presentation plaque on underside of pouch: THE ORIGINAL / CAMPBELL CHAMPION CHALLENGE BELT / OF WHICH THIS IS A REPLICA / WAS PRESENTED AS A PRIZE OF HONOUR / FOR ANNUAL COMPETITION TO / THE AUCKLAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION / BY DR. J. LOGAN CAMPBELL / IT WAS SHOT FOR IN 1860 / IN 1871 IT PASSED INTO THE CUSTODY OF / THE AUCKLAND BRIGADE OFFICE / AND UNDER ITS REGULATIONS WAS WON OUTRIGHT. / THIS NEW BELT IS PRESENTED BY / SIR JOHN LOGAN CAMPBELL / AND REPLACES THE HISTORICAL ONE. THE WINNERS EACH YEAR ARE TO RECEIVE A / SILVER "DEFENCE NOT DEFIANCE" MEDAL / AND TO HAVE THEIR NAMES ENGRAVED UPON THE BELT ITSELF / AUCKLAND, 1908

An account of the presentation was given in the New Zealand Herald, 26 August 1908.

THE CAMPBELL CHALLENGE. BELT.

A MUNIFICENT BEQUEST FROM SIR JOHN.

Some time ago I had the pleasure of informing my readers that Sir John Logan Campbell, who was deeply grieved to find that, owing to a misunderstanding of his Intention, the historic Campbell Challenge Belt had been won out, had decided to give another belt In its place. This has now been done, and the Bolt, practically a perfect replica of the old one, has been lodged with the officer-commanding the district. Conditions have been drawn up and approved by Sir John—all possibility of the Belt's being won outright being absolutely precluded—and the O.C. District will shortly issue the conditions, when they have been approved by him. It is gratifying to find that this historic trophy, dating back to 1860, will continue to be competed for amongst the adult Auckland volunteers as the Campbell Challenge Vase is in the Defence Cadets. Sir John, who himself was one of the earliest volunteer officers of Auckland, has always shown himself a keen supporter of the volunteer service during his long life, and this act should ensure that the memory of the "Father of Auckland" will always be kept green by the "National Guard.''

The new belt Is the ordinary shoulder belt in black leather, with a thick plate of silver covering the pouch. On the plate are superimposed short rifles and long Maori weapons in gold. On the front is a silver lion's head, with a silver chain held by the teeth of the lion's mouth, and connected to a silver whistle lower down. Between is a plate of silver, imposed on fern leaves, with golden rifles crossed upon it, within a gold border. Above the lion's head is a silver plate with the names of former winners engraved thereon. The inscription is: 'This belt is a replica of the original Campbell Challenge Belt, which was shot for and won in I860."

Then follow the winners' names:—"Member J. Stewart, City Company, 1860; Ensign W. Brighton, Rutland Co., 1861; Ensign W. Brighton, No. 2 Co., 1863; Member G. Cameron, No. 2 Co., 1864; Ensign A. Morrow, No. 4 Co., 1866; Ensign A. Morrow,No. 4 Co., 1867; Lieut. A. Morrow, No. 4 Co., 1868; Volunteer T. Stewart, Thames Scottish, 1871; Bugler W. Dormer, A.C. Guards, 1892; Pvt. M. Tobin, A.C. Guards, 1883; Pvt. J. Robertson, A.C. Rifles, 1884; Sergt. Sherson, A Battery, 1897; Sergt. Sherson, A. Battery, 1898; Colour-Sergt. Atkinson, A.R., 1900: Lieut. M. Atkinson, Eden Cadets, 1904; Lieut. R. G. Cox, Victoria Rifles, 1903; Lieut. M. Atkinson, No. 1 Natives, 1906."

On the back of the pouch is a silver plate, with this inscription:—"The original Campbell Challenge Belt, of which this Is a replica, was presented as a prize of honour for annual competition to the Auckland Rifle Association by Dr. John Logan Campbell. It was shot for in 1860. In 1871 it passed into the custody of the Auckland Brigade Office, and, under its regulations, was won outright. This new belt is presented by Sir John Logan Campbell to replace the historical one. Winners each year are to receive a silver Defence not Defiance medal, and to have their names engraved on the belt itself; Auckland, 1908." In addition to the medal, however, provision has been made whereby each winner will receive a photograph of the belt. The trophy has been photographed, and the negative is lodged with the belt at the Defence Office. The die for the medals which are presented has also been handed over to the Brigade Office. But, in order that there should be no doubt about the medals. Sir John has gone further, and made an endowment by which they will be perpetually provided for. He has invested £100 in a N.Z. Consol. which brings in £4 per annum, and £30 in a N.Z. Consol debenture, yielding 3 ½ % per cent per annum. The £130 is to be held as a fund for the purchasing of "Defence, not Defiance" medals each year, already there are several in store at the Defence Office —and any surplus is to be devoted to the furtherance of rifle-shooting. In a letter to the officer-commanding the district. Sir John says:—"lf in the future the Campbell Challenge Belt and Campbell Challenge Vase cease to excite and produce competition, I desire that they be deposited in the Auckland Museum, and the endowment of £130 be used to encourage rifle shooting."