SHOOTING TEST RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIP

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 48, 26 February 1913, Page 8

SHOOTING TEST RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIP

MEETING COMMENCES TO-MOR-ROW. Trentham is quiet to-day, but everyI where there are indications of the imminence of one "of those periods of activity to which 'the little township is subject. 'Carriers at the siding await visitors and their baggage, and in the distance the lines of tents give the plac« a military aspect. So fat there is no army in the tented field nor near it. -Most of the bustle of preparation has passed, and not until to-morrow will' the real work of the* Dominion Rifle Association Meeting commence. Much of the labour of preparation for the encampment has been saved this year, since most of tho tents had already been pitched for the Territorial »camp. Now everything is well in hand, and when competitors arrive this evening all will be ready for them. A detachment of 80 members of tho Permanent FoTce under Captain Sandle is encamped and ready for 'tho work of marking. Ranges and targets have Teceived' attention, the Collins range having been practically rebuilt. Range telephones have also > been erected and tested by the Permanent men. The usual field Post and Telegraph Office arrangements have been made, and will be under the CaTe of Mr. Ward, who has undertaken the work at previous meetings. The Telegraph Office will be open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., and on Sunday from- 6to 5.30 p.m. Catering is in the . hands of Mr. Lewis, who has brought a full staff of assistants. Entries to date number about 350, but it is expected that the total wifl be brought up to 380.' For the Service matches there are about 200 entries.' For the teams matches post entries are taken, and as most' of the leading clubs are sending representatives to the meeting, comoetition in, this section is expected to b*e keen. Some 30 or 40 competitors were already on the ground this morning, and had some practice on the Collins range (600 yds), and on the Seddon range (800 and 900 yds). Colonel Hughes arrived at the camp yesterday and took charge, of , the' operations. Colonel Collins and other officers who are assisting at the meeting will go out this evening. Competitors- will be addressed by Colonel Collins at 8.30 a.m. to-morrow, and shooting will commence at 9 a.m. For the first three" days service' and teams matches will be taken, commencing with Match 2, B series. Special train arrangements have been made to meet the convenience of competitors. From now* on to 7th March the following trains will stop at the defence siding :— From Upper Hutt : 7.50 a.m., 12.55 p.m., 4.47' p.m., 5.15-p.m. (Saturday), 6.40 p.m. (not Saturday)'] leaving Wellington : 7.8 a.m., 9.4 'a.m., 3.20 p.m.,' 5.12 p.m. (not Saturday), 6.14 p.m., 6.48 p.m. (Saturday), 10.35 p.m. ', also trains leaving Lower Hutt at 9.31 a.m. and' 5.38 p.m. (not Saturday) ; to 28th February the trains leaving Masterton at 7.30 a.m. and Woodville at 1.15 p.m. will Btop to set down Wairarapa' competitors. On 2nd March all up and down trains will stop at the siding. The train leaving Te Aro at 5.34. p.m.' and Wellington at 5.43 p.m. on Sunday will run through to Upper Hutt, so that competitors visiting town may return, to camp that evening. Oh 7th and Bth March trains leaving Wellington 1 at ,7.50 a.m. and 4.15 p.m. will stop at the siding to pick up passengers.