RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 50, 28 February 1907, Page 7

RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING.

OPENING DAY AT TRENTHAM. ANOTHER LARGE ENTRY. (By Pigeon Express.) _ — * (From Our Special Reportens.) TRENTHAM RANGE, This Day. The sixth annual championship meebi ing of tha New Zealand Defence Forces Rifle Association was opened on the> Trentham ranges this morning. Most of the competitors came into camp yesterday, and a very quiet night was spent. There are mor.s men than ever under canvas, the excellent arrangements mado last year having tempted many visitors to forsake the usual private quarters in the Valley, and accept a place in tha tented field. There are fully 400 men under canvas, including the markers, etc. Thero were 423 entries recorded by 8 a.m.. to-day, and it was anticipated that a few more would be made beforo firing started. Wellington province- i* well represented, and theTe is a fairly large contingent of Southerners, notwithstanding the fact that a meeting in ChTistchurch has just been finished, and a number of marltemen who discovered themselves to be out of form changed their minds about coming to Trentham. Nelson has sent forward a fair contingent, and Marlborough is also represented, the veteran shot of. the meeting (Volunteer R. Harding) being among tho Blenheimites. Auckland, which was one» a strong patron of the championship meetings, has sent twenty men to thill gathering. The number is about tho same as at other recent meetings, but is not nearly so good as the records of older days. Taranaki and Hawkes Bay provinces have -representation on about th«i average scale, and there are some Australians among the competitors. Included in these is Sergeant M'Alley, of the NewSouth Wales Medical Corjs, who has shot with exceptional success in many countries. The camp commandant is Lieut.-Colon.eJ Collins, V.D., who js the executive officer of the association. Other officials are :— Major Hughes, V.D. (Wanganui), Supt. of Range Officers ; Captain Turner (Wellington), Statistical Officer, with Q.M.S. Boltoi; as assistant; Cajtain Foster (Lyttelton), Adjutant; Lieut. Mabin (Wellington), Quartermaster J Lieut. Chapmau (Temuka), hi command of volunteer and civilian markers; Lieut Sandle, in charge of Permanent Forces'; Major PuTdy, Medical Officer ; Col.-Sergt. J. Boache, secretary. ,— Weather conditions did not look at all promising up till 9 o'clock thin morning, but vhen the men mustered at the squadding posts a few minutes later the light >>am that was cominp up was driven away by a warm sun.' Prior' to sonding the competitors to the first range, Colonel Collins made a short speech. He reviewed the improvements that had been effected en the range since the last meeting, rehearsed the conditions of shooting, and expressed pleasure at tho support, that was given to the meeting. Ow. ing to the competition of the Exhibition meeting, he had not expected thti entry to reach 400, but he had been delighted to find the number run up to 430 competitors. The colonel concluded by expressing his pleasure at. seeing so many of« the old shots in attendance, and by welcoming the newcomers "I wish you all good luck, and may the best man win the beltP' was his final word. The fifty squadn then (at 9.10 o'clock) marched dow& to the 200 yards range of the Auck" land Match.