Napier Rifle Volunteers - Challenge Belt

Made in 1872 by Harrop and Neill, Watchmakers, Jewellers and Silversmiths, Princes Street, Dunedin, leather work by Mr George Alexander Smyth, of Hope Street, Dunedin.
Presented 1stly 1872 by Captain W. R. Robinson and Lieutenant J. Close, presented 2ndly  1885 by Henry Renouf.


A very handsome challenge belt, for the Napier Rifle Volunteers, is now on exhibition at the shop of the makers Messrs Harrop and Neill, Princes Street [Dunedin]. The tailpiece, slide, buckle, and breastplate are in solid silver on the polished surface of which are fern leaves in relief in frosted silver. The outer part of the breastplate takes the form of a wreath, surmounted by a crown, and on a raised piece of solid silver, inside the wreath is engraved the name of the Company. The letters are filled, in with blue enamel which produces an excellent effect. There are six scroll plates in polished silver, and each is intended to bear six names. The bottom ornament is a wreath on which the rose, shamrock, and thistle are embossed and in the centre of which are crossed rifles. The pouch, which bears the Company's initials in pierced floral letters, has a silver rim, and all the metal entering into its construction is of silver. The belt is of black patent leather, and a scroll cornucopia stitched in white thread extends along it. The belt is one of which any Company may be proud. Two medals for the Napier Rifles are also on view at Messrs. Harrop and Neill's premises.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3277, 7 August 1872

Ornamental Art. —We have been favored by Messrs Harrop and Neill of this town with a sight of a very beautiful challenge belt made by them for the Napier Rifle Volunteers. It is of black enamelled leather, ornamented in the centre with a tasteful wreath in silver of frosted fern leaves surmounted by a crown. Within the wreath is a raised plate of blue enamel, with an inscription, stating the purpose for which the belt is designed. The buckle, slide, and end plate are of bright silver, frosted, with leaves, and, at the other end is a massive embossed wreath with crossed rifles. Between that and the centre wreath are six bright silver scroll clasps, on which the names of the different winners are to be engraved. The pouch is of enamelled leather, mounted with silver and run with floral letters in the centre. Two beautiful medals accompany this handsome belt, both of the same design, but one is wrought in gold and the other in silver. They form handsome wreaths of laurel leaves with crossed rifles. The designs of belt, pouch, and medals are exceedingly elegant, and the workmanship in all is admirable. Even the most minute details will bear the closest inspection. As a matter of course the silver ornaments form the most striking features; but on examination it will be found that the stitching displays great technical skill. It is done in white silk by Mr Smith [sic], of Hope street. The design is free and flowing, and the stitching beautifully neat and uniform. We have heard, some years ago, of artistic works of this description being sent for to Melbourne or England, because it was said they could not be made in Dunedin. That reproach is at any rate removed, for nowhere have we seen better workmanship nor a display of purer taste. We understand this is the third belt made by the firm of Harrop and Neill.
Evening Star, Issue 2955, 8 August 1872

To The Editor of The Hawke's Bay Times.
Sir,—One of the conditions for the firing for the Napier Rifle Volunteer challenge belt I think preposterous, viz., with respect to one member being compelled to win the belt four times in succession, or eight times at intervals before the same becomes the absolute property of such winner. The Rifle Club Cup has only to be won twice (not necessarily in succession either) to become the private property of any member, and yet no one person has done so. If this condition of the Rifle Volunteer Belt is adhered to, I venture to predict that another belt will not have to be procured for many a long year. I think, too, that before the belt is shot for, a little practice should have been given to the members. As things stand, the chance of winning the prize lies in the bands of a very few.— 1 am, &c., Volunteer.
Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1425, 11 September 1872

 
After winning this belt a number of times it became the property of Henry Renouf. In 1885 Renouf presented a belt to the Napier Rifle Volunteers

Mr H. Renouf, with a view of encouraging rifle shooting amongst the Napier volunteers, has presented to the Napier Rifles the handsome belt which he won himself a dozen years ago.
Daily Telegraph, Issue 4244, 3 March 1885

However the description differs from the 1872 belt.


In order to encourage rifle shooting amongst the Volunteers of Napier, a handsome challenge belt has been presented by Mr H. Renouf to the Napier  Rifles, to be shot for by that company under certain conditions to be afterwards arranged. The belt, which cost no less than £30, is very tastefully designed in patent leather, with silver stars, and seven silver clasps for the names of the winners. It was first presented in 1872 to the original company of Napier Rifle Volunteers by the officers who had charge of the company at that time, Captain W. R. Robinson and Lieutenant J. Close, both of whom had always taken an active interest in Volunteer matters. There were two half-yearly competitions for the belt by the members of the company, and Mr Renouf being the winner on both occasions, it became his own property in 1873, according to the conditions under which it was fired for. The present Rifle Volunteer company will, no doubt, appreciate Mr Renouf's generosity in presenting them with such a valuable trophy.
Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7102, 3 March 1885
 

A Sergeant in the Napier Rifles Volunteers wearing the Napier Rifle Volunteers Challenge Belt.
Cabinet card by Charles Sorrell, Dickens Street, Napier
purchased June 2020

"The bottom ornament is a wreath on which the rose, shamrock, and thistle are embossed and in the centre of which are crossed rifles ... The belt is of black patent leather, and a scroll cornucopia stitched in white thread extends along it."

" ... the stitching displays great technical skill. It is done in white silk by Mr Smith, of Hope street. The design is free and flowing, and the stitching beautifully neat and uniform."

"The outer part of the breastplate takes the form of a wreath, surmounted by a crown, and on a raised piece of solid silver, inside the wreath is engraved the name of  the Company. The letters are filled, in with blue enamel which produces an excellent effect."

"There are six scroll plates in polished silver, and each is intended to bear six names."
The second line of this inscription may say "... Corporal L. Cantle..."

"Two medals for the Napier Rifles are also on view at Messrs. Harrop and Neill's premises."

Winners of the Challenge Belt

1872 - Corporal Renouf

Napier Rifles were disbanded in 1874 and re-formed in 1878 

 

1885 - Corporal Langham
1886 - Private Harpham
1887 - Private Harpham (2nd year)
1888 -
1889 -
1890 - Corporal Louis Cantle, he died in 1896 aged 32 years
1891 - Private Hendry
1892 - Lieutenant Swan
1893 - Private A. Pirie
1894 - Corporal A. Pirie
1895 - 
1896 - Sergeant Gleadow [1] (also won gold Medal) probably John Emery Gleadow 1875-1949
1897 -
1898 - Color-Sergeant Robson [2] (2nd year)
1899 - Sergeant Gleadow (also won gold Medal) Presented 16 January 1899
1900 - Private Hawthorne, presented 22 March 1900, then of Second Contingent in South Africa

[1] John Emery Gleadow or John Gleadow
[2] Charles Ernest Robson or George Robson, both painters at Enfield Road, Napier in 1897

Other Belts

In 1871 the Port Chalmers Naval Company also had a belt made by Harrop and Neill. The leather work and ornamental stitching - the latter done in silk, and in the form of a fancy scroll - was the work of Mr Smith [sic], saddler, Hope Street and the mounting by Harrop and Neill.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2946, 17 July 1871

In 1873, Harrop and Neill made a star trophy in gold for the Wellington Rifle Association:
It consists of an ornamental scroll clasp of laurel leaves, and in the centre of the star — a seven-pointed one — there is a wreath of raised ferns, with cross rifles in coloured gold. Worked into the points also, in dark blue enamel, are the letters and figures, "W.R.A., 1873."

Otago Witness, Issue 1108, 22 February 1873

In 1873 they also made two belts for the New Zealand Government, the "Colonial Champion Belt for Rifle Competition, New Zealand" and the "Cavalry Champion Belt, New Zealand."

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 241, 7 October 1873

Auckland Rifle Brigade - Rifle Champion Belt
Manufactured by Johnson, Simpson and Simon, 10 Little Britain, London
... We were shown yesterday a magnificent Rifle Champion Belt, the gift of Captain J. McCosh Clark to the Rifle Brigade, in fulfillment of a promise made some months ago. The belt is covered with rich blue-silk velvet, having solid silver mountings, and was made by Messrs. Johnson, Simpson, and Simon, of London. The fern-leaves and acorns in silver (intended to represent New Zealand and England) are beautifully executed, and indeed the same may be said of the crown and crossed-rifles. The shield hears the following inscription: — "Presented to the Auckland Rifle Brigade by Captain J. M. Clark, of the 3rd Company, January, 1872." The total cost of the belt we believe exceeded £30, and it has been acknowledged by all who have soon it to be by far the most handsome belt yet competed for in the colony. It will be on view to-day in Messrs. Upton and Co.'s window, and is well worth inspection by all who love to look upon that which is truly beautiful in art. The belt is to be the property of the Volunteer who shall win it three times.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4491, 17 January 1872

also see
Ballinger Belt