Rifle Shooting Awards

Lot 1033    Day 1    Rifle Shooting Awards

Estimate $6,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au

NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT, Champion Prize, struck in gold (tested 23ct, 42.8g, 35mm), no maker, with suspender (no ribbon), reverse inscribed (Won By) 'Sergt. W.Taylor/No.2, O.R.V./1868' (O&D.132); another, struck in silver (30mm), no maker, suspender and ribbon with bar, bar inscribed 'Sergt. W.Taylor/1868' (O&D.132). Minor surface marking, otherwise nearly extremely fine; toned, nearly extremely fine, two of the earliest Colonial pieces in the Collection and of significant importance. (2)

The following courtesy National Library of New Zealand - Papers Past, from the 'Colonist' 12 May 1868:^^"THE LATE CHAMPION RIFLE SHOOTING^^(From the Wellington Independent.) ^^The ex-champion Christie and Sergeant W.Taylor (of No.2 Company Dunedin Scottish Rifles) were ties at 47. These two had consequently to shoot off, and accompanied by a large crowd were marched down to the 400 yards range, where the question of who was to be the champion for the year would be settled by one shot. Intense was the excitement, breathless the anxiety when the former, after a short pause, lay down and brought his rifle to the present. A steady glance at the target, a moment's pause, a flash, and then the blue flag showed that a centre was the result of Christie's aim. Taylor then came to the front and coolly lay down and fired. In a moment a bull's eye was shown at the butts, and with, loud cheers the Champion for 1868 was greeted as he rose to his feet. ^^The very interesting ceremony of distributing the prizes to the successful competitors took place in front of the Houses of Parliament, at noon, on Wednesday, April 29. The weather was fine, and some 300 or 400 people, including a number of ladies, assembled to witness the ceremony. At the appointed hour, Mrs. Stafford, accompanied by the Hons. Col. Haultain and Major Richardson, approached the table, and addressing the volunteers, read the following speech, in a low tone of voice, inaudible within a few feet of where she was standing:- ^^'Volunteers:-It is with very great pleasure that I avail myself, once more, of the opportunity which is afforded me of delivering to the successful competitors the prizes which the Government of the Colony have been enabled to set apart for the encouragement of marksmen in the use of the rifle. As the bowmen of our native land were well known among their foes, some centuries since, by the strength of their arm, the accuracy of their aim, and the dauntless character of their courage, so, I feel assured, that in all time to come, the riflemen of Great Britain, and of her colonies, will be equally well known whenever there shall be a call upon their loyalty and patriotism to rally around the throne and their country; and that then the crack of their rifles will be as sure an earnest of victory as were the clouds of arrows which were showered forth from out the ranks of the sturdy yeomen of old. It is with no little pleasure that I have learned that there is a decided improvement, both in the firing for the competitive representation in the provinces, and the firing for the colonial prizes which has just been concluded. I hope the time is not far distant when we shall have to welcome home some marksman of our own who will bear with him from a colonial or international contest, some badge of victory which will tell that the sons of New Zealand are emulous of distinction far beyond the narrow limits of their own shores, I recognise with much gratification, one particular in which this occasion differs from the two which have preceded it. I see in your ranks the first fruits of the future defenders of New Zealand. Our cadet companies have taken their place as a recognised part of the volunteer system, and it will, doubtless, not be long from what I hear, before some youthful aspirant will become noted among the marksmen of the day, and make those who are now competing, look well to their laurels. Volunteers, if I may be allowed to speak on behalf of the women of New Zealand, I will tell you that it is with a peculiar pride that the mothers and daughters of our adopted country see those dearest to them hasten to join your ranks, and by regularity of attendance and unremitting attention, calling into existence those combined qualities which characterize the British soldier, and have added lustre to those glorious deeds of arms which have been exhibited by him on many a well-fought field. You know too well the sad cause which has prevented your receiving at the hands of his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh those prizes which I am now about to distribute. We mourn his absence is the abscence of one who, on his return to our native land, could have told to his widowed mother, our gracious and well-beloved Queen, that the youngest of the dependencies of the British Crown cherished, as a sacred possession, as true a devotion and as deeprooted loyalty as any portion of her Majesty's dominions. We mourn his absence, but we grieve still more that there could be found a British subject who could have done such a dastard's deed. Yet still our grief is somewhat allayed when we hear from every quarter the fervent outpourings of loyalty to the Queen, and we see the rapid expansion of the volunteer movement, indicating, by no uncertain sign, that come what may, New Zealand shall be known as among the truest and most devoted of the subjects of the British Crown.' ^^The Duke of Edinburgh's non appearance at the ceremony was ocassioned by the fact he was shot and seriously wounded in Sydney while on a Royal Visit to Australia. The tour was originally planned to end in New Zealand. The perpetrator was hanged. The Duke finally arrived in New Zealand in April 1869, the first of three official visits to occur between 1869 and 1870.