Rifle Challenge.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 206, 2 September 1886, Page 3

Rifle Challenge.

(To the Editor.) Sib,—ln regard to a letter that appeared in your columns, signed J. Dore, having reference to his challenge, it does not give a fair explanation, as the rifle ehots in Auckland seemed to ignore his challenge on scrupulous grounds, although equally as good shots, if not better. Two or threo members of the A battery decided to take him up, expecting to be dealt with fairly, in which they were sadly disappointed. No time was specified in his challenge, so we decided to fire in one msnth from August 21, being armed with the carbine, which we never use up to 600 yards in matches, on account of its inferiority to the rifle. We had to change our weapon to be on equal terms with our opponent, so required a little time to practise, viz , one month, which I consider very fair, taking all things into consideration. But no ; he would not hear of such a thing—we must fire in a fortnight or not at all. We even waived a week of the time, making it three weeks, yet he would not agree. Then he says ho vainly tried to get a match on. I think, sir, it was the other way about. Ho>vever.wo declined, considering he wanted it all hia own way. We said we might make a match with the carbine up to 500 yds., and would let him know the following Friday. He made us state there and then whether it should be rifle or carbine. Perhaps he feared we would come round, to hie terms and yet make a match with the rifle. However, afterdueconsiderationwedeclined ell, but issued a much fairer challenge to shoot on strange ground, a much better way to test who is best shot. As regards his going away,we had no knowledge ol the fact. He stated he bad a norse to train, so he could not shoot for a month. How that would prevent him I fail to see. As for. being paper braggadocio, I chink the rod falls on his own shoulders to issue a challenge at all, as any man knows who can ehoot that he ie top one day, and far down the list the next, and very often cannot account for it. As this is the whole fact of the caee, the public can judge for themselves.—Yours, &c, A Member ok A Battery.