BLEHEIM RIFLE MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 66, 19 March 1889, Page 5

BLEHEIM RIFLE MEETING.

(by telegraph, — own correspondent. )

Blenheim, this day,

The eleventh meeting of bhe New Zealand Rilie Associabion opened yesterday morning under rather unfavourable circumstances, bhere being a sbrong breeze from bhe righb, which gradually increased to a gale, accompanied , with clouds of dust, which at times almost obscured the targets from view. This kept up till about 3 o'clock, when ib suddenly veered round and blew a gale from bhe lefb, wibh an occasional bremendous gusb. Ib was certainly a day to try the men. Veterans say they never experienced such a day. We were unable to iire ab 500 yards for fear of bhe large bargets being blown to pieces. One match only—the New Plymouth match, ten shots at 300 yards—was completed. The first rangeE of the Wellington aud Hawke's Bay matches, 7 and 10 shots each respectively, ab 200 yards, were also lived, and if the weather permits a start will be made this morning ab the 600 yards, which will complete these two matches. The Auckland reps only arrived at 8 p.m. on Sunday, and consequently they are hardly in form yet, still the majority of them are well up. Volunteer A. L. White had a bib of hard luck at the 300 yds through his sight slipping down, and he missed bhree shots before he discovered ib. Osborne only made 15 ab 200 yds for 7 shobs, bub this docs nob count for the Belt. He greatly improved on this in the second match. There -were a number of bad cartridges, which do nob carry 500 yds. Lumsden had one in his firsb counting shot ab 300 yds. There are only 174 entries, and consequently the prizes over £1 will be reduced 10 per cent. There are a great number of new aspirants for fame. 1 fancy the majority of the old hands are holding back for the big meeting to be held at Dunedin during bhe Exhibition.

The iollowing are bhe scores of the Auckland men in the New Plymouth 10 shots 300 yds match, which was the only one completed yesterday :— Gunner Taylor, A Battery .. .. ... 37 Lieutenant Lundon, Onehunga 36 SergeantPars'.ow, A Hattery 32 Lieutenant White, City Guards .. .. 31 Lieutenant To'oin, Loyal Irish 30 Volunteer McCarthy, Onehunga .. ..29 Gunner Lumsden, A. Battery 28 Volunteer Play, City Guards 28 G'ol;-Sergeant Stirling-, Citj r Guards .. .. 28 Sergeant Fairs, Victoria liilles 26 Corporal Tupn, Onehunga 24 Lieutenant Leahy, Onehunjra 23 Volunteer Teiigrh, Victoria iiifles .. .. 23 Seaman Weir. Thames Nuvals 21 Volunteer Gribbin, Victoria Rifles .. .. 19 Volunteer A. L. White, City Guards .. .. 17 Volunteer Osborne, City Guards .. ..17 Colour-Sergeant McGregor, Onehunga .. 17

Gunner Taylor and Lieutenant Lundon are the only ' Auckland prize-takers in this match. Sergeant Pars'.ow, bhe irrepressible, was counted oub with £2.