FAREHAM.
THE ANNUAL CONTEST of the 3rd Administrative Battalion of Hants Rifle Volunteers took place at the Fareham range on Tuesday last, and in consequence of its being known that Colonel Conran, the Lieutenant-Colonel commanding the battalion, was about to take his farewell, a greater number than usual attended from the various corps forming the battalion. About 60 competitors entered for the prizes, which consisted of the Battalion Cup and Lord Bury Telescope. The former was presented by Colonel Conran, and the latter by Mrs. Conran as a farewell prize, and both were shot for at 200, 500, and 600 yards. We have not space to give the detailed score, but when the five shots at 200 yards had been fired. Colour Sergeant Tayler and Corporal Pink, both of Fareham, and Private Williams, of Alton, were the top of the score with 14 points each. The squads then went to 500 yards, and after five shots each, Captain Seward, of Petersfield, Colour-Sergeant Tayler, Sergeant Fox, of Botley, and Sergeant Blackman, of Bitterne, took the lead with 23 points each. The firing then commenced at 600 yards, and at the fourth round became very exciting when it was known that Sergeant Caplen, Petersfield, and Sergeant Pink, of Fareham, two veteran shots, had pulled up, and with Colour-Sergeant Tayler, had scored 31 points each, —each having one more shot to fire. Colour-Sergeant Tayler fired and made an outer, total 33; Sergeant Pink also made outer, total 33; and Sergeant Caplen made a bull’s-eye, total 35; thus winning the Battalion Cap. The tie for the second prize was then shot off, by one round each at 600 yards, when Colour-Sergeant Tayler made a bull’s-eye, winning the telescope, and Sergeant Pink made a miss. Volley firing at 300 yards then took place, at which the Petersfield corps took the first prize, Botley second, and Wickham third. The Colonel called the successful candidates to the front and presented the prizes, and in a very feeling address, took his farewell of the battalion, which step had become necessary in consequence of his being about to leave England. Captain Warner, on behalf of the battalion, expressed his regret at losing the Colonel, as did also Sergeant Pink. The Colonel then left the ground amid vociferous cheering from the whole of the volunteers present.