'The Volunteers were to-day pursued by their usual evil Inck in the matter of weather, a gale of wind blowing in gusts from the left across the range, and neces-sitaring an allowance which' varied with every shot, increasing from 3 fect at 400 yards to 10 or 12 feet at 800 yards. The practice made under the circumstances was very creditable, the winning score in the Chassze Cup being the same as that made at the same ranges for the Municipal Challenge Cup last Autumn, At the long ranges, there was a falling off of 5 points from the score which then took the Ladies' Purse, but this was inevitable at such distances, when every bullet had to be launched into a whirlwind which swept it away far to ously lulled suddenly and allowed it to pass by the windward side of the target. A smart shower of rain Which fell when the afternoon squad had commenced, was actually hailed with delight, in the delusive hope that it was a sign the wind was about to fall.
Phere were of course many grievous failures and disappointments, and curses both land and we fear desp, at the unknown Engineer of bye-gone days who laid out our Rifle-range so that it should have not only the worst and most varying light possible, but should also be swept across by the prevailing winds of Spring and Autumn, A range lying North and South would not only have a clear steady light all day, but such a wind as that of yesterday would have been from the rear, and the aim would scarcely have required to be off the target at any distance. Now that the increasing interest taken in rifle-shooting makes the present accommiodation insufficient, and itis likely that before another Meeting we shall require a double instead of a single target, it is worth while to enquire what would be the cost of changing the present Range, which is double the width necessary, and which has large of useless ground both at the butts 800 yards firing-point, for a ige (with wide firing-points) which might begin say alittle north of the ferry at the end of the Honan Road and run nearly north, and almost parallel with but slightly diverging to the left from the Tine of telegraph posts which runs to Woosung; it would then pass over a country where there are no houses and, better still, no transverse paths.
The shooting at 400 yards, where the smallest wind allowance was required, was 20 good as to show what our volunteers could have done under more favorable conditions. Private Macbean made the maximum possible score of 20 Private Campbell, 19; Captain Cann and Sergeant Bishop, 18; Captain Tucker and Privates Dunman and Glass, 17; with numerous others close up. At 500 yards, the best scores were those of Privates Carnie and Hall, 16, and Privates Cullen and Glass, 15 each. At this stage, there wasa tie for first' place between Gann, Carnie and Glass at 32, Tucker being next with 31. 600 yards proved a very difficult distance, no higher score than 11 being made, although that was reached by six competitors. The finish between the first three was most interesting; Captain Tucker had completed his firing with a total of 42; Private Carnie followed and stood at 39, with one shot to go, when he had the good fortune to make ita bull's-eye, placing him one point in front; Private' Glass, who shot nearly the last of the squad, succeeded in tying him; the tie was then shot off, the result being—Carnie again a bull's-eye, Glass a very close centre.
For the Bankers' Cup, Glass, Cann and Campbell started well at 700 yards, but they all nearly failed to score at 800 yar where the wind was blowing a gale; Pri-vote Cullen's score of 12, under these diflicult circumstances, was generally _considered the best performance #o far of the Meeting, he being four points ahead of the next man, Private Hawtrey, who scored 8, followed by a couple of 7s, Private Cullen, therefore, takes the handsome Cup presented by the Bankers, Private Glass the 2nd prize, and Privates Hall and Campbell tie for third place.
4.—Tue Cuaasze Cor.—Presented by the Chaaszes of Shanghai. Ranges—400, and 600 yards; 5 shots at each. Second Prize, two-thirds of Entrance Fees; Third Prize, one-third.
400 500 000 Total, Tie, yds, yds, 1 oN 4s 4 wow un a 8 won w a 9 16 10 35
9 9 5
6 wou 0 8
Macbean..No,1 20 4 6 5.—Tue Baxxers' Cur.—Presented by the Bankers of Shanghai, Ranges—700 and 800 yards; 5 shots at each. Second Prize, two-thirds' of Entrance Fees; Third Prize, one-third.
700 yas, 800 yds, Total, 10 win 98 16 3 0 10 7
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.