N.Z. Rifle Association.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 52, 2 March 1888, Page 3

N.Z. Rifle Association.

YESTERDAY'S FIRING.

LUMSDEN STILL LEADING.

(by telegbath.—press association.)

Oamaru, last night. The expeditious manner in which the meeting has been got through this year is the feature that stands out most prominently. The arrangements all through have been perfect, and so far, there has not been the slightest hitch, and the men have been kept going from early morning till dusk without any waste of time. The credit of this is almost entirely due to Captain Collins, of the Wellington City Rifles, who possesses the gift of organisation to a remarkable degree, and thus manages to keep everything going in firstclass order. Colonel Mahon, as officer in charge, finds but little to do, but he is always attentive to what there is to be done. Shooting to-day commenced with the North Otago match, the remaining range of -which was fired first. Richardson's 91 was the highest, but it does not come up to Webster's 95 made at Wanganui in 1886. Sontag, Johnston, Purnell and Hutchison, who were leading for the belt also scored very evenly, making-from 73 to 78, the latter figure being PurneU's. Going back from this match the positions were: Purnell, Hutchison and Jones, of Dunedin (with an 84 score) equal at 325 Sontag 323, Johnson and Gray 323, and Handley 320. The Wanganui match for rifles only slightly altered the positions. , Purnell took first place with 357, Johnson second 355, the others following in the order named, Johnson, Handley, White and A. Ballinger. Sontag' completely broke down at 600 yards where he only made 12. At the 100 yards' stage of Otago match which followed, White put on 30 and so gained on the leading men, as most of them made 26 and 27. Gray, of Christchurch, was an exception with 32. When " cease firing " was sounded, Purnell and Gray tied for the leading position and White was fifth, the third and fourth being Otago men, JohnsonandHutchison. Amongthecarbines there was less chopping and changing. Lumsden of A Battery, Auckland held the lead again all day, but Parslow is gaining on him every match, and the general opinion now points to Parslow as likoly to again secure the belt. This morn* ing he was 8 points behind and to-night he is only 5. Chapman, of the Lyttelton Navals, has improved bis position and gained four points on Lumsden. The other Auckland men who have a say in it are Woolley, Lukey (Thames), Thorburn (Thames), Legriffin, Hodgkinson and Payne. In the 200 yards' stage, Otago match, Parslow put on seven consecutive inners. Amongst those who made thirty in the first stage of the Otago match were: Hodgkinson, 31; Cox, 30; Little, :30; Lukey, 30 ; Weir, 31; Rout 31; Captain White, 30; Fairs, 31.

RUMOURS OF PROTESTS.

The only matters of exceptional interest 1 in camp gofsip are continued reference to I protests against Purnell and Parslowj but c both are said to emanate from Otago s men, but so far nothing definite has -* been done to test these questions. No * doubt, if either or both of them aro } snccessful competitors, there will be found J some tool to bring the question forward. 1 had a look at' Parslow s carbine to-day, and on comparing it with the ordinary Carbine there seemed Oiiiy a trifling dif- * ference, and as the weapon Was issued'to < him (according to his statement).ib its .present condition there seems to be little , ground for entering a protest. '••■■ , PREVIOUS CHAMPIONS. ; .-. ,'": "_ Little seems to have entirely Most his ?. chance of winning the belt, though he is * apparently mas good form as ever. Reming- * ton, Foster,' Lucas, Churton, and Ballinger, : c ex-champions, and Acheson, who tied for 3 the Belt in Remingtbn's-yearj all seem J off colour ; McCorkingdale, r last year, car- <t bine champion,' has also gone off altogether, 1 and now has only put together 308 which * is 61-behind the leading men. The shooting all round is better than last year,'9l winning North Otago match as against 79 a last year, 73 the" Nelson as" compared , with 70 last year and 73 the ■ WSngaMii a match as against 70 iast year. " WEST COAST j MATCH. 1 The following is the prize list in the West Coast match, 300 and 500 yards; 10 shots at each range; fo. carbines only" PC Chapman, Lyttelton Navals, £8 „ 39 34—78 Williams, " _ "Battery, £6 ;*. .. -if] 37 35^-77 Chalmers. "B" Battery, 25 ... ... 34 "37—77 Davey, PetoneNavals, £4 .. _. 37 34—77 Parslow, "A"Battery,£3 .. ..33 37—77 Bunting, "F" Battery,£3 .. ..37 33-^73 Driver, *<L * Battery, £2 ' ;'. . :. 35 '34^-62' Cleagh, "I"Battery. £1 _...-...._. 37 .32-61 ~ Morrison, Diifiedin Navals, £1" .. 35 33-61 . LeGriffon, Auckland Navals, £1 ►. 34 33-60 [- Thorburh, Thames Navals, £1 " ._ 36 31—60 '■ Gray, " D " Battery, £1 .. [y» ■ i 36 31--69 Payne, "A" Battery, £1 ... ... 37 30-r69 '' COUNTED OUT. ;• Woolley: (Auckland Navals), Lukey ' (Thames Navals), and Buist ("X" Battery). •"-' :.■ '•'• ■ 1 In West Coast match;;for carbines only 1 fired thi_ afternoon, the following were Aucklandera who '.did not, get into prize list: Hodgkinson, 47'5:Mobre:(Navars)i 53; Webster, 65; _»_ Haultain, i 58; Bridges, ,-[ (Thames), 57; M6yle (Thames), 61| Gill ; (Thames), 47 ; Weir (Thames), 59'; Doughty : (Navals), 56. * ; . •' * 1 THE WANGANUI, MATCIJ. The following is the result of the Wan; . ganui match, 300 yards and 600 yards, ten ' shots at each distance, for rifles only : & I Bugler Marshall, West Taieri, £8 .. 43 _0~7? , Hon. Major Purnell, Wanganui, £6 39 , Private Johnston, Clutha, £5.: ..36 33-69 ] Private Taylor, Taranaki, £4 . J .. 36/ ; Captain Wliite, Auckland, £4.. .; 39 29—68 Sergt, Crawford. North Dunedin, £4' 35 Slt-66 Private A Ballinger, Wellington, *3 36 29—65 Sergt. McK-nlay, Highland Rifles, £2 37 Colour-Sergt. Kay, Oamaru, £2 .. 38 27—65. Sergeant Bbyes, Caversham, £2 _ 37 27-64 , Lieutenant Hughes, Wanganui, '&V.. 38 26—64 Private Clarke, Thames, £1 .. ..35 29^4 PrivateStnaill,.K_itangata, £1- ,t--40 24—64 Lieutenant Okey, Taranaki, £1 .. 42 22—64 Captain Jolly. Cromwell, £1... .... 32, 31—6* Private Luke„Welt__gton,£l..; , .. 38 25-6_ Sergt Sandford; Christchurch, £1 .. 43 20—63 Captain Maddock,BlenMeim,£li J_ 32 30—63 CODNTEPPUT. .. Lieutenant RobiDspn (Riverton), ;Pj*iyate Riddle (Walmate), Sergeant Fairs (Auckland), Private Hafdirig (Blehfibiifi). Last year Corporal Sandford (Ghrisfcchurch) took first prize in this, match with ; 70. It only: required 50, or, twelve points less than kK day, to win a £1 prize. , ; ~j ~_j- .,■.,-?j _{ In the Wanganui match ipr rifles only those who did hot get into the prize list were: Cooper, 53; Soall, 40; Inglia, 59; Rout, 42; Climo, 4s; ; jO'Hanlon,. r SJ ; Quintan, 41; Gentry, 42; Sergeant White, 56; Handiey, 57 and Rosoi 48. . *, CARBINE AGGREGATI-S. The leading aggregates, including the first distance of the Otago Match, are :—? ; v . Gunner:Lumsden, Auckland Artillery *, .-. 389 Sergeant Parslow. Auckland Artillerj-'; ~*r: 384, Sergeant Williams,""F" Battery .. '.t 381 Seaman Chapman, Lyttelton Navals ■ ■ - !; V. ! 380 Petty Officer Thorburn. ThamesNavals .. 372: Lieutenant Ross, Napier.. ■ ..;, v . ... &8 Gunner Woolley, Auckland Navals.'". .. 370 Gunner Morse, Queenstown Artillery ' .. 3.9 Sergeant Hodgkinson, Auckland Artillory 367 Lieutenant Davey. Petone Navals .. ;L 367 Captain Proiidfoot, Dunedin Artillery „. 364 Gunner Lukey, Thames Navals .... 364 Gunner Payne. Auckland Artillerj.. r .. 364 : Gunner LeGriffon, Auckland Navals ■ ■~ 363 Sergeant Gray, Wellington Artillery ;. 361 Sergeant Williams, Napier .. ~,. ..360 Sergeant __uchen, Wellington, Artillery .. 3SS gunner McKenzie, Wellitogton Artillery .. 3§B ; unner McCorkindale, of Oamaru, the present champion, stands at -. _> _ So 9

RIFLE AGGREGATES. At the close of to-night's shooting the leading aggregates are :— sergeant Jones, Dunetin _. 583 _ _, _. 332 private Hutchinson .. „. _, ... 373 Captain White „ _ ~_ - 371 Private Handley I I 371 Private A. Ball&ger, 7 T. ■_ _ 370 «_l____?S M actavish, Portobello .. — 570 r£i£_ * &r *y-Christchurch Scottish — 367 g ? ant *. Sonta S' DunedJl'. _ _. 362 g^ ean * Fairs, Auckland .. _-: ..566 Colour-Sergeant Hale, Wellington .. • _, 363 r_iV_ , *^'^_ r *S J ? cc »' Wellin ß to n - - 361 Captain Smith, Dtinedin.. .. «. „ 558 FrivateAtcheson,Kaitangata.. „ l. 558 Lieutenant Forater, Wanganui _, _, 358 rvSKi 1 Al «Mand .... „ 55 7 pienheim _ _ 35? Captain Hogg, ciutha' .... _, _ 35_ Sergeant Parks, Wanganui $%> ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ASSO The annual meeting will be held tonight, when a new Council will be elected. So far as I can learn there are not) likely to_ be many changes, but in Otago Captain McNab will be nominated againso Richardson, who has become decidedly unpopular. ' — NEXT MEETING TO BE HELD AT ~ _ Th ° ° aiast eT ening decided to bold the next meeting at Blenheim. The meeting did hot come up to a vote, as Ross, of Napier, could not guarantee a range _uit-*> able. j, NEW; BELT. 1 Designs for a new champion belt were submitted; and it was resolved to accept the tender of Mr Kohn, Wellington, a= Dunedin firm 'being second, in the votingIt is probable that the belts now in' existence will be fired for next year afc Blenheim by p_sb an d present holders*' winner to thei perroanent owner. PROTESTS AGAINST AUCK- ' Landers. The protest a-gaihst Parslow, for using a? carbine with bent trigger, was considered, and, as expected, was dismissed as frivolous. The protest against Cox, of the Gordons, for showing an inch 'of puggaree, - was treated in a similar manner.