THE COLONIAL PRIZE. FIRING.

Evening Post, Volume LV, Issue 61, 14 March 1898, Page 6

THE COLONIAL PRIZE. FIRING.

OPENING OF THE OAMAEIT MEETING. [BY TELEGRAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Oamauu, 13th March. One hundred and eighty-six entries have been received for the Ri lie Association meeting, which is some 20 odd in advance of the number at last meetiug; but of the total number about a score have only entered for one match. The match for the ladies is looked forward to with considerable interest, and it is expected that 13 will take part in it. Twenty-five targets will be used, and the marking will be undertaken by members of the Permanent Artillery from Lyttellon and Dunedin, whose services have been generously placed at the hands of the Association by the Defence Department. Major Sommerville, as visual, will have the general charge of the arrangements, and Major Headland will represent the Defence Department. Major Collins, of "Wellington, will have charge of the Council tents, assisted by Messrs. T. Davis, D. ]?ox, and G. W. Baggott, his former associates. Capt. Lomax will for the tenth year act as range officer, The officer in charge of the telegraph department has arranged for a bicycle service from the range to town for the carriage of telegrams, and there is but little doubt that the service will be as successful as that when the Federal rifle shooting meeting was held here in 1896. All that is wanted to ensure the success of the 1898 meeting is fine weather. A DULL DAT TOR OPENING. Oamaru, This Day. The weather this morning is dull, but it is clearing. No reduction in the prize-mone3 r in ordinary matches will be made, though in the District Match the money prize (£2O) has been struck out, but the Association undertakes certain financial responsibilities in connection "with the Shield. In the Champion Match the aggregate prize-money has been reduced by £22. The Council has further decided that in the Champion Teams Match the prize-money shall be in accordance with the entrance money. No " possible " prize-money will be paid in single-range matches. Two ranges of the Nelson Mateh — the 200 and 500 yds, seven shots at each— have been tired, and there is another stage at 000 yds. The leading scores so far are — Winslade (Thames), 65 ; Hastie (I Battery), 04 ; Love (Wellington), 62 ; T. Eraser | (Kaitaagata), Boyce (Invercargill), M'Diarraid (Oamaru); and A. Ballinger (Wellington), 01. There was -a puffy rear wind, which I increased at the second range, and the light was good. Auckland ammunition of December 1897 is being used, and so far there has been very little complaint, though here and l here a bad cartridge was met with. |_By Our Special Reporter.] Oamaru, This Day. Only five ex-champions are among the I shooters this year, and of those two are the [ Ballinger brothers. Should either of these ■ wiu the Belt it will become that man's own \ property, each of them having two previous I wins to his credit. That they will make a [ bold bid goes without saying, and unless they are on top I expect to see Jack, .of Dunedin, or G. Loveday, of Woodville, as the 1898 champion. The present Belt has been running since 1873. Regret is felt that Williams and Hawthorne, two of the team which was only defeated on the post for the Kolapore Cup at Bisley, are unable to be present. Additional interest would have been lent to the meeting had they been amongst us.

Yesterday's performance at the Basin Eeserve by the "Wellington City Brass Band, in aid of the uniform fund, realised £3 78 Bd. The band will give auother per■formance at Newtowu Park nest Sunday

JBIRTHS llui.ii.— On 3rd March, at her residence, Moles-worth-street, the wife of H. Hull, of a daughter. M'KiNHTttY.— On fitli March, at. 15, Vivian-street, the wife of the Inte W. M'Kinstry, of a daughter. MARRIAGES Watkins— Whitfoki).— On 17th February, at the residence of Mr. Fimiess, 204, Adelaide-roud, Wellington, by the Rev. W. Shiver, Frederick, Hard son of William Watlnns, Esq.. Ballurat, to Edith, fifth dnutfhter of Martin "Whit ford, lit^q., Bitllur.tt, Vietoriti. BuJlantt and Mollioiu'iie ]>a])ui'H please copy. ILu.i,~Eu is.)n.— OnSSth Febnuiry.at the bride's milliter's, by Iho Kuv. Tl. H. Kwlbtone, George Herh., eldust. bon of William Hall, to Jestie Friuiee, third daiifvliter of the late Thomas Ellison ; both of Wellington.