CANTERBURY RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2280, 14 April 1868, Page 2

CANTERBURY RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Easter Mektino. The third annual meeting of this association was commenced yesterday at Hillsborough, and, so far, gives every indication of attaining a most satisfactory success. The number of entries have, considering all circumsiimces, boon fairly numerous for each event, whilst in every instance the firing may be regarded as a great improvement upon that at any previous competition. Had the efforts of the association been less successful, however, there would have been ample excuse afforded by the great disadvantages under which anything connected with volunteering has had to labour during the past twelve months. Nut only has the epirit of emulation in every part of a volunteer's duties been greatly checked by the almost entire withdrawal of Government support, but a feeling of disinclination has become apparent amongst civilians to assist, either by subscriptions or otherwise, that which the ruling powers evidently consider unworthy of support. On a body like the Rifle Association this is calculated to have a most prejudicial effect, and those who have thought proper to compla ; n at the reduced number of prizes as compared with those of last year would, if they considered these matters in their true bearing, rather join in awarding that credit to the Association which its energy and perseverance deserves. Not only has it had to contend with great difficulties in receiving subscriptions, by reason of the continued depression in trade, but has also had to struggle against the apathy which neglect and depreciation of services by Government is gradually causing amongst volunteers.

The morning of yesterday was one in every way favourable to the achievement of good scores; the essential conditions to succes« in rifle practice—no wind, a clear atmosphere, and a cloudy sky—being present until towards noon, when a slight breeze sprung up, and the sun came out bright and dazzling. From this time light and variable winds continued almost throughout the firing, but without increasing sufficiently to annoy the marksmen, and the only inconvenience was that caused by the glare of the sun, which at one time was very oppressive. A slight shower of rain fell between five and six o'clock, but not sufficient to delay the firing. The Hillsborough range is so well know* that it is only necessary to state that in addition to the two targets usually on the range, there was a third erected on the > pposite side of the gully, on the old camping ground, and a smaller one specially provided for the Presidents' Cup competition, on the level ground, in the centre of the gully. A tent for the accommodation of the officials was fixed on the level ground facing the targets, with a refreshment booth, under the control of Mr Chapman, of the Hillsborough Hote!, in close vicinity. We regret to say that no dool targets had been provided, which are always a source of interest a3 well as income at meetings of this kind.

There were not many visitors to the ground during the day, as compared with last year's, meeting, considering the facilities of transit to and from the city offered by the railway. The firing commenced punctually at 9 a.m., with the competition for Mrs Weld's Cuj. Unfortunately a slight misunderstanding had arisen respecting the time the squads were expected to fall in, and many members were thus debaried from taking part in the contest. It appeared to have been understood by some that the match was intended to commence immediately after the arrival of the 9 o'clock train from Christchurch, and as many volunteers from the outlying districts were not aware that a train ran at 8 o'clock, they arrived too late to take a part in the contest. When the firing for the cup commenced, everything was favourable to good shooting, whLh is apparent by the scores made at the first rangebut, notwithstanding this, little hope was' entertained by any of winning the cup, and the efforts of the best marksmen, under the most favourable circumstances, failed to make the number of points entitling them to the coveted prize. It appears that the conditions impused upon the cup given by Mr Weld have been made even more stringent for its successor. Not only has the position been made a severer test of steadiness, but the ranges are longer, and the minimum number of points is increase' 1 . The score now required to win the cup is Sft points, or 6 points over and above an average of centres throughout. At the ranges specified in the conditions this [is very considerably above average shooting, in fact, even in fine weather, it would be something to be proud of by any marksman, whilst with even slightly unfavourable weather it would be almost an impossibility. The conditions are capable of being made lighter without giving too easy a chance of the cup being won, or diminishing the value placed upon it by volunteers.

The Members' Cup did not produce many entries, and was won by Mr Twentyman rather easily. This is a new feature in the programme of the association, but one which is not without merit, and nest year, no doubt it will produce a closer contest. The score made by the winner is a very good one. and would do credit to manv of the volunteer "cracks." The President's Prize, the competition for winch was carried on throughout a great*--portion of the day, was productive of no little amusement, in addition to the interest which its intrinsic value excited. It is the first time that the peculiar conditions under which it was competed for have been adopted hy the association, but they are certainly such as to test the merits of light infants better than any other. The principal object is to promote expeditious loading and firing on the marcli-q.mlities of the greatest importance to all soldiers likely to be called upon to skirmish. Much practice is required and thus, perhaps, the first attempt is not altogether satisfactory, the scoring being very inferior by most of the comnetitors. Many different plans were adopted by those firing, some running the whole distance and then halting l 0 load, whilst others ran half the distance and thenjoaded; but loadino whilst running carried the day, although a much slower speed was adopted in traversing the required distance. The firing will be continued to-day, but it is scarcely likely that Lieut, l'avitt's score will be beaten The Canterbury Cup brought a large number of cuiiipeiuon to the post, and thefirine was renmrkahly good and close, as shewn bv he number of tw., In order to save time, the tie* were decided on the Wimbledon system, th ; shots uf those making an n Ufl '■umber of points being compared com muie.n, with tl.el MD *one,ann,S towards, and the first maw glf advance wi...; as for instance, if two com LI? 1 J eSpe(ltivelywitll t)>eir lasi Si imm«>£? any ? m W h ' m *as commenced r e H ,a tel yp ut conclusion of that forth. UUerbury Cup, but there not being timet 2 ~t was postponed until toiyTh say «Inch company was ahead when th< nrmg was discontinued. During the day Colonel Packe was presem

Mss Wemj'3 Cop. tlJcu A 5 g f 7v ,° pen t0 raen > b «s of w«e L U.A., Hod all Volunteen. Comnetltare snoringl«.tb. 40 point, at thi flfe So JjJIM wilt be disqualified from compXg,? theonKerranipjß. dnditiona.-ThS winner ofthecupiuittoecore l«i. than 90 pSST » a T7~ m > m ' . 500 > aQd 6u ° Ss Kifle-Governments minimum pull, 6 lb ß No 4,0 v!ll ge , alloffed - and 4<io y.rds kneeling; son. and 600 yards anv K"™- 163 to be shot off by ffitfie slioti at the longest ranee T«Lt. «7V 6ft throughou , bullVeye JtlT, '~ 6f ? y oth efore ,nd after firiSg, buVnoUuS Jfln e XwptlncMeof am

Those who failed to make the number Of points entitling them to fire in the next stage now fell out, and the remainder then continued the match as follows :

* Retired, The Members' Cop. Open to all members of the C.R.A. (not Tolunteers.) Distances—2oo and 300 yards. No. of shots—Five at each range. Position —Any. Entrance fee—Two shillings and sixpence. Regulation targets. PBIZE—CUP, VALUE £5 SS.

The Cahterbdrt Cdp. Open to all Enrolled Volunteers of the province and members of the Association. Distances 200 and 300 yards. Rifle— Volunteers, Government; other competitors, any. Minimum pull, 6lbs. No of shotsFire at each range; position— 200 from flhoulder; 300 kneeling. Entrance fee-Five shillings, non-members; two shillings and sixpence, members of Association. Regulation targets.

Ist Prize-Cup, value £5-Gunner Craigie. 2nd Prize—Money, £2—Lieut. Papprill. 3rd Prize-Money, £1 lOs-Corporal Woodford. 4th Prize-Money, £l-Gunner Oakes. sth Prize-Money, lOs-Sergeant Brass. President's Prize, Value, £lO 10s. Open to all Volunteers and Members of the C. R. A. Conditions. —Distance, 120 yards. Competitors, between each shot, to double round a post 50 yards distant from the firing point. Five minutes to be allowed to each competitor. Entrances to be made at anv time during the first day. Competitors to carry their own ammunition, rifle, &c, and to receive no assistance while firing. Position-any. Rifles, muzzle loader; no loading-rod allowed. Target, 2ft x 6ft; bulls-eye, 8 inches diameter, centre 2 ft diameter. Entrance fee, 2s 6d.

The firing for this prize will be continued to-day.

HKBT BTAGE. Competitors, 300 yds. 400 yds. jjj 0 *iBign Pnpprii - 'Gunner Craigio Private M Pnnnin ...413424125403330417 12 ... 2133113 23 313432123 16 **.**"? nil uunuin ham » C, Cunnin ...033231318232033117 35 ham Bergeant Brass ii Brown Private Strango d Gulliver Gunner Whale Sapper Beattio % » Grunt Private Sluddison Gunner Jenkins ■i Childs lieutenant Cuff Corporal Fr.-w lieutenant Pavitt ". 4-12331-323431330319 12 ••• 022132117 22133 W18 35 - 2331.13123 0311123 «S 43 ...21133303218 39 ••.333311124231331010 13 -4234112233120301 J •..2 332,141823233031! 8 -4.3131312501.1,333320 45 - 313 KU2 20 2342330 17 37 -443121125.103330117 42 ... 43-1-1020 17 0333024 jo 29 - 2421.(3123 4333041 21 41 PriTato Ballard Sapper Barnos Private Schneider Sergeaut Rulo Privalo Stewart - 3314243 23 3023333 17 10 -431334125122333121 10 ... r43W13224033I1321 .43 ••.3022r00 7000303110 17 -43333312323r3333l7 40 ...241332122113302319 11 ii Cameron ...433434324230343420 41 ii Hobson Corporal Clarke Sergeant Miller Mr Twentyman ... 2021141202244033 18 38 ...212W4319 303323117 36 ...2313412224t2i-313 20 42 40

SECOND 6UGE. A Competitors. |f 600 yds, 600 yds, % OS ' ——I —'I 1- 1— •Gunner Craigio.. . 46 3320144 20332420014 80 Private C. Cun . 42 3233330173030000 6 65 ningham .. Sergt. Brown „ . 43 322230315 * PriiateStrange.. . 44 3002 * ■Gunner Whale.. . '13 234432018 * Private Maddisonl 45 |3332022|l5|O4O3200| g| C9 Corporal Frew.. . 41 3334213 22332r30415 81 Private Ballard.. , 46 022230211 * Sapper Barnes .. . 43 303403c 13 * Private Stewart 41 202001311 * „ Cameron | 44 |2234332|l9| * 1 1 Sergt. Miller ... .! 42 OOr2332 10 * Mr Twentyman 1 40 l23rr « 1

Competitors. 200 300 Total. C. Cuff H. J. Tancred T. H. Tirentyman H. P. M. Ajnsley 'Captain Rooks James Smith 8 ... 11 ,.. 16 ... 13 ... 15 ... IS 11 2 17 6 9 ft 19 13 33 19 24 9,1

Competitors, Corps. pU P £ HI 0 Sapper Barnes mill lieut. Allison C.V.A. 17 15 32 Private Dixon No. 8 16 13 29 Corporal Clarke No. 6 12 11 23 PriTate Strange No. 8 17 14 31 Sergeant Brown C.V.A. 13 10 23 Private Hobson No. 2 8 14 22 Gunner Whale C.V.A. 13 * Sergt-Major Urquhart.., E. 13 13 26 Private Maddison No. 2 8 14 22 „ Ballard No. 6 14 11 25 Colour-Sergeant Brass,., , No. 8 17 15 32 Piivate Cunningham.., , No. 6 10 13 23 Sergeant Rule , No. 6 15 13 28 Gunner Oakes , C.V.A. 17 16 33 Private Cameron , No. 3 13 14 27 „ Stewart . No. 3 17 6 23 Corporal Frew , No. 6 14 14 28 Mr J. Smith 12 2 14 Sergeant Woodford .., ', E. 7 7 14 Corporal Woodford ... . E. 16 17 33 Sergeant Packard , C.V.A. 16 11 26 lieutenant Pavitt E. 14 13 27 Mr C. Cuff 9 10 19 Private Digby . Engneerl 15 15 30 Gunner Jenkins , I.V.A. 13 14 27 Lieutenant Cuff ,. . L.V.A. 10 11 21 Sergeant Bull . No. 3 14 15 29 Sapper Beattie . E. 14 14 28 „ Grant . E. 12 14 26 Private Hassal . No. 5 6 11 16 liautenant Pemberton No. 3 9 16 25 Corporal Innes E. 16 12 28 lieutenant Papprill .. . No. 2 15 13 33 Gunner Craigie . L.V.A. 18 1 18 1 36 Sergeant Papprill . No. 2 13 17 30 Private Hill E. 16 " 15 31 Gunner Childs . L.V.A. 10 11 21 Mr Trentyman 16 16 31

Competitors. No of Shots. Total. Sergeant Eule 8 ... 8 ... 7 21 18 Mr C. Cuff 20 28 17 23 Mr James Smith Lieutenant Pavitfc 9 ... 8 Private Gulliver Lieutenant Cuff 9 ... 1 18 „ Allison 6 9 16 18 Sapper Lockwood Private Hobson 6 ... 7 Sergeant C. Papprill 7 6 Private Eestieaux 1 6 2 Gunner Jenkins 18 Mr Twentyman 8 Private Schneider