RIFLE ASSOCIATION MEETING.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3815, 6 October 1883, Page 4

RIFLE ASSOCIATION MEETING.

IBY TELEGRAPH."J AVellington, This day. The sixth prize meeting of the New Zealand Rifle Association will bo held at Auckland, commencing on Thursday, the 28th of February next, Special tree railway passes will be issued by the Government to those volunteer members of the association who may rccpiiro to travel to and from Auckland. These passes will bo issued by the officers commanding the several districts to those volunteers only who actually intend to take part in the contests, but such volunteers must send in to the secretary of the association at AVellington, not later than tho lGth of February, an intimation of their intention to compete, as without such notice no free passes will be issued under any circumstances. The passes, moreover, will only be issued to enable competitors to arrive at Auckland by Wednesday, the 2. th of February, and will bo available for tho return journey by tho first opportunity after the completion of tho firing. Tho Union Steamship Company will convey members of the association intending to compete at single fares for return journey. Tho programme comprises tho following matches: —

Nelson Match, First.—For rifle or carbine belt 300 and 500 yds, seven shots at each distance. There will be 15 prizes rep re senting £00, mado up as follows:—One each of £12, £10, £8, £G, and £5 ; two of £-1, three of £2, and five of £1. Canterbury Match, second.—For rifle or carbine belt; 200 yds, 10 rounds. Thero will be 20 prizes offered in this match, amounting to £50, as follows:—One each of £10, £8, £0, and £1 ; six of £2, and 10 of £1.

Otago Match, Third.—For rifle or carbine belt; 300 yds, 10 rounds. There will bo 20 prizes, amounting to £50, as follows:—One each of £10, £8, £6, and £-1 ; six of £2, and 10 of £1. Auckland Match, Fourth.—For rifle belt; 200, 500, and 000 yds, seven rounds at each distance. There will bo 25 prizes, representing £70, as follows:—One each of £12, £10, £8, £0, and £5; two of £-1, three of £2, and fifteen of £1. AVellington Match, Fourth.—For carbine belt; 2000, 300, and 500 yds, seven rounds at each distance. There will be 20 prizes, representing £50, as follows: —One each of £10, £8, £0, and £-1; six of £2, and 10 of £1.

Marlborough Match, Fifth.—-For rifle bolt; .500 and GOO yds, 10 shots at each distance. There will be 20 prizes, representing £50, made up as in tho case of the AVellington match. Union Match, Fifth.—For carbine belt; 300 and 500 yds ;10 shots at each distance. There will be 11 prizes, representing £10, made up as follows : —One eacli of £10, £8, £0, and £t ; two of £2, and eight of £1. The Nationial Ritle Association's silver medal will bo awarded to the highest aggregate scorer in the seven foregoing matches. The 20 highest aggregate scorers (who must be Volunteers on active list) in tlie Nelson, Canterbury, Otago, Auckland, and Marlborough matches, armed with rifles (who will be presented with suitable badges), will then lire a second stage match of 10 shots at 000 yds, the scores of which will be added to the aggregate. The highest scorer will bo the rifle champion ef New Zealand for IRB3-1, and will be entitled to hold the rifle champion belt for twelve months. In tho event of their being a tie for place among the highest 20 scorers it will be decided by firing shot for shot at 000 yds, a course which will also bo adopted in the case of there being a tie for tho grand aggregate prizes. The 20 highest aggregate scorers armed with carbine (who must be Volunteers on the active list.) in tho Nelson, Canterbury, Otago, AVollingtoi., and Union matches, will fire a second stage match of 10 shots at 500 yds for the carbine championship of Now Zealand for 1883-1. If either of the champion belts is won two years in succession or three years at intervals by tho same person it will become the absolute property of such winner, former winners under tho Government prizefiring regulations being allowed to count. The following is the list of aggregate prizes for rides : —First, ritic champion belt of tho New Zealand Ritle Association, gold star, and £25 ; second, New Zealand Rifle Association's silver .star and £12 10s ; third, Now Zealand Rifle Association's silver star and £8 ; fourth, £5 ; fifth, £3. For carbines: —First, carbine diainpion belt of the New Zealand Ritle Association, gold star, and £20 ; second, New Zealand Rifle Association's silver star and £10 ; third, New Zealand Rifle Association's silver star and £0; fourth, £1.

Thero will also be a civilian match to bo fired at 200 and s()oyds, 7 shots at each distance, for which six prizes amounting to £13 Avill be offered.

The Union Company's cup will be fired for by the 20 highest scorers in the Nelson, Canterbury, Auckland, aud AVellington matches, 10 shots at 500 yds. Four prizes arc offered in the Rifle Company's challenge match, and a similar number iv the Carbine Company's challenge match.

The amount of prizo money will bo from £500 to £000. This is less than half the amount given last year.