RIFLEMAN JAMES'S CAREER

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 57, 8 March 1913, Page 9

RIFLEMAN JAMES'S CAREER

There were reasons other than those of a purely personal character which made Rifleman F. H. James's win popu'.' lar with competitors. Riflemen, understanding the need for patience and perseverance, appreciate these' qualities in their fellows. A glance at the career of this year's Belt'winner will show in, what degree he is possessed of these powers. He is now 33 years of age, and commenced to shoot twelve yea*B ago,., when he was a member of the Welling* ton Naval Corps. There he won prize* as leader of the C class aggregates, and ih 1805 he secured the Wellington Di*« trict Volunteer Championship. Removing later to Napier, fie joined the Napier Guards, and distinguished himself by winning the company*? championship three years in succession, being runner* up in the fourth year, and again winner in the fifth. From district and company shooting he found his way to Trenthanr, and this is the seventh year in which he has* fired in the King's Fifty. ' Last year he got twenty-first place. He was one of New Zealand's chosen men m 'the Coronation Bisley team, and in shooting at Bisley was one of tlte leaders in the team practice aggregates. Selected as v members of the team to fire for theKolapore Cup, he tied with Marenai for 'first place in the competition. He further gained distinction as the .only New 2ea« lander to get into the Bisky Territorial aggregate, or into the Service Rifl« Championship, a competition fited over all ranges, and including rapid fire. la., two visits to Australia, further laurels have been his share. In 1909 he secured seventh place in the New' South Wales King's Prize competition, and, at Melbourne in the same year, won the . £100 David Syme Aggregate, the, prize--most coveted by Victorian marksmen. When visiting Australia, on his wtorn from Bisley, he gained fifth place in the New South Wales King's Prize and th<* Syme Aggregate. Among his local tjer* formances is the winning of the Waira* rapa Championship in 1908 and 19121