THE RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING.

Evening Post, Volume LXIX, Issue 51, 2 March 1905, Page 5

THE RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING.

» OPENED TO-DAY AT TRENTHAH. A RECORD ENTRY. NOTES FROM TIIE CAMP. (By Our Special Reporter.) TRENTHAM, Wednesday Evening. There is life astir onco more in thas quiet corner of the Hutt Valley ivLich is annuall} given over to tho championship meeting held under the direction of the New Zealand Defence Forces Rifle Association. There is no camp tiro alight to- ; night, because the marksman who cornea i to the meeting with an oy© on the Belt and his thoughts on a trip to Bisley does i not indulge in lute hours and eongs and. the revel that arc associated with tho camp fire. There is no necessity to sound "Lights out!" at a rifle meeting's encampment. The outlook for an enjoyable and successful opening to-morrow- is by no means promising this evening. Rain set in at 8 o'clock, and there was already some water vi dcrfoot from the previous night's rain. Tho tents are pitched a little further to the south than formerly, so as to leave a clear &pace for the 900 yds and 1000 yds. ranges. Hitherto 70Qyds was the most distant rango fired from at Trenthnm, but for this year's meeting Colonel Collins has arranged for 800 yds, 900 yds, and 1000 yds events. The latter range looks "a long way from home," as an Aucklander put H. The Colonial Ammunition Company's Match (No. 20), for which a challenge cup is offered, and which is fired under field_ firing conditions, opens nt tho 800yjd"s range, and; three extra matches luiro booh arranged for tho long distance's, one at 800 yd«, ona at 900 yds, and tho other at 1000 yds. These new ranges bring the conditions moro nearly into line wath those of Bisley. Tho sizes of tho different bull's-eyes at! the rauges this year will bo as follows :— < At 200 yds and 300 yds, 7in in diameter; at 500 yds, 600 yds, and 700 yds, 20in i« diameter; 800, 900, and 1000 yds, 36in in, diameter, all tho "bulls" being circular. Tho full sizo of the target for the long range will bo 10ft by 6ft, the "magpie • being 12iu in diameter, and the "inner"54in. Colonel Collins went into camp this afternoon, and ho has Cuptadn C. Harcourt Turner (Hon. Secretary to tho Executive) as his aide. Mr. Baggett ia again tarrying out clerical duties, and. Colour Sergeant J. Roache is the Secretary for the meeting. I'he gentlemen who have promised to attend the meeting and act as Rjutge Officers are : Majors UrcMnrell (Christchurch) and Hughes (Wanganui), Captains Redmond (Wanganui), Clemens (Auckland), and Snndford (Christchairch), and Lieut«y Foster (Canterbury) and Sandle (Wel« ling ton). 'me telegraph office is in charge of Mr.' Bevan. who is well known to all press* men who have served in the Parliament, ary Press Gallery. There are about 200 men in camp this evening, soino of whom hud put in several hours' practice nt tho ranges during tho morning. Largo numbers of competitors are put» ting up at private residences in tho surrounding district. A record number of entries is already, assured. The previous record was 330\ and aiieady 363 have bren received for the present meeting. Over 400 entries are expected before the meeting opens to. morrow. This year's programme contains 21 oveiita. The Auckland. Wellington, N<?1» son, Caaiterbury, and Ot«go matches, th< first five on the programme, we to count in the aggregate. The King's Priie, which is the championship final, is th« sixtli event, and only th© fifty highest ag* gregato scorers can fire in ' this match. Then omne tho service matches, in which tho two of orthoptics and verniers are nob allowed. THE OPENING MATCH. SPLENDID WEATHER CONDITIONS. SCORERS OP "THE POSSIBLE." TRENTOAM RIFLE RANGE, This Day. Heavy rain fell all night, but became lighter during tiio early morning, and cleared up at 9 o'clock. The men paraded half an hour later, and there was a record attendance of 389. The oulv leading marksman absent is Lieutenant king. Colonel Collins expressed pleasure at seeing so many old faces and so mauv new comer*. Ho referred to the success *of the last Bisley team, and intimated that, another tenm was to leave in April next, the men to be chosen on similar conditions to those of last year, which means that tho Executive need not confino its choice to the best shots nt tho present meeting Colonel Collins also addressed the thirtysix Permanent Artillery men, who aro Beryiii^in_tho_trencbes i and announced

tiiat prizes of £2 and £1 for besi-kept targets would bo given. The meeting opened with the Auckland Match, 200, 500, and 600 yards, seven shotsmt eacludistunce. Forty-llueeprizes aro offered, valued at £62, Eight prizes of £1 each are offered to tyros (that is, men who have never previously won a prize at any of tho Association's meetings). Shooting .started at 9.45 o'clock, Lieutenant Okey, of Ttiranaki, getting oil" thojfirot shot of tho meeting with a bull's-eye >at 200 : yards. Tim weather conditions were tlu-'n the most. perfect experienced at Trentham — a,dead»calm with, a capital light. The ground is very wet, of course, but tho men aro cheerful, having expected wot overhead us well us under foot. This* year's mako of ammunition i.s be--ing used, and in giving satisfaction. Tho small bull (7in) makes " tho possible " 'rare nl the 200 yaitls range. Captirin Burttrop (Fuildingl hcored tho lirut possible of the meeting, his sighter al>»o reaching tho bull's-eye. Sergeant Ross (Hampden), Lieutenant White (Patea), Marshall (Karon), Sergeant Purnell (Waitgunui), und Corporal Pap pa (Nalson).s>e.O!cd iwssibles. There were- numerous " all Outs," including ex-ehampiun. King (Opaki\, Captain Skinner (Auckland), Major Chaytor (Blenheim). Arthur Ballinger (Petone), Private. .Jones (Wellington). When tiring finished at the firsL range (12 o'clock) rain again came on, and the wind strengthened. .Shooting could not bo resumed at 1 o'clock, as heavy rain Ava« falling. Major-General Mabington, visited the ramp this afternoon.