THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 407

Charles Bull to be Lieutenant. Date of commission,
7th April, 1875.
David Scott to be Sub-Lieutenant. Date of com-
mission, 7th April, 1875.
In the No. 5 Company, Canterbury Rifle Volunteers.
John Perrin to be Lieutenant. Date of commission,
7th August, 1874.
DONALD MCLEAN.

Resignation of Militia and Volunteer Officers.

Colonial Defence Office,
Wellington, 16th June, 1875.
HIS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to
accept the resignation of the commissions held
by
Captain C. D. de Castro, New Zealand Militia.
From the 27th May, 1875.
Sub-Lieutenant H. A. Moore, Alfred Cavalry
Volunteers. From the 2nd April, 1875.
DONALD MCLEAN.

Commission cancelled.

Colonial Defence Office,
Wellington, 16th June, 1875.
HIS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to
cancel the commission held by
Captain Francis Charles Leggett, New Zealand
Militia.
DONALD MCLEAN.

Addenda to Report on Colonial Prize Firing.

Colonial Defence Office,
Wellington, 16th June, 1875.
THE following Correspondence, referred to by
Lieut.-Colonel Lyon in his report on the
recent Colonial Prize Firing at the Thames, is pub-
lished for general information.
DONALD MCLEAN.

Waiuku, 13th February, 1875.
SIR,—At a meeting of the Colonial Representa-
tives, held in the Naval Hall, Thames, on the 8th
instant, I was requested to forward to you the
following suggestion for the information of the Hon.
the Defence Minister.

I find that there is one slight omission in the
suggestions which I annex, viz., "That the annual
contest should be held at an earlier or later period,
as the latter end of January and the month of
February are busy times with those who follow
agricultural pursuits. The meeting suggest either
November or March as being the more suitable, and
the heat of the sun would not be so great."
I have, &c.,
E. HAMLIN,
Captain. No. 1 Company, W.R.V.,
Chairman of Meeting.

Colonel Lyon,
Commanding Colonial Representatives.

Thames, 9th February, 1875.
SIR,—I have the honor to inform you that, at the
conclusion of the Colonial Prize Firing, a meeting of
the Representatives was held on the 8th instant, for
the purpose of considering any suggestions they
might wish to lay before the Government tending to
increase the success of these annual contests. By
request of the meeting, I beg to lay before you the
following recommendations :—

1. That Government be respectfully requested to
   increase the number of aggregate prizes.
2. The ammunition supplied at the late contest
   was stamped as Eley's, without any special brand;

and as numerous complaints were made throughout
the firing of its irregularity, the enclosed test of
weight of eighteen Eley's bullets and thirteen of
Government ammunition, year 1870, was made by
Mr. H. A. Severn, Grahamstown. The shooting for
the Infantry Belt was inferior to former years, and
the large and frequent difference in the weight of
Eley's bullets is mainly accountable for it. Eley's
branded ammunition is considered good, but an un-
branded and inferior article found its way into
Australia a few years ago. That in the event of
Government compelling each man to use the ammu-
nition which is issued to him on the ground, as at
the recent meeting, each competitor shall load in
front of his squad officer, as during the late firing it
was proved that unprincipled competitors used am-
munition other than Eley's, and were thus firing at a
great advantage over their more honest comrades.
3. That Sniders be issued to efficient Volunteer
Companies throughout the colony as soon as possible,
and that District Representatives receive them in time
for practice before the next annual meeting.
4. That in order to facilitate the firing, the num-
ber of targets be increased, or that competitors fire
in smaller squads, as at Victoria and other Rifle Asso-
ciation gatherings—say, eight men at one time on
each target.
5. That the All-comers' Match be confined to large-
bore rifles, and to any ranges up to 600 yards; but
that a small-bore match be put on the programme;
any ranges up to 1,000 yards.
6. That the qualification of Representatives should
be by the aggregate of two or more matches, and not
of one, as at present.
7. While not expressing a decided opinion, the
Representatives appeared generally to think that the
time had now come when the Colonial Prize Firing
might be held at a central place, say somewhere in
the neighbourhood of Cook Strait, and convenient
to competitors from all parts of the colony.
E. HAMLIN, Capt. No. 1 W.R.V.,
Chairman.

The Hon. the Defence Minister,
Wellington.

Grahamstown, 8th February, 1875.
Comparative weight of Eley's and 1870 Govern-
ment ammunition rifle ball:—

Eley's.
Troy grains.
543
516
533
530
536
523
522
533
533
515
536
527
527
526
527
530
506
530

(18)9493(527.4
Mean weight of ball,
527.4
Difference in the mean weights, 9.7 grains.
Greatest difference between
two balls, 37 grains.

Government clay plug 1870.
Troy grains.
540
537
536
537
537
537
537
537
537
537
537
536
537

(13)6982(537
Mean weight of ball,
537.
Greatest difference between
two balls, 4 grains.
H. A. SEVERN.