OUR DEFENCES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 239, 8 October 1891, Page 6

OUR DEFENCES.

The Governmenb having made no provision for a grant bo tho New Zealand Rifle Association towards the expenses of forming a permanent range in Wellington, tho next annual competition will probably take place ab Auckland.

Aba meeting of the Waiuku Cavalry troop it was decided to send two representative teams to Wellington to take part in the military tournament in November next. This troop has been successful each year at the Auckland military sports in carrying off the cup and medals presented by Lord Onslow. A troop competition takes place at Waiuku on October 10th, when bhe men, will be selected to represent the above troop.

The Dargaville Rifle Club has beaten the City Guards in the recent shooting match. The match wa3 fired some time ago, on a day when the wind was rather against good shoobing, bub bhe following scores were nevertheless pub up:—Joseph Morpeth, 71; William M. Woodhead, 67; George Little, 66 ; J. A. Walker, 65 ; Frederick Wilson, 63 ; C. Molloy, 62 ; E. Hillary, 02 ; William J. Bassett. 62 ; S. Edmonds, 60 ; S. Webb, 50: Total, 628 points. The City Guards' Bcore for nine men was 481, so the Dargaville boys claim a victory by 99 points.

The following havo been gar..:tted as entitled to the New Zealand war medal :— George Wagstaff, trooper, Howick Royal Cavalry Volunteers ; John J. C. Richmond, Lance-Corporal, Taranaki Rifle Volunteers ; Arthur Vercoe, Lance-Corporol, New Zealand Militia ; Thomas Speer, trooper, Howick Troop Royal Cavalry Volunteers ; Stephen Larkin, sergeant, Armed Constabulary ; George S. Styles, private, No. 1 Company Wellington Rangers : William Carrick, corporal, New Zealand Militia; James Dacre, private, No. 3 Company, Auckland Rifle Volunteers.

On Sept. 21 the final compebibion took place for the selection of a rifle team to represent Auckland at the Victorian and New South Wales competitions. The following are now bhe bobals:—Volunteer Nutt, 264; Volunteer McCarthy, V.R., 262; McCallum, A.8., 258; Greenshields, A.8., 243; Captain Tobin, R. 1., 243; Volunteer Fairs, V.R., 241 ; Hazard, A.8., 237; Webster, A.8., 235; 11. Doughty, A.8., 234; Head, A.8., 231. Nutt, ib would appear, has been firing under protest throughoub bhe conbest, and has since been displayed.

The Ponsonby Naval Artillery fired the third and final match for Mr Thos. Peacock's medal on September 19 at Mount Eden Range. The musber was nob as large as usual, and the shooting was not up to the average. C.P.O. Graham made the good score of 70 points by steady shooting. The following were tho principal scores :— C.P.O. Graham, 70 ; P.O. Jno. Spinley, 66 ; P.O. G. E. Spinley, 65 ; P.O. J. Ewan, 59; Seaman W. Stanley, 59; P.O. Sherson, 49. The principal aggregates for the three matches are: P.O. J. Ewan, 197, C.P.O. Graham, 195 ; P.O. J. Spinlev, 186-P-O. G. E. Spinley, 184; P.O. Sheraon, 162.

On Sept. 12bh the final competition for Messrs Garlick and Cranwell's prizes to the Victoria Rifle Volunteers took place ab the Mount Eden Rifle Range. Volunteer M. Fairs won the bassinette (first class), and Vol. J. Preston the easy chair (second class)._ The following are the highest aggregates in the threecompetitions:—FirstclassTotal points : Vol. M. Fairs, 207 • Vol' Cantell, 205 ; Vol. W. Preston, 193 ; Col - Sergeant Skinner, 190 ; Captain Cooper, 188 ; Vol. Beamish, 183. Second class ■ Vol. Jas. Preston, 220; Vol. Pitkethley. -*15 ; Vol. Preston, sen., 195; Vol Neel« 190 ; Vol. Langley, 188 ; Vol. J. Preston', m ; __ or P° ral Sk '™er, 178 ; Sergeant Mynott, 173 ; Vol. Neylon, 161.

At Mount Eden, on September: 26th there waa a good muster of the Victoria Rifles, the special attraction being bhe shooting comootition for the Schapp Belb. This troohy is given by Mrs Schapp, widow of the late Mr L. A. Schapp, and there has beon quite an amounb of excitement over it. Subjoined is the list of scores :— £03vds. 500y.dK. 400 yds. aCOyds. Tl. vol. M. Fairs.. 27 ' I'J H 1-] - 91 Vol. _'. C'anlcli 23 20 ?£ "rj — Jn Vol. Pltkctlilej- 27 23 20 1? - 89 Vol.Presion.sv. 24 >3 17 <j-> — to Vol. Beamish.. 23 16 2o 21 — oa Cl.-Si-t. Skinner 23 1-5 24 IS - 84 Sarat. Watson.. 2i) 24 14 16 - oi VolT Scull .. -7 19, 17 W-fa 2 The remainder were below fcO.

There appears to be every prospect of bhe proposed visit, of an Auckland rifle team to New South Wales being successfully consummated. The affair is being energetically worked up by bho honorary secretary and others, and a benefit concerb and abhlebic display was held in the Opera House on Sept. 18 bo help in raising funds. The arranging committee secured bhe services of Messrs T. M. Jackson, G. M. Reid, Innes, XV. George, Tapper, S. Jackson, Professor D'Arcy, Professor Carrollo, Mrs Wright, Miss Carrie Knight, Miss Webb, and bhe Auckland Orchestral Union, and an excellent programme was gone through. The Orchestral Union mustered in full force and played two selections in their best style. Mr G. .A. Paque conducted. Songs were rendered by Mrs C. Burgas, Mrs W. J. Wright, Misses M. il.-ii'uci- and Carrie Knight, Messrs W. G. M. Reid, T. M. Jackson, and A. Tapper. Me'-srs T. M. Jackson and G. M. Reid also gave a duet. Professor Carrollo, Messrs Edwards, Kessing, Carter, Russell, Lonergan, Kissling and Wilson performed soma clever and daring feats on the horizontal bar. Professor' D'Arcy played a number of the piano accompaniments, and two of his pupils, the Misses Webb, each contributed a piano solo.