THE RIFLE ASSOCIATION MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 204, 1 September 1887, Page 5

THE RIFLE ASSOCIATION MEETING.

The Rifle Controversy.

(by telegraph—own correspondent.)

1 '• Oamaru, this day., .About sixty shooting men of the district, including many members of the Association, met at the Voldnteer Hall last evening, to consider, the circular from Captain Somerville, Chairman of theGouncil, suggestingcertain changes inithe programme for the meeting to be held here. Also the advisability, or otherwise, of using the Remington-Lee rifle at the meeting. Captain Creagh, who presided, said he hoped that those present would consider the whole of the matters to be dealt with from a broad point of view as affectiing the views of the Volunteer force, and not from any individual standpoint. PrivateMiorris moved as follows:—"That the Remington-Lee rifle be the weapon adopted" at the forthcoming meeting of the Association to be Jlheld at Oamaru.", Private Morris, went pretjty fully, into the matter, and pointed outt.that the existence even of the Association was bound up in the adoption of the new rifle. He stated, that those members li'hp attended Christchurch were most earnest in their determination hot' to .attend a., further meeting of the Association unless a different weapon were supplied, with Kynoek's ammunition substituted by. the best Snider cartridges procurable,.. Jor^eant ~s»*# seconded the motion, "remarkuig that they could not^do better than, go in-For the rifle, bat hdfcHbu&fcfc 150 rounds of ammunition for each rifle-not- sufficient' for practice. There should be plenty for. everyone requiring it.' The Chairman said-200 rounds would be supplied .with each weapon, and provision would be made for a further supply. As an amendment Captain Rice proposed, " That seeing the adoption of the Remington-Lee rifles for use at the next meeting of the Association would be- likely to prevent! a large number of Volunteers taking part in the -meeting, this meeting suggests that the arms-at present in use, should be used at the next meeting, and that the Association take immediate steps to obtain a better class of ammunition than was used at the last, meeting.". The amendment was duly seconded. One speaker said that as old members of the Association were guaranteed a rifle and only 450 wore available, many young shots desirous of taking part in it would be debarred. The amondment was carried by 17 to 15. Private Mitchell said in order to show the Government that the Volunteers were not against the adoption of an improved rifle he would propose the following motion:—" That this meeting is of opinion that the Remington-Lee rifle should be adopted, provided the conditions are modified, and the Government guarantee that everyone applying should receive a rifle." This was seconded and carried unanimously.

The next business taken was theprogramme for 1888. The first clause, \iz. , that the programme should be divided into two stages, was carried unanimously 4, also that the first stage of the programme be adopted with the addition of a fifth prize of £& In the second stage the following alterations were suggested and approved : (1) That the final match for the championship be open to the 25 highest aggregate scorers. Also that there be 15 shots instead of 10, and that the range be limited to 800 yards instead of 1,000.- That with regard to dress, the word "must" fire in plain clothes be altered to * * may." That instead 0f... the proposed team of twenty men for team matches, the number and conditions be as formerly—namely, that team matches for Company Teams of'five men ; that a' newchampion belt be procured, and the old ones disposed of as the Council thinks fit. That the time for holding the competition be fixed for the l6th January.

: Blenheim, this day. ■■■ At a largely attended meeting of present andintending members of the New Zealand Rifle Association, resolutions expressing the following opinions were passed:—(l) That the meeting should be held in March. (2) The exclusive use of the Remmington-Lee Rifle with a final stage at 1,000 yards. On the Chairman's proposal, the programme was generally approved of excepting that the district team matches were regarded as a great mistake. (3) That the Company's team matches should be continued as heretofore. (4) A proposal emanating from Dunedin to continue using the Snider rifle was strongly condemned.