TRENTHAM RIFLE MEETING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 145, 13 March 1908, Page 9

TRENTHAM RIFLE MEETING.

9 MATCHES CONCLUDED. THE RIFLE CLUBS BEAT THE VOLUNTEERS. ("The-iannual meotmg; of'tho.New Zealand ■ *■ ■ Defoneo Forces Rifle' Association was brought • td- a-^ succossful conclusion at Trentham jcs-.. ■- • torday -ill fino- weathor,; when tho events,' " Volunteers: v.'Riflo Clubs " and tho ''.DO7 !' ■ fonco 'Cadet Match " • were -fired;:.'. ' exception- 'of <tho* competitors in tho•• above matches, tho camp was well-nigh ompty, and, 1 squads of artillerymen wero busily engaged . in striking the tents., ..jTho, following are the ' results 'of tho; shooting-:^A 'I:'' 7'; i> * .„• SYNOPSIS OF EVENTS. Volunteer. Match> (Nor 12)— Won by Captalni-W. j'S; King, Linwood Rifles with 98 points. ' i ' Rifle. Clubs Match (No. 13)— Won by . Rifleman V/.'- Franklin, 'Weber, 1 with. 96 ; points; 1 ;' 1 . ; 7 ■ Auckland Match (No. I)— Won by Rifleman H.< Hawthorne; Petone, with 95■ : , j points. 1 .! ()tago Match (No. ,3)— Won by Rifle; man L./Kitchon,. Upper Hutt, .with 80 ~ points. /, i,, ■■■: j :i Rapid-Firing- Hatch (No.. by Rifleman Wilton,' Mauriceville, with: 33 - - points. ' " Rapid-Firing Match (No. B)—Won by Rifleman Craw,' Chorlton, with 29 points. ~ ; Nelson Rifle-, with 97 .points.,,/, " ' ''• Wellington v Match (No;' 2)— Won by , Lieut. F. Bolton, Pahiatua',-with 97 points. ' t ' • ■ ICariterburyi;' Match, (No. 4>-rWbn by ;; ■'Lieut; .White-'with;'-; an~ 81,;:; points. j j ' Union Company's by Capt. W. S. King, Linwood Rifles, with, an . aggregate score,of'2BS points. • , Carbine -Giip' (Final)— Won by .Cap- . of 24 points. - . |: 'Kyno'ch r Cup'(Final)T-Won by- Private Pearson;' Timaru/ with .a score- of 28 " points. t A i ■■■'-. Teams'/ FiringV(No., ;■ ,15), Auckland No. 2 Battalion, 300 • points., i [' Raping-Flrlng,, 200 yds. (No. ,-16)— Dropped, i , , i- vßapld'-Firing, 600yds.-(No. 17)—Wan-' ganui Rifles, 65 points. < > :.' :,: '-''Chattie" Match (NoM^Wainganul. Rifles., >m :: ; i Colonial Ammunition Company's ; Cup—,' Wanganui' Riflos',-38 points.' ' . Teams Championship' and . District Challenge Bay Mounted , i , . Rifles j aggregate score, 458 points. New Zealand -Rifle Championship 'and ■ BalllngeV;; Bielt j: fpr'.>jl9od—Rifleman, C. Hyde,..Opakl grand aggregate, 431. -•svV.-'.v • -New!' Zealand''•.Rifle" fchallenge :Cup— Sorgt. >J V .W. r Ching, Waimea Rifles j' , ' score, ,40. points; -r; 1 ' 1 :Continuous /'Match; 600yds.—Rifleman- , L;',Shuttleworthi'- : .Chorlton; 35' points, v -. Continuous Maich; 1000yds.—Sorgt.'F.< James, Napier;'3l points. . ■ i \ ' Moving'jTarget (Theßuri;lwalmea\V; Rifles. y u t '.' ''

' 1 Clubs:; (Teams- i ; •; by-'Jthe Rifle Clubs by ■24 points.' , ,' • , : . '.'.Last-Tryv by Corp. C.,' ■ A.' Trevelyarij' Napier,': with; 62 > points. ',-;Deferice'/Cadets' by Pte. H. E. Gale, Wellington College, with 62 \loints.' ' ■ J L- ' I' BEAMS' MATCH'. laoi1 ao i , ■ yOLUNLEEERS v.JIIFLE CLUBS . the.Riflo -Clubs. , Conditions—iVcnty :mon, - 't-side. ' Scveii " 80pyds.'.',"Prize money,' G40;;/>Spe9ial,pnzes—Tho Dawson Challonge Shield; .for ,tho - winning-team,, and .a' now . Leo-Enfield-,magazine rifle,.-to be awarded to: / tbd '..-tKe?-match; ; - ■ ■

.-, Tho. Tpams' Match, ■ " Volunteers v. Riflo ' firMl yesterday morning, and re- : : vaults iinyai-Wn by;24'poirits."-' : ' ; / ' and; ; .'were- comprised ' of : picked men./ Jllio'Rifle Clubs' team included • the :-winner,'of:'bho;;Ghampfonshnv. Belt (G.' Hydo),vand ■ two'ex-chnmpions—Riflemen R: . J. Kmg (Opaki); and W: J. Milroy '(Nelfon). Among thc-Volunteers were threo ex-chain-' ■ pions.' Capty W. -S. 'Emg" (Lmwood), Lieut. , R...\M; -Irvine (Nelson), and Sergt.v.J: 'Wv Ching (Nelson). ' -Y ■■ ■ '!. . - At 200 yds. tho Riflo- Club- men led-by 23 • ■;points,".tho-scores being:—:*,■ :r.. : . > : ■!' Rifle C'ubs ' 639 170 nml , (l Volunt-eeis 616 I 23 ( l ,omts V^Tfe/SKoh^j-'minil,^ . position .of, tho Volunteers improvo somowhat, Club: men's lead, having been re- ; duced.'.by..threo points:'-r , j-

i RifielClubs ; 6.39,\ 562 —1201 M 1 oft Volunteers . . 616, 563 —1181 I P° m ts. : " Rifle'Clubi' drow ahead again; ,<>• Rifle Clubs 639, 562, 5541 0 , ... Volunteers ;.. 616, 565,.5501 • P? lnts - The following aro .'the score's:— ' KirLE CLUBS «

' ' VOLUNTEERS. ' .

'/.Aggregates ... CIG. 565- 550 1731. The prize -rifle was won l>y Rifleman .'A. France, Karon. TH E " LAST TRY" MATCH. ' ' EXTRA. ' WINNER-CORP. G. A. TREVELYAN, ' NAPIER. ' J . Conditions—Seven shots, at 500..and-..'600 rards. -Prizes—First prize,-£5; two of £4; threo' of £3; four of £2; and "sixty-eight priiMs"'of £l each. ...'.' .... As a special encouragement. to those competitors who, had' £1 or over during the meeting, a' special seven-shot match 500 and GOD yards was arranged to be fired;

on 'Wednesday. At the oouolusion of . tho ovont, li protest, was lodged against tho wmnor, and pending' consirlbration 'of the protost, tlio official 'announcement of the result, was withheld / until; yesterday. -The,' protest was not'sustained.' ■/■■':." ■ . Top scoro. at 500 yards was put ,up by llitlc--man. Livery-,/Christchurch rßi'le Club.:— , .. .5 5 5-1 5 1 5 — 33. ; ; Thirty-twos were'}scored- by Corp. _Trer velyan,. j Napior .-•;(54544551iT i 32. Sergt. . .Marshall, Palmerstoii. Nortli (5554454) —32; and Pte.-.Bracefield, Timarii (5-154545)—32. There was only, one good score registered at ,600 yards, that of Rifleman CJ.. J. Beauehamp, Mangamahii, his card reading si— ' 5 4 5 5 5 5 5-31. ' THE PRIZE LIST. ; 'The prize .list, is as follow Order of . v / : Merit.:- iv:. „ n i-I.' Corp. 6.' A. /Trevelyan. Napier,' £0... :o2 2; Rifleman C.' Ji-Beaucliamp, Manga- n '■ J malm,' ,£4. 60 ' 3.- Col.-Sergt.: C., B. Aitken, vFbilding, ; : :i.v'.'l."-'-;::..; ; ••• .59 i'-4..'Pte: R. F.' J['Ka}-,' N.ipior, 3 ' .:. 59 15. Rifleman A.> O. Xlpson, Huiroa/ £3... ■59 i' 6. Riflemaii A. fE- Spook; Huiroa, £3.;.. 59 '7. Corp.-J.-A. Munro, Murihiliu, £2;.. 5o 8.. Sergt. .Marshall, £2 ■ .g '9. Pto. A. -Bracefield, Timaru, £2 : ... ,58 10.-Rifleman W. vLarery, . -Christchurch, - !.'■ • ... 58 j The following wero awarded prizes, of £1 each :—Sergt. .J./ Goldstone, Studholme,..s7; Corp. Wickeris;-D Bittery,' 56 ; .Rifleman W. iTudd,' Ivarori,'- 50; - Sergt. J. Mills, Dunedin, 56:: Rifleman '. R; Beauehamp, Mangamahu, 56; Rifleman W. P. Henderson, Sounds, 56; Col.-S4rgfc.' j.- ; Hulhert, ,Pat-eii, ,56-;r; Sergt,v Mitchell,: Wellington, 1 -56;. :Rifleman : ., Fred. Whiteman, Upper Hutt, 56; Rifleman G. o. Pringle, Potonb, 55; Sorgt.'- R. o.' Hall, 'Waihii 55 i ;r Pte'.;; R. Soler, Wanganui, u55 RiflomaniW: H.- Thomas,. Petono,' 55; Col.-' ;Sergt., A. King. .No. 3;' Natives, >55; Sergt.-, E/ E., SdmeiTeli,' Gisborne, 54.; ißifleman R. : Ba'rrer.iV-Te Wharan,, ; s4; Rifleman -S. J. Hollara: Kaiponga, 54; Rifleman A., J. Jack. Makuri, ,51; 'Sergt. AV. 1 ' R. Wakelin, WeU lington, 54; Rifleman ,N. F. : Willoughby, Gladstone; 54; Rifleman. E. T. Govenlook, Awaldrio',' ; 54;; Corp.' Wing; -s-Marton,'- ,61; Lieiit. Lacey, Dunedin,- 53; -Rifleman' Turner, Linton, 53,", Rifleman A. W. Sopei*; '-Tua. Marina, 53; pte; : H.. ,E: Spper, Marlborough, 53; Rifleman T. V.R'.' ''Lambert, -Kaituna, 5.3;' Riflemaii ,C: D.'Beauehamp, Mangamahu, 53;' Corp.'W. Ml Jackson, Wellington, ,53; Rifle-: man. G! L6ye.joy,;rWeber, 53; Hiflcrnaii T. B. Browning, Christchurch, 52; Pt-e. >'A. Cole, ■ New'- '■Plymouth,'.:,'s2; , Sergt. ; A., C. - Crimp, ;Green Island, ,52;;; Sergt. vW/ :Dowar,;- Oamaru, i , 52 ; , Rifleman,- R. 'Reed, Pongaroay, 52 • -Pte. 'GilsHnan;-' , Patea, 52;.' Lce.-Corp.Biggs,; ,Christchurch;.•;(.s2j'■ -'.Sapper l B.:'; ..Woods,; Dunedin;. -.o2Pte.,\ -.-.Black, ~, .Orepuki, 52; i ;:;CaptainWatson,';;.Marlborough, -52;! .Pte.,-, :W. : Duggan, Dunedin, 52; Rifleman Jf. Willoughby, V : 52; Rifleman' - 1 Shearman) ; Nelson, ,52 ; • Rifleman : T. W.; M'Gk)Wan, vMataura,. 52 ;, Lieut. Huinph- , riesj -NewJPlyniouth,' 52; ;Rifleman . W.. Craw, - Chorlton','-51; liieut: : Pleasants',. Fedlding,':sl ;• ; Ete.- : .E:''(3.\.Thbiiipsoh\'.'Nelspni'-:'sl-';'< Sergt. N.A. 'Sm'aill,, Tiniani, 1 51; -Pte.. J. fA. ..Steele,--Waikato;: 51;, Rifloman.. J. W. Gardner, Pukeokanu', isl; ings, 51;,Pt<;. M. Tobin.'Aucldand, 51'; Pto. ;S. D.'i.Buntin;,.Christchurch,' 51 ;;Bifleman. G.j : Mortimor,'i Kaituna, .- 51; ; { Rifleman- 1 E. -Law, Shannon, ,51; Sergt-. R.\\V. Jenkins,; Waikato,: 50 jiPtel-W-Rogers, Stratford, 50 ;,Pte.:,H. C. Jones; : Wellington, ,'50;: Rifleman J.- G.' Collins, Piikc&kahu, *50; Rifleman, C,- E. -Dowsett;' I WhareroiaV SO Corp.! J. 'Stevenson, 1 -Timaru, -50; Sorgt. -Law,"Dannevirke,- 50; , Rifleman J. IC. M'Lachlan, 50; 'Sergt.';Moss,'-Bluff,\ '50';, - Sergt. : M'Ca-rdlei .pahiatua; 50"; •' Sergt. ; Dempsey,- Patea, 49; Pte. T..'Marett,'.':Tai?k:riaki,r49. 'ji-:-':- ?v' r " ' WELLINGTON SCORES. .' ;'' Tho; 'following ;a . list of, the j Wellingtonmen whb.'arei not ;included inithe prize-list :-r ■ Kai-ori Riflo.Club.—ll. Randell, ,46. , -' - Pefone 'Rifle Club.—C. ,:E. .Hollard,, '44; B. W. Bird, 43; Captain J. H. Ross, 43. ,/ ~ -.jW-ellington'"'Engineers:—Sap!'-'Leonard^49.

on 'Wednesday. At the conclusion of . tho ovont, li protestwas lodged against tho winner, and pending' consirlbration 'of the pro-, tost, tlio official 'announcement of the result, was withheld / until; yesterday. '.The,' protest was not'sustained.' /'':." ■ . Top scoro. at 500 yards was put ,up by lutle•man. .ChristchUrchrKi'le Club.:—.

CHAMPION TEAMS MATCH. .V' ■ j-. r'-' THE WELLINGTON SCORES. The .following faro ■ the ."{'detailed scores of the Wellington teams .firing.in' the Champion '•Teams'''Match (Wo. 1 20),! the. result of whiiSh was published yesterday:—;■.;'" Jr. 1 UPPER HUTT RIFLE CLUB L Kitchen 30 33 26 —89 F Whileman, junr. 32 30 32 —94 C. Whiteman ... 30 29 17 —76 Tuke Whiteman .. v ... '29 33 34 —96 F. Wilkio . . 32 32 28 —92 Priz9,.£s—Aggfegato 447 PETONE RIFLE CLUB : .i. (No. 1 Team.) . . , A. Ballinger . ■ ..;■■.,.>•■..- 32 .-. 30 . 27 —89. G. Hawthorne ... '..v 33 ■31 26, —: 90 H.'Hawthorne ... . ../ :32 31 i 27 —90 J G Wilson . . 30 30 31 -91 W H Thomas . 33 28 23 —86 ■ Prize ; £s—Aggregato -■■ -... • ■ ,446 K.ARORI RIFLE CLUB. ■. ' (No. 2 Team.), •. ■E-rO..Lower." 84.J Rabe 86 W. .Aston: •• ... 92 . i J.' Greenwood- ... 89 iA- '■ Franco ■ v... : :.. 94 Aggregato 415 WELLINGTON CITY RIFLES . (No. 1 Team.). . ■>" '< ■ ■ ' Pte.''W: 31; Jackson, 'senr. ~. :89 •• , ; Corp. A. J. Jackson , ... '... 91 . ~ i 'Pto. 'Feasey' ;l • ... ... .• 88, : Pte. Westwood ... ... 82.. I.:: I'.te. Lang .... ... 86 ... '■i- ■' Aggregate ...- ... 436,. POST/AND TELEGRAPH RIFLES. ;' :Sefgt. Gilbert .... ... ... 81 Sergt, Wakelin ... • ... '94 Pte.. Jones ■ ... ... 88 Corp. Williamson ... ... 86 , Pte..>V. A. Smith ; ...'. ... 82 : '

•'Aggregate ... ... ...431 . PETONE RIFLE CLUB. '•"• .. ; j . (No. 2 Team.)',,. C. J. Carter : ... ... . ... 92 J. E. M'Laclilan . ■' ... ... .. 85 G. Lacdy • ■" .... ... 78 C. E. Hollarcl ...' ... 82 B. ; W. Bird ... 89 , Aggregato , ..: ,■ > -..".- 426 • WELLINGTON CITY RIFLES. ; . , (No. 2 Team.) . ' Sergt. -Homer ' ... 93 Pte. AYm.-Jackson ■ ... Jo Pte. Wiren • :.. v ... . 81:" ■fcPte.Given,iM' • 8G '-Pte.'--Rankin... 82 1 . 'Aggregate! . ... 422- " ' KARORI; RIFLE CLUB. .(No, 1 Team.) J. Burns "" ~.. ... . ... 84 ' A. W. Kemp . ... , ■... ... 82 I'\ Standidge • ... ... ' ... 77 - ; C. Hodder ... ... ... 89 ' H. Bulford - ... . ...; ■ 82" ... Aggregate ... ■ ... ... 414 . : PETONE RIFLE CLUB. 1 (No. 3 Team.) A. S. Henderson ;. . ... . ... 84 ; D. Jenness ... ... ... 83 G. S. Pringlo ... 77 " E. Johnson ... ... 75 . :J. M.-Clark ... ... ■ ... 83 .. .Aggregate ' .... ... ... 402 KARORI RIFLE CLUB. - . •'. • • (No. 3 Team.)' R. Randell ... 72 • . ' \V Judd ..' ... ... 77 AV. Tarr ;v. ... 79 G. Halliday ■ . . ... ' 84 v 11. Marshall' ... n ..V ,84 Aggregato ... . .... .... 39G

DEFENCE CADET MATCH. ■ ~ (No. uy . Winner—Pto, 11. E. Gale, 'Wellington College.. ■ Open to Now Zealand Defence Cadets, 200 and 500. yards, seven, shots. Prize monoy, £15 ss. ' '' First prize, £1; five'of 17s. 6d.; two of 155.; five of 10s.; five of 7s. (3d., and twelve of ss. , Tho arms used'wore tho Loo-Enfield .303 carbines. Pte. H. E. Gale, tho winner, put up a very fine score at 500 yards, 'lis regate including fivo consecutivo bulls: —

i Ptei' H. E. v Gale, Wellington College. Defence. Cadet. 7 shots. il.' ■ : THE PRIZE LIST. ' The prize list is;as follows:— ; , Order of , Meritl ■1. Pte. H. E. Gale, Wellington Collego, ;., ; £i . ... ... 62 !2. Pto; W. Fitchett, Wellington College, > 17s 6d ... 59 i 3. Sergt. Parker, Bovs I 'lnstitute Cadots,' V' 17s.- 6d. ; ... .... ,58 ! 4.: Lieut. Onglev, Waitaki High School, il/s. 6d. ■ . . , ... .C 8 I j s...'Lieuf.-'AJ Y.' Short, 'Wellington Col--' ', j . lege, 17s. 6d.'... . ... , ... , 57 G. Pto. J; J. Williamson, Wellington, ! i ; College, 17s. Gd. , j....-! 57 i 7'.'. Gqrp. E.' ilackcrspy, Wellington Col-, . • lego, 15s.' '56 i 8: Pto. J. C. 'Williamson, Wellington | College, 15s. ... ... . ... ... 55 \9. Lieut. Garmody, St. Patrick's Col- :' v - lege, 10s. ... ... ~.. 51 10. Sergt. Butler, St. Patriok's College, - 10s. ' ... 51 11. , Pte.' W. J. Claehan, Wellington Col.lege, 10s. • .... .... ...' 50 v 12. Pte. J. N. Williamson) WellingtonCollege, 10s. ... ... 49 I?.; Sergt. E. "J. Burke, St. Patrick's : College, 105..... ~: ... - ... 47' 14. Pto. Robertson, AVellington College, 7s. Gd. ... ~ .. ... . ... ... 42. 15. Col.-Sergt. Lynch, St. Patrick's Col- '■ . lege, 7s. 6d 41 16. Bugler-Smith',','Wellington College, ' ;,7s..Gd .-•• ... ... '■ ... 41 •17. Sergt. Outram, St.' Patrick's Col-, " lego, 7s. Gd. ... ... -.. 40 18.' Lieut. R., Cameron,, St. Patrick's : -, ' College, '7s. 6d.-40 .19. Sergt. Cullen, St.'Patrick's College, • , 5s .- 39 20.; Pte: Caldwell,- Wellington Collego, ss. ... -■ ...- ... ... 39 21.'Pte,. Portor, St; Patrick's Collego, .- ' : ', ss. . ' ...' . : '36 }22; Capfc. Ryan, St. • Patrick's : College, " ,ss. • • . ... ... 3G 23. Lieut.-Mailer,: St. Patrick's .College. .. - 5s :• 34 24.;Pte. M'Lean, Wellington Collego. ss. 29 25. Pte. Clapham, Boys' Institute; ss. ..: 29 ;26. Sorgt.''Cbllov, .Boys', .Instituto,. 55.. 29 27.'- Sergt;-/Tweed, Wellington College, ss.- 27 28. Pte. W. H. J'ohnson, Wellington Col- ilege; ss. ..- 1 -,. ... . j-: ... -25 29. Pte. Biirnes, Wellington College,' ss. 20 '80 ; Boys' Institute, ,ss. ..'. ''18 '/!■ ■■'<A LITTLE CATHERINC. i : I During .'the- afternoon the. 'officers of, tho : staff,--members of 'tlio Press, arid/tho-. officers ,itt charge; of_ the Rango-Post Office assoiiibled;' by inyitation) in, the Exccutivo Moss teni| ; where j t-hey ; wore addressed by', Colonel -Collins.' , He'wished to thank .them, he said, for,'tlie, way' in .which thoyVhad carried out, duties, and .' assisted him in .'the. carrying, out of 'what was a .record, ovenfc. : .The large , number.,,of entries meant much / extra labour 1 on ~the';,part ,of-.-tlj.oso;.-who\.-were • de-, tailed for'/diity,: and, lie. wished to/ say : ,thafc they, had given 'him:.entire, satisfactions*- Ho ; would,/specially,//mention ..Major^/VHughes,'• ■ 'sup'enrisi'ng officer., on. the '//range; Captain ' Foster;/'•'' Camp-Adjutant'/SurgeqiS-Major 1 Purely; Medical Officer; ''Captain 'Mabin,'Quartermaster; • Captain Turtier,' Statistical. Officer; Lieut. .Rbache, Secretary-; Col.-Sorgeant ; Bolton, Sergeant Felton, . and ; Pto; Roberts: .To;,the .Press, for tho mariner in which: the'.proceedings, of the .meeting had 'been , reported,, and ( to; the'.telegraph staff, to.;whom thoy' were, indebted and coiirteoiis'attention, ho expressed his warmest, gratitude. . . '

Major Hughes, Liout.-Colonel Drummond, Lieut,-Colonel Crosswcll, Captain Mabin, Captain Foster,',and: Mr. Eastwood (for the' Press) briefly replied. The toapts "The Now Zealand Riflo Association" and " Colonel Collins'' were then honoured. Good-byes were: said, and the gathering dispersed.. One of the officers remarked, as they were leaving : " The: saying;in Christchureh before tho •meeting, was not'''What shall I do-to be saved.?' '.but.' 'What.,,'shall '. I, do to' get to Trentham?'" .

THE THORNEYCROFT RIFLE.

TESTED, BY AN EX-CHAMPION.

. Yesterday afternoon the new Thorneycrolt rifle, an absurdly short arm, of a peculiar pattern of ,'stock.i .was tested on the Collins Range, ;500, yards, by two-or threo expert :sho.ts. ._ Sergt. J. W. Ching, Waimea,-first' Itried his hand, and'although the sighting of . this rifle was strarigo to him, lie did very well, as his" target, shown hereunder,-, testifies. : •'. THE THORNEYCROFT.

Sergt. J. W. Ching, Waimea. • Test of the l new Tliomeycroft short rifle, at 500 yards, eight shots.- J . , ■. . ■ 3 4 4 5 5 5.5.5 — , : Sergt. .Ching considers that the "report ofthe hew rillo. is louder, ..and:. the , recoil greater.; '-~; ; Further, trials by Ching, and also by, Lieut. Irvine, Nelson,, were, not so satisfactory, and. the, opinion, was; expressed that ■ the new, rifle, woulf ;never...-supplant the;.one at,- present: in: use.', . r r /['■. ;•

V A WINNER'S TARCET.

Rifleman A.. France, Karoiv Rifle Club. Volunteers v. Rifle Clubs Match, 800 yards, seven shots. • 5—4 5 5 5 5 4 5-33

FROM THE AUSTRALIAN VIEW POINT,

SERGEANT M'CALLEY'S IMPRESSIONS. ' " I think that tho ; Trcntham Rifle Meeting. in almost every way, is-tho finest in the W o r ld —r seoond to nono, not excepting Bisley," said Sergeant 1 M'Calley, tho wellknown Australian rillo shot, in the course of a conversation with a representative of The Dominion yesterday. Tho sorgeant has'beeiv present at' tho principal rifle- meetings throughout the world. •. " In what way,. Sergeant, do you think tho Trcntham Meeting is stiperior to any uthor?" asked tho ropartor. _ ."'.Well, in' its .organisation,-.for ono thing. I have never seen a riflo meeting" so• well conducted' anywhere. To my' 1 miiid,' Cploncl Collins, your chiof Executive Olficcr, stands (jy himself as an organiser. Ho appears to

make a special point of enlisting as heads of the different branches of range duties men who thoroughly understand their business. Tho result is that everything works like clockwork, and,. (Luring tho wliolo period of the shooting, competitors know exactly whore tlioy aro in tho matter of tho day's programme. Thorp was certainly. a little lost timo on tho iirst day's shooting, but that was oxcusablo, and it was made up next day, and after that tho events were got off with ■time-tablo regularity. This is not.thoeaso with many other meetings,' notably Bisley, whero tho event's marked down for oiio (lay aro run into tho, ovents of tho next day, with t.lio result that .competitors aro hopelessly bewildered. Your range officers aro also most capable .moil. Everyone) seomcd to know 'his,-work thoroughly, andihero, again, Trent-ham possesses an advaritngo . over Bisloy-." ■ o, : "What about tho markers?" suggested tho reporter. _ ' " Well, all round, I think that some of tho markers at. tho Trentham'Meeting were tho■smartest I have ever seen. Of course, there wero exceptions, but both mysolf and Sergeant Edwards weny at times' positively astounded at tlio rapidity and accuracy of tho. marking." ' "What is your opinion of the 1 Trentham R-a-iigo?" " It has its disadvantages, but it is not much better, 1 nor very much' worse than other ranges. .For instance, I havo seen it blow' heavier at the R-andwick Range, in Sydney, than it has blown at Trentham. Then, again, I'do not think the wind is moro thaii usually tricky'at Trentham than a,t> any other of the big riflo, ranges, although I must say that Trentham possesses tiro doubtful honour of accommodating tricky winds for a greater length of timo than the others. The-' corkscrews 1 and 'the ' fishtails ' scorn to bo ever present." "■ "Do you consider tho. flagging of the range ,to be sufficient?" was the next question. ' . ■. : .. '• " Well, there is really no doubt that thero aro not enough flags. In fact; you might just as well have, no flags • at all as those which are at present on tho rauge. I say this because the Trentham flags arc not big enough. They should ,bo long pennants, similar to those at Bisley and Randwick. A ; marksman would' then have an idea of , how much to allow for Windage.'- - " In what way?" . " Well, the small flags which you have hero flutter almost •as much' in a ' whifflo' •of wind as in a breeze, and by'relying on this iriark'smen aro apt to be at. fault. If thero woro pennants,: about nine or ton feet in longth, it is obvious,, that they would not bo-fluttered'so easily' in a zephyr as in'a - breeze. Candidly, I' do not think) there is i sufficient number of flags. At Bisley, thero is' a row- J of flags about four deep : in a distance of' 600! yards, .at every ten 'targets. Where you./ havo four rows of flags, threo deep, Bisley has eight .-rows, about ! six deep. 'It would certainly be a good thing to flag Trentham more thoroughly '.than is dono at present-."!' ' ' •. ■

. What do you think of 'tlie 7 rifle accessories used'by riflemen at the "meeting?" • "Thero are far too many. The wind-gatigo business requires simplifying, so that a rifleman may have fewer . alterations to make: When I, go down to fire, 1 I merely, carry my rifle, a wind-gaugo'worked .with a screw", and a soapsfjone poncil.' I am'almost certain that the wind-gauge worked by a screw will have to -be gonorally adopted in your* country. They aro at present being allowed to mounted men with tho short carbine,' and I do not thinlc that tho infantry will bo'long content to remain under''Such a i disadvantage." Lastly, Sergeant, what do you think df New Zealand marksmen?'' 1 ' . . . : ' " Thoy ■ are : a. fino lot, 'better 5 than,, the majority of those I.havij met on other ranges in, the course of--my ' I'.think/ •however, that ' the "Australian; marksmen are .tho best in tho world." ,'i . Sergeant; M'Calley will probably leave for South.-Africa soon after his return to Sydney, -to; attend this Transvaal Rifle Meeting,after which Mio will probably proceed to tlie Championship' Rifle -Meriting' in' India. . WELCOME TO THE CHAMPION. (BY TEI.EGnAPn—SrECIAIi -CORRESPONDENT.) ,■ - Mastei'tori, March 12 The return of Rifleman Hyde,. th'o champion, caused a scene 6f -great "enthusiasm* at the. station. ,1000 pooplo, besides a '■band, tho fire brigade, firo police, and dolegates t-o tho Conference, inarched in procession, to tho town, the champion's carriage being drawn by-the firemen. Mr. Hogg, M.l\, and tho Mayor (Mr. : J; v : Mi Coradrae)' gave speeches of' wolcomo from ' the balcony of the Club -'Hotel, outside . whiclr a dense throng gathered. •, Rifleman Edwards, third for the Belli;, was .also present'.'- Tho champion, in the courso of his speech, detailing the fight for tho'Belt,'stated that lie thought frqm the sounds of. suppressed excitement behind him just before firing'. that something spccial was hinging 'on his .last; shot-, but boyond that he - knew- absolutely nothing. ,■-

.' " - . . 200 603 £00 • V V"11'' ' yds. yds.'yds. T'l. Eflmn. A. France Karori' ,.„:'31 31' 33 88 . , Eflmn. 'J. B! Bairstow,-Opaki 33 ■■•'30 ' '31 v 97' ' Eilmn^A: ; 'J. Gameron,-Opaki 31' 30' .'32: 93 President,•Hasefielcl, 1 ': Sounds .32 ■■ 31" :30 • 33 ; Eflmn.; Pranklin, : Weber' , - 29 :3131V- 91. Eflmn.W.f.T. Feast, Opaki ... 32 ' 30. . 29 . : 91 Eflmn; G. LovedayV Ohura 31 . 3? .. «8. 11 Eflmn: ■; W.; J.' ■ Milroy, 31. -' 33' - 21'■ 91 Bflmri'.'E.-J.' King, Opaki ... 31 29 30 90 Eflriin. G.'Hawthorne, Petone- 31' 30 • so- so , .Eflmn.F. AVillfie', Upper Hiitt 35 28 26 89 r Eflmn..E. Hawthorne, Petone- 33 l» • -.34 • • 86 Eflmn.' Wi Winsladc,' Opaki 33 21 "28 "85 . Eflmn.;.G. ; Linton' ,33 25 26 81 Eflmn.L.;-> ; Kitclieri,-/-.Upper.;• V • : . .,32 .- 26 25- 84 Eflmn. ;'G. : Hj;de','. Opaki, '31- 29,-: 24 .81 ;'-'Bflmni]:W.'Eandcll,''Lint6A'; , ,.. :, :30..-'22 31 83 Eflmn;' , G:''' i Craw,?Ghor]tpri.'.;. ; ;31.i .29, .19 : 82' EflmnT'lWI'Banl&.rKimtjolton '31- 26. 22 . '79 / Eflmn;! ; Perrii^;'.J„.';29.--2C.. 19 74 , .:' ..Aggregates .:V ; - 'i.; 039 562 - 554 1755

Sergt.-Major Hyde,' Hastings 33 -31' ;>31 s 95 Sergt.! J. W. Ching, Wnimea.' 31 ; 29 '32'-; 92/ Col:-Sergt. Hadfield, Blenheim 31 30 31' ,92 j j-. Capt, ,W. S. King, Eiiiwood; 31 30 29 SO 1 ; Trooper' Marenzi, .ElcetalranaV 30 : 1 28 31 88 >/.;;Pte;:PatricK,\':Ancklnnd'V; : ';V;'','31 29 29 89 I4eut^;iB; , 31;, 27 . 88. Pte; Hippie, Dunedm ... 31 31 2G • 88 SergL-Mnjor Drummond,-Dan-'i .' • -"u';'-. . nevirko •' ... .31 27 29 87 Lieut.Timbrel],' Linwood 30 31 2(5 ' "87 Sergt.-Frank, ,Nelson'; - ' . . 31 26 . 29 • 88 Corp.vA. E. Ayson/ Murihiku , 30 , 29 .' 27. - 8G : Pte. Carlson,;' Auckland-v ... 33 29' 24 86 . Sergt.rMajor. ■ Christ- \ , . qhiirch.... .. ... , ;.. 29 / 25 30 ,84 CaptV. CoUett,.-Waipawa' 32 26 26.'.M Sergt;.'Mills; Dunedin,' : ... 30 .24 . 29 , 83 Pte. ;Puniell, ; Wangahui .... 30 . 27 . 20 83 Lient. J.i P.- White, Franklin 31 27 23 .81 ■> . Lieut.. Martirij. Timaru 30 29 . 22 81 Trooper i Kimpton; ;' Franklin "31 2G. 23 .' 80