RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 55, 5 March 1909, Page 3

RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIP.

TRENTHAM MEETING OPENED. BRILLIANT SHOOTING. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) TRENTHAM, Thursday. It was exceedingly cold in camp last night, but the morning broke beautifully fine for the eighth annual meeting of the New Zealand Rifle Association. Shooting commenced at 9.30, and immediately beforehand the competitors were briefly addressed by Lieutenant-Colonel Collins (secretary of the Defence Council). He intimated that that body had decided to allow the use of orthoptics in all matches, j | and to adhere to the Bisley rule regard- ' ing ricochets (none to count unless the bullet strikes the bank close to the tar- J get). Entries, he considered, would have | been much larger but for the slight financial depression at present existing in the > Dominion. | Many veteran riflemen are in attendance, and another pleasant feature is the large gathering of young marksmen. Competitors have come from almost every district between Auckland and the Bluff. The light throughout the greater part of to-day was good, but bcame very thick late in the afternoon, when the 800 yds range was being used, owing to the smoke from bush fires in the vicinity.- The wind was decidedly catchy, and this was very noticeable at the 600 yds range, where some of. the scores were as low as 10. I The. shooting at the three ranges in the Volunteer and Rifle Club matches, I which were fired simultaneously at the | 200 yds, 600 yds and 800 yds ranges was, on - the whole, brilliant, and at the last j range a touch of sensation was given by | Speck (Stratford) putting up a possible, following upon a possible at 200 yds, and three short of a pos.sible at the 600 yds J range. At the 2ooyds range shooting began in i a calm, and "all buts" were being piled l on with pleasant rapidity, but soon ' a smart, right-rear breeze told against the firing, which fell- back a point, and 33's j took tbe place of 34's. Only three possibles were secured at this range, the marksmen being Burns (Karori), Hig- I gins (Timaru), and Speck (Stratford). Thirty-fpurj were made by the following competitors: Shaw (Ohinemurf), Duncan (Millerton), Sutherland (Geraldine), Wayte (Mataura), R. J. King (Opaki), Fletcher (Dunedin), Halliday (Karori), Nelson and Baker (Wellington), Boys (Newton), Fisher (Stoke), Gwindell (Napier), Mcintosh (Waiotahi), Finney (Wellington s, Atkinson and Kempton (Auckland), WnMiams (Ohura)J, Purnell (Wanganui), Kell (Palmerston North), Morley (Otaki). At the 600 yds range the shooting continued consistently good, and four possibles were put up, the marksmen being Milroy, Mitchener, and Sharland (Nelson), and Edgecumbe (Waikato). Kitchen (Upper Hutt) scored 34, while 30's to 33's were numerous. At the 800 yds range, iv addition to Speck, possibles were registered 6y the following: — Plummer (Wellington), Macey (Karori), Marenzi (Eketahuna), White (Franklin), Hyde (Hawke's Bay), Bradly (Dunedin), Turner (Petone), Feasey (Wellington). Speck's performance won for him not only the match, but the Carbine Cup. It is somewhat remarkable that his final shot at the last range was not recorded, and, therefore, counted as a miss. This he challenged, and- inspection showed he had scored a bull's-eye, and thus made the record for the Dominion for these ranges. The prize list is as follows: — RIFLE CLTJB MATCH. Seven shots at 200 yds, 600 yds, and SOOyds. XI.Speck (Stratford), £5. 35 at 200 yds, 32 at 600 yds, 35 at 800 yds 102 Dick (Riversdale>, £4, 32, 31, 34 97 Whiteman (Upper Hutt), £3, 33, 31, 31, 83 97 Willoughby (Gladstone). £f, 86; Bulford (Karori). Loveday (Ohura), G. Loveday (Ohura), 96; W. J. Henry (Opafcl), take £2 each. The following, with 95, take £1 each:— Milroy (Nelson), Kyle (Linton), Lewer (Karori), Blshell (Tarota), Hodder (Karori), Hubert (Pongaroa), Aston (Karori), Turner (Karori), Randell (Linton), McKay (Christchurch), Feast (Opaki), Williams (Featherston), Moslem (Kaco), Welch (Opaki), Reed (Pongaroa), King (Opaki), Masefleld (Sounds), Cameron (Opaki), Whiteman (Upper Hutt), Batt (Mangaweka), Rennie (Christchurch), Kitchen (Upper Hutt), Currie (Rlversdale), Wilton (Mauriceville), (Halliday (Karori). Mawley (Opaki), Fennlug (Tadmore). Counted out: G. Hyde, R. Thomosen. Tyros: Mcintosh (Opaki), Macey (Karori), Wilton (Alfredton), Holland (Nelson), Mllagan (Kaponga), Keene (Tararua), Wilson (Canvastown), Nix (Featherston), Coe Pongaroa), McMahon (Sounds) take £1 each. Counted out: Moore and Lewln. VOLUNTEER MATCH. Seven shots at 300 yds, 600 yds, and SOOyds. Sergt. Hyde (Hawke's Bay), £5, 32 at 300 yds. 31 at 600 yds, 35 at 800 yds 98 Corporal Munro (Murihika), £4, 30, 34, Sergt." Tinney '(WeUlngton)',' £3," 34," 30, 34 98 Lieut. Shelly (D Battery), £2, 32, 31, 34 .V 97 Private 8. Sorensen (Auckland). £2, 31, 33, 33 97 Private R. Paten (Danevirke), £2, 32, 30, 34 96 Sergt. M. Maingay (Piako Rifles), £2, 82, 30, 34 96 The following, who scored 96, take £1 each: Private A. K. Johnson (Dunedin), Lieiit. McCormlck, Lieut. Duncan (Millerton Rifles), Lieut. W. Mitchell (Nelson), Sergt. Whitley (Kalapol), Gunner Pllmmer (D Battery), Lieut. Boon (Taranakl), Lieut. M. Atkinson (No. 1 Native Rifles), Hawthorn, Shcrland (Stoke Rifles), Lieut. J. Potter (Auckland M.R.), Sergt. Bradley (Dunedin), Tonkin (Dunedin), Private Dehl (Dannevirke), Capt. King (LinwOod), J. 'Searle (Ist .Railway Pioneers),' A. Patrick (Victoria Rifles), Sergt. Yeo (Victoria Rifles), Lieut. Ongley (Oamaru Rifles), Sergt. Clyde (Walkari), Sergt.-Major Evans (No. 1 Co. Engineers), Sergt. Wakelln (Post and Telegraph Rifles), Private Kempton (Franklin), J. Riddle (Taranakl), Corporal Purnell (Wanganui), Sergt. Montgomery (Port Chalmers), Lieut. Collins (P. and T. Rifles), A. Wing (Royal R. Rifles), Hadfleld (Blenheim), Montgomery and Needham (Palmerston North), Mills (Dunedin), Private Preston (Victoria Rifles), Shaw (Auckland), Moon (Timaru), Pearson (Timaru), Harbour (Dunedin), Cowan (Oreto), Mills (Dunedin). M. Connell (Christchurch), James (-Napier), Edgecumbe (Waikato).. The following tyros secured £1 each:— Wllsford (Alexandra), Mathewson (Dunedin), Baker (Wellington), Hood (Masterton), Cannon (Gisborne), Moore (Wellington), Frederick (Auckland), Kelly (Palmerston North), W. Dalzlel (Palmerston North), Saunders (Oamaru), Porteons (Caversham), .Tamleson (Stoke), Jordan (New Zealand Engineers), McDonald (Dunedin). Gayley (Wellington). Counted out: Preston (Auckland). EXTRA MATCH No. 1. Seven shots at 500yds.—The following take £1, with 35 each:—-Rifleman A. Franklin (Weber), J. McKenzie (Opaki), Craw (Chorlton), Private R. Lucas (Palmerston North), Trooper Atkinson (Auckland), Private T. Jones (Dunedin).

EXTRA MATCH No. 2. Seven shots at 800yds.-rrM. Drummond (Denniston). 34, take's 33/; R. Lucas (Palmerston North). 84,20/; ArPatrick (Victoria Rifles), 34, 17/6 The remainfter. take 10/ and »/.

It is announced by Government "6a•sette" ;this' we»»If; that part section 2, township of Papakura, in Manukau County, Auckland land district,-has been bought under the provisions v of "The Publio Reserves and Domain, Act j 1908," and will be dealt -with as _. public domain and known hereafter w tit"' pah_r_h_da'_>»___]*_. ''':*' x -y ' '■'• '-y f^;.**%•