools might
even be made in the form of boots.

Mr. LIJXMOORE, of the Queen's Westminsters,
said he knew some men who were determined not to
shoot at all if these restrictions were insisted on.
The Earl of DUCIE said that out of 60 prizes last
year 10 different rifles were used, and the Whit-
worth gun took the lead.
The Duke of CAMBRIDGE thought there might be
some inconvenience in altering the rule now that all
the circulars had been sent out.
Captain TEMPLER said he would not press the
matter.
Captain GOOPLIFYZ drew Attention to tlao inode

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FRICF 4d.
STAMPED sd.

and manner in which the Queen's prizes were shot
for. People were brought from all parts of the coun-
try, and were kept for three or four days. Ile sug-
gested that the competition for the first stages of the
Queen prizes should be confined to one day. lie
also recommended au addition to the all-comers'
meetings.

Captain BIDDER, of the Ist Middlesex Engineers,
proposed the following :—" That in the opinion of
this meeting the charge for target sighting shots in
all competitions ought for the future to be reduced
to 6d." A sum of £BB2 was received for sighting
shots last year.
Captain MACGREGOR, of the Scottish Volunteers,
seconded the motion. In the county of Gloucester
the prizes given were £l,OOO, whereas it had been
a matter of some boast that the prizes of the Na-
tional Association, comprising all counties, amounted
to £4,000 odd.

Lord ELCHO said that all the prizes in connection
with the association reached nearly double that
amount.

The motion was negatived.
Captain BIDDER moved--" That in the opinion of
this meeting the amount of prizes given in the Albert
competition should not exceed that given in the
Alexandra competition."

This motion led to a long discussion, and even
tually it was negatived.

The amended rules submitted by the council
were agreed to.
Mr. THomrsoN said he wished to make an inquiry
with regard to the public school matches—namov,
whether it was intended that they should be put
aside to the Scottish butts ? He thought those
young shots should not be sent to a range which
everbody who had had any experience knew to be
most difficult.

Captain PAGE said no arrangements had yet been
made, but everybody complained of the Scottish
butts.

On the motion of Sir J. BURGOYNE, a vote of
thanks was awarded to the Duke of Cambridge,
which his royal highness briefly acknowledged, and
the meeting separated.
A meeting of the National Artillery As'ociation
was held immediately afterwards—Lord Elcho pre-
siding. A series of amended rules was put and
carried. It was announced that prizes had been
given by the Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Duke
of Cambridge, the Secretary of State for War, and
the Duke of Wellington.