SHOOTING OF COAST ARTILLERY. 
167 
This mode of reward has been founds on the whole, to work very 
well and to give, by the ardent emulation it causes, an ample stimulus 
towards the end required. Nor does there seem to be any necessity 
just at present to alter it. 
The results of the shooting, in each year, as shown by the classifi¬ 
cation of companies and the prizes won, are published in the Royal 
Artillery local and general regimental orders, and are looked for with 
great interest by all. 
(The idea itself originated with the writer, and a similar mode of 
stimulating the rifle shooting of the South Australian paid Militia had 
been founded by him in that Colony when he was their Commandant 
in 1885-8, see Appendix IV., to this paper). 
(B). Certain individual prizes are also given under it, viz.:— 
Gun-layers prizes, for these specialists. 
Gunnery prizes, for a certain number of N.C.O/s and men who 
pass the best examinations, practical and theoretical in gunnery. But 
we need not discuss these individual prizes at present, even though 
changes may perhaps be advisable in them, as, so far, they have not 
been awarded for the results of actual gun practice. 
6. Mode of arriving at classification of companies. 
The settling of the nature of the company prizes, and the classification 
for and distribution of the prizes was one thing. But to determine 
how the classification was to be arrived at, was quite another and more 
important matter. 
Without going into unnecessary details, the mode laid down by the 
Committee, accepted by the authorities and which has been carried 
out since 1891, in the different branches of the regiment was as 
follows :— 
The necessary classification to be made and the prizes to be won, 
by “ competitive prize firing,” in which, as far as possible, each comp¬ 
any, as a whole, is tested. 
Certain credits also being given, towards the total which could be 
made, for “ drill series,” and for what is designated as the “fire dis¬ 
cipline ” of the company, during the manning and carrying on of the 
practice. 
The main and principal factor however, for the gaining of credits, 
being the accuracy of the shooting. The element time was, on 
the first establishment of the system, practically neglected. 
For this competitive prize firing, each company in a group of Coast 
Artillery, has to fire sixteen rounds on one day, from the same work 
as the remainder of the group are to fire from, at similar targets and 
as far as possible, under exactly similar conditions. 
The system so adopted in 1891, though no doubt it had many de¬ 
fects, has certainly given excellent results and very much improved 
the accuracy of the shooting of the Royal Artillery in all its branches. 
In the mounted branches however, it was soon found that great mod¬ 
ifications were required in the system to suit their wants, especially 
as their armament and equipment became rapidily improved. These 
modifications we need not discuss here, except to say that generally, 
