N.Z. RIFLE ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL PRIZE FIRING.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3025, 7 March 1881, Page 3

N.Z. RIFLE ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL PRIZE FIRING.

(by telegraph.)

Nelson, March 8. The weather was beautiful all Saturday. The attendance" of visitors during the afternoon was very large, and great interest was shown in tho concluding shots for each championship belt. Excellent order was maintained. Paynter has fired most steadily during the match and his victory is decidedly popular. He was champion in 1877. The closing scene of the carbine championship was very exciting, M'Lean, of Wanganui, being loudly cheered when he made 39 out of the posssible 40 at 400 yards, thus tying the winner Armstrong, but taking second honors as Armstrong was highest in match seven. The following are the prize lists: — Ninth match, 200 and 500 yards, rifles —Purnell (Wanganui), and Griffiths (Blenheim), each 72 ; Lander (Taranaki), KingJ(Otago), and M'lntosh (Stoke), each 74 ; Ellis (Nelson), and Hay (Auckland) each 70; Paynter (Stoke), E Ross (Westland), Hutchinson (Otago), Lieutenant Ballinger (Wellington), Soper, F. (Blenheim), and Harding (Oamaru), each 69; Fowler (Waimea), 68. The following also made 68 without taking prizes : —Nutsford, Bannister, Rennington, Okey, E. Cooper, and Sampson. Tenth match, 200 and 400 yards, 10 shots each. The following are the prize - takers in the order given:- M'Lean (Waimea), 76; Thompson (Port Chalmers), Lang (Wellington), Levers (Wellington), and Laird (Wanganui),

each 73, Gordon (Thames), and Lumsden (Auckland), each 72 ; Davy (Wellington), Thurston, D. (Wanganui), and Armstrong (Thames), each 71 ; Wilkinson (Dunedin), Thomas (Thames), C. France (Welllington), and Perry (Wanganui), each 70. The following made 69 : —Sergt. Wimsett, R. France, Smith (Nelson), A. Dixon. Civilian match, 200 and 300 yards, 7 shots each. The following are the prize-takers in the order given :—Bell, 48 ; Hunter and Bobson, 44; M'Rae, 41 (all of Nelson); Gillon, 38. Carbine aggregate prize-takers. —Armstrong (Thames), champion, 273; M'Lean (Wanganui), 273; F. France (Wellington), 271; H.Dixon (Wellington), 267. The following were non-prize-takers :—Davy, 265; Gordon, 265; Thomas, 264; Laird 263; C. France, 263 ; Lnmsden, 263 ; Tandy, 261; Bennett, 260. R'fle champion aggreg'te'pvize-take;". Paynter (Stoke), champion, correct score, 269; Hutchinson (0tag0),261; A.Sutton (Blenheim), 259; Hoskins (Taranaki), 258. The following are the rifle aggregates of the non prize-takers:—Turner, 256; Hall and Nutsford, each 255; Griffiths and Harding, each 254 ; Cooper, 253; Burr, Downie, Ellis, M'Donald, Purnell, Paddington, Rogers, and Wlllocks, each 252; Dingle and Howell, each 217; Sergeant Ballinger, Private Doidge, Gray, and Fowler, each 210; Sbaw, 249; Bannister, Huges, Neill (Wanganui), Rickett, Wratt and Thornburn, ekcb 248; Anderson, Forster, M'lntosh, E. N. Rollins, and 'Tait, each 247; A. Ballinger, Hunter, M'Kenzie, Weir, Samson, and Cro9sman, each 246 ; Lieut. Ballinger, Hay, and Toper, each 245. The remainder were below 245.

The following are the carbines' aggregates of the non prize-takers :—Davey and Gordon, each 265; Cameron and Dixon (Thames), each 264; C. France, Lumsden, and Laird, each 263 ; Tandy, 261 ; Sergeant Wimsett and Hood, each 259; P. Thompson, 258; Gill, 257; Olanston and Smith (Nelson), each 256 ; Paynter, 253. The rest were all below 253.

Thirteenth match, Wellington ladies' cup, ranges 900, 250, and 300 yards, seven shots at each. The prize-takers are in the following order:—Harding (Oaraaru), 78 ; Webster (Otago), 77 : Thomas (Thames) 75; Okey, E. N. (Taranaki), 73; Paynter (Stoke), 73; Foster (Wanganui), 73; Shaw (Wellington), 72; Hunter (Waimea), Cameron (Thames), and Purnell (Wanganui), each 71; Anderson (Olutha), Wilkinson (Dunedin), Laird (Wanganui), Remington (Wanganui). and Adams (Bruce), each 70. The following also made 69 without taking prizes: —Coleman, M'Leod, Rogers, Thoma", Howe, France, C. Ross, E. Wratt, Ballinger, Sergeant Taylor, Richardson, and Wilson.