RIFLE ASSOCIATION MEETING.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9364, 13 March 1896, Page 5

RIFLE ASSOCIATION MEETING.

(PEKS3 ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) OAMARU, March 12. OJhe Intercolonial Challenge Cup, whioh accompanies the Federal Match, and is ab present held by the Queensland team, is on view her*. It ie of niaasive silver, handsomely chaaed, and stands 3ft 6in high. The trophy was presented by Mr John McGregor, of New South Wales, and Iβ said, to have cost between 400 and 500 guineas. The cup ia ta be fired for for twelve years, at the end of which time it becomes the property of the colony which has most wins engraved on it. Ie has been shot for oa seven occasions, Victoria winning four times, South Australia, Queensland, and New South Wales once each. New Zealand would have to win it five years ruuniug to secure the trophy, while the en her colonies except Victoria would have to win it four timea out of the next five competitions. It, there* fore, appears almost a certainty that it will become the property of Victoria. The Hon. W. Hall-Jones arrived to-night, and will represent the Government at the opening ceremony to-morrow. Majors Somraerville and Collins interviewed the Minister to-night, and urged that the Government should assist towards entertaining the visitors at a picnic at Elderalie. It was pointed out that the amount required would be about £35. Mr Jones promised to communicate with the Premier On the subject. The weather is promising for the meeting.' BJhere are about 250 on the ground, and there will be no reduction in the prize money. The Australian teams have been practising to-day, but have done no good scoring, Hawker, of Victoria, being the only man to do anything sensational. For tfae federated Association's meeting ,on Monday the delegates are :—New South • Wales, Lieut. Keating and Ht. Vernonj Victoria, Sloane and Major Hanby ; Queensland, Major Byron and Hutoheson; New Zealand, Major Sommetyille and Lieut. Kirk. A few of the Canterbury representative* practised to day and 'complained of the ammunition, which was bad. The meeting starts at 10.30 to-morrow, the first shot being fired by the Mayoress. At the Counoil meeting to-day the matter of the Australians firing in the champion match was held over, the system deoided for choosing the Federal Team being the six beet aggregates and four chosen by the Council. At a meeting of the Rifle Association tonight, Humphries, of Taranaki, and Izard, of Wairarapa, resigned, tneir neats, and Atkinson, of Hawera, and Major Donald, of Wairarapa, were appointed to the vacancies and attended the meeting. It wae decided, that no hand grips should be allowed on the rifles. This decision will probably affect the Xjueenelanders seriously, as they use hand grips, owing to the excessive beat ex* , Serienced in their colony. The Counoil .. ecided to strictly enfoice the time limit for individual shots. The question of allow* - ing the Australian visitors to compete in the final stage for the Championship was held over for further discussion. Objection was taken on the ground that an Australian might be highest aggregate and would lane the chief money prize in the matoh, while a New Zealander would have only the barren honour of hold, ing the belt. It was also pointed out thai no doubt the prize money in this match hag induced a number of oolonial shots to attend _ the gathering. Aβ there is no immediate necessity to settle the question, it will be talked over to-morrow, and again discussed by the Council in the evening. A proposal was. made to fire the Federal Match at Bβ early a date as posaib c, instead of after the Championship. This too was deferred , pending communication with the Union Company respecting the departure of steamers for Australia; In the event of the . Federal Match being fired before the Championship, it was decided that the aggregates ebould be struck at that period. Major Sommerville and Lieutenant Kirk, Welling* ton, were chosen the New Zealand representatives to attend" the meeting of the Australasian Federal Coenoil, which will, be held here on Monday evening. The Oounott deojded to disallow the use of pads of anjr description. This decision will prevent the use of handkerchiefs in protecting the cheek against the recoil of the weapon, s> system . which was hitherto freely, adopted by eon* petitore. . .