THE RIFLE COMPETITION.

Evening Star, Issue 7156, 9 March 1887, Page 2

THE RIFLE COMPETITION.

[Pr6m Oim Own Correspondent. J

CHRISTCHURCH, March 8.

One of the most successful colonial prize meetings yet held was brought to a conclusion at Hillsborough this evening. The weather throughout has been’ particularly favorable save for a few hours yesterday, when a very high wind prevailed, and the only drawback has beenonaccountpf the ’Unreliable nature of the ammunition provided.. After the championship had been decided, Colonel Mahon addressed the competitors then.on ijhe ground, saying that he desired to thank the officers connected with the staff, who had assisted very mate rially; in fact they had rendered valuable assistance in carrying out the meeting. He had also to thank Captain Somferville and the officers connected with the executive of the Council for the,assißtr ance they had given 1 the staff. He wished to say of the competitor? themselves that they had readily acceded to all; requests made, and had maintained excellent order in the camp. Without, wishing to particularise individual members of the staff, he felt bound to compliment Major Atkinson, of Otago, on the manner in which he had carried dut the duties of camp adjutabt.—(Cheer's.) The proceedings commenced early this morning with' the Team Match, for which the prizes were apportioned separately for carbine and~rifle representatives, at the request of the former. A break was, however, made at two o’clobkiso that . the final stage of the championship might be fired off. 'The carbine twenty were taken first, and the prevailing opinion was that, Gunner •• . M'Corkindale, of Oamaru, who had a lead of eleven points, would come back to his men. In the sighting shots, distance 500 yards, Sergeant Parslow (Auckland) got a miss and a magpie, Gunner Howe (Wellington) and Gunner Webster (Auckland) each a miss and then an outer, while Gunner M'Corkindale was credited with two “ magpies.*” These were the four leading men, and interest' centred in them. As the firing progressed, it became evident that those who anticipated a break-down on the part of the Oapiaru man were to be doomed to disappointment, for when the second stage for the Carbine Championship was completed he had increased his lead over Parslow to 13 points, and was 16 points ahead of Howe and Webster. As the latter tied fqr' fourth place, they had to fire off three shots) 4he result of which was that Webster made Qto Howe’s 6. The following are the scores in detail made in the final stage by the winners of the aggregate

Previous ; score. TL GuDDer. M'Dorkinclale a'"'* ; (chanpiqo) 461 285245b565 Pawlow ' ■ 440 Gunner Webster... . 440 2800464022 Gunner Howe ... .. 484 2683260882 PeUy-offlow Tbqrburn.., 420 40?43fip)52 When M'Corkindalefinished up with a bull’s-eye He was heartily cheered; by those bn the ground, and was i carried- shoulder high to the canteen. Though the Rifle' Belt has, in years gone by, been Won over and oVfer again by marksmen from Otago, this is the ,first occasion oh which the Carbine Championship has been won hy-a South ttland representative.! M'Corkindale’a victory .was well earned, for he has firedconsistently throughout, and from the time that- he Iwent to the front on Thursday has never been headed. . The assertion made in some papers that he'was 'only a second-class shot m'Damaru was quite uncalled for, for he has? fired with, considerable success at' the Rifle Association's meetings, ...He waslfpr som,e yean a resident of Dunedin, and learned: to. shoot as a cadet there. For winning the championship he receives' L4O and the New Zealand Rifle Association’s gold etar, in addition to'holding the carbine for the ensuing twelve months; Farslow receives L2O and a gold star. Webster takes LlO and a silver "star; Howe L 7 10s, and Thorbum L2 10s. ' I

The finish for the Rifle Belt was.'almost as exciting ah it was last year/ it being decided on the. last shot. The final stage in this instance consisted of ten shots at fiOO yards. Captain Little (Victoria Rifles, Auckland) stood at 458, while Captain White (of the Hobson Auckland company ). ' was only' twO point? behind him, and these two were expected to fight out a (desperate finish, Little had as sighting! shots an outer and a miss; while White, got a miss and a bull’s-eye. Whetii firing in earnest began it was apparent thatjbotb men were' “funking,”thh pitoh to which their: nerves bad been strqng doubtless {belling its tale. JLittle only hit once in his [first four shots, and that an outer,’ While had scored ten for the,same numberpf shots;and as this gave him a lead of sis: points it seemed any odds in his favor, Lictle, however, got his next three;shotß.on the’ target, and finjshed some miputeq before. White, his score , being 17. _ The k o):owd t^|cdlleoted and the result of shot was .anxiously awaited. With three shots to go, tie of the Hobson Rifles only wanted fpiif points to win, His next shot was a missi and then begot an outer. This brought hjm'to his last shot, and as be was only one] point to the bad he just required to hit tha target to win. He took aim very carefully, «ind| before the shot could be 1 registered nalf-a-, dozen field-glasses told that the qulleti bed penetrated the canvas. A cheerJwent up, followed by a momentary lull, and then the “magpie” wasshowta, and Captiin was declared to be the rifle champion-for 1887. This is the fourth year in thattheßifle Championshiphaßbee|i wonby a North Island competitor. With the coveted trophy which habojdg for one year, Captain 'White and the Association’s gold star; while Captain Little ■getaL#) (Clutha) .finished third, a position he has ineating j but as 'be pot on 2i) (pw Mternobn - tween ?ha^wo^eaqi^ J 4neni • Ex-champion Qkey, of TBffitibkli ;who had tihd-JoHnStd® BaroftToommencing the.ifinal' -ctager-took -fourth placet (LI. lto)^; Taieri, by

in this stage he also received the RiMC&d-, lenge Cup I append detailed scores mule by leading men:— ‘A-vi * Previous „ scare. •». ®- Captain Whits- (Champlon) 454. /'0285222088 476 Captain LitMoV-.iT'-- <66 V*fcWWM<tst 478 Private Johnston f- .. 484 " w865028<6 h- <6B Lieutenant Okey ■ ' 484 '22006680Mfr <66 Captain Rosen .; <v, .. 419 , "’i®BM444fiiß-> 454 SergeantKempehiill, 1. 430-,?-<aC«222<o<W <O2 The chargpionahlp decided,” thefiriifc for the team matches was resumed. In 'these Auckland had quite a field day. Owing to the separation of the carbines from the rifles a fresh allocation of the prize money was necessitated. Twenty teams entered for the rifles’match, in which theprizes ranged -fnmrL3s to the prizes for which were L2O, LlO, and L 7. The following are the scores made by fliA winninff rifle teams

The winning teams among the Carbines were:—

Auckland Artillery 149 101 110 99-469 Wellington Artillery ... 186 96 102 . 94—427 Port Chalmers Artillery. 128 108 109 . 84—429 The others scored as follows : Alexandra Cavalry : .. 187 91' 87 92—407 -Napier Artillery .. 182 79 86 83—880 Lyttelton Artillery ~. 124 89 84 61-848 The following were the scores made by the Otago teams in this match . City Guards i Norman, 09; M'Oaithy, ; 88; Provo, 83;CnWford; 79. Wakari: Jones, 97; Dalzlel, 93: Sonntag, 82 : M'Meiktfn, 77 5 M’Beath, 76. North Dunedin: Oomoral Hutchinson, 92 ; < M‘Nab, 91; Fredric, 88; Private Hntohinson, 76; Block, 76. Oamahi Rifles: Morris, 85; Leslie, 81;. Gibbs; 1 76; Tempero, 72; Hart, 66. Port Chalmers Artillery: Waters, 89; Watson, 88; Driver, 86; Foster, 81; Horrhy, 77. Captain White,..the rifle champion, is managing partner of the Shortland Sawmills,, and, like M'Gorkindple, learned to shoot as the captain of a cadet corps. ;For tenor twelve years he has been among the first four.in the front rank-of the shooting men in the Auckland province. The Northern representatives before leaving for ffiome almost to a man prpmised to endeavor f to put in an appearance at Camara next year, and, with-the increased representation from Otago which is sure to follow, there is every indication of a most successful meeting.' In concluding my notice of the meeting, I desire to tender the thanks of the Press-men generally to Mr Alexander, who had charge of the Hillsborough telegraph station,,lor the celerity and accuracy with which he transmitted the numerous messages sent from the rifle camp. Although these consisted mainly of figures, not a single com-; plaint has been made of a mistake in telegraphing. Another person whose effortSare deserving of special mention is Secretary Collins, who is now regarded as the mainstay of the Association. Since he took office the Association has gradually improved its position, till now it occupies a sound financial footing. Marksmen from all parts of the Colony unite in wishing that fie may he long spared to fill his present office.

tne wmniDg riue *e«u 800 iOO ' 800 ' ' yds. yds. yds. yds. Tl. 140 100 90 109-448 Viotoria'Rlfles, Auckland 144 118 106 ! Thames Rangers — 145 107 loo 92-489 City Guards, Dvnedln .. 188 95 112 92—487 Wanganui City Rifles .. Blenheim Rifles 180 .142 94 99 118 95 1 81-—482 96^481 ; The other teams scored as follows ‘ Wakari* 130 97 106 1 92-426 182 92 109 '99-428 Riverton, No. 1 182 112 93. 8ir42l; Rangiora 140 98 99 84-412 Wanganui .. •* 189 99 99 . Ohristohurob Reserves.. 127 99 100 Kaiapoi .. •• ’ Alexandra Cavalry . .. 184 110 91 ‘ 78-408, 187 91 87 88-884 Riverton, No. 2 .. 121 93 82 181104 82; 61-878-Woodville .. .. 136 100 75 •6-877 Wellington City 124 107 67 67 - 856 Invercargill .. 186 96 62