THE LAST SHOT FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 213, 13 February 1875, Page 3

THE LAST SHOT FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

(Auckland Star.) The scene on the ground during the firing of the last few shots for the belt was veryexciting. Every shot of the six or eight foremost men was watched with interest, and now and again as a bull's-eye was made, a cheer would come from devoted but unwise friends of the marksman. The most noteworthy feature of the shooting at the last range was the rapid advance of Elder to the front. After four shots he stood two ahead of anybody, having begun three behind Skinner. Elder did not seem to be aware of his prominent position. As he placed bull'seye after bull's-eye on the target he goodhumored West Country features brightened into a quiet grin of satisfaction, and more than once as he returned to his squad, after delivering his shot, he muttered sotto voce, " I'll have that belt after all, hanged if I won't." But the fates were adverse, and like Tantalus, Elder had the cup put to his very lips and then withdrawn. When he had fired his last shot lie maintained his lead of two over Skinner, who had still one shot to go. If he made a hit the belt was Auckland's. The decisive nature of the shot was widely known, and there was breathless silence as the Auckland champion stepped from his squad. He looked straight to the front, and betrayed no nervousness. Taking his aim he placed himself in the usual recumbent position, and, after a careful and moderately long aim, fired. All eyes were strained to the target. Before the smoke had cleared away a cheer arose from the little band of Auckland well-wishers on the ground. Their eager eyes .had descried the cloud of dust which the impact of the bullet had raised on the target. Skinner did not move till the marker's flag came out, indicating an " outer." Then he sprang up, and for a few minutes he had enough to do responding to the hearty shakos of the hand from his friends. Then another cheer was given, this time joined in by some of the Southern representatives, and (very feebly) by the Thames volunteers, who were unmistakeably chagrined at Skinner's success. The winner now tried to escape, but it was no go. Devore, Payne, and G oldie, his old companions in tbe Artillery, seized him willy nilly, and assisted by Boardman and others, hoisted him shoulder-high, and after sundry hair-breadth escapes, and being as often upside down as not, the victor, like Milton's dusky hero, "by merit raised to that bad eminence," Avas deposited safely on his legs, and after a further series of embraces, was permitted to smooth his ruined feathers and collect his wits, which must have been considerably scattered.