THE RIFLE MEETING.

Evening Star, Issue 7860, 18 March 1889, Page 4

THE RIFLE MEETING.

BLENHEIM, Makcu 17. Everything is now ready for the opening meeting of tne New Zealand Rifle Association. The range is pleasantly situated on the racecourse at Riversknd, about four miles from Blenheim, and is approached by a pretty drive. Of the range itself, little can be said in its favor except that the firing is in the direction which volunteers desire—viz., due south. Twenty-five canvas targets will be in use. These on the right or left flanks are likely to meet with most favor from competitors, as the background is immediately behind them, and thus a shot missing can be spotted. In the case of the centre targets the background is quite 100 yds away, and any of the leaden missiles going low will be lost sight of. The firing posts are not all that could be wished. At 300 yds competitors will be on a slight decline, and it is not certain whether the 400 yds range (which is only used in the teams' match) will not have the best look-out. The 500 yds and 600 yds

aro fair, tho latter being the best. The general arrangements at the camp appear to be excellent. Thirty bell tents are erected in front of the stand for competitors, while those for the staff have been placed in the saddling paddock. The grand stand and other buildings on the racecourse are being used as offices. Mr D. Sjott, to whom has been entrusted the messing, has erected a large shed capable of seating 300 men, and has built special ovens for cooking. _ Ryan Brothers have a canteen, and as an additional attraction ha ve a piano in the messroom, where it is intended to hold nightly concerts. As already mentioned, the camp is most pleasantly situated, and is well supplied with a capital flow of artesian water. The weather at present is delightful, there being a bright sun without a breath of air. It is hoped that this may extend over next week, as should it blow the markers will have an uncomfortable time of it, the trench in which they are at work being dug out of sand. Should a breeze of any strength spring up the drifting sand will almost blind them. As it is now, sand is continually falling. However, precautions are to be taken, and the markers will wear veils. The Victorian system of register keeping is to be inaugurated this meeting. The men will be drawn in squads, say, nine men in each, the men remaining in the same squad throughout the meeting. Care, of course, will be taken to avoid placing two men of any one company in the same squad. These will then proceed to their targets, and while these are firing one of the others will keep register, and at the same time register the score on the blackboard for the information of the public. By the latter proceeding any chance of collusion between competitors and register men is reduced to a minimum ; but should anyone be detected in an attempt to falsify his score he will probably hear of it to his cost. Drawings for targets are to take place match, so that a competitor while remaining throughout in the squad he commenced with will not fire on the same target throughout the meeting. At the Victorian Rifle _ Association meeting in November last this system of register-keeping was not favorably looked upon, as it frequently happened that several members of the same company were squadded together, and, strange to say, the coveted prize was secured by one of these. It has yet to be seen whether this new departure is an improvement on the old system of paid register-keepers, but if it is, then on both the score of economy and efficiency Captain Sommerville will have made a step in the right direction. It is thought that 200 men will competo, and as the expenditure was estimated on the attendance of 200 tho Association should come out with a balance, as the privileges at the meeting sold for L 64 ; hitherto they have brought very little. The attendance this year is much less than previously, which maybe accounted for by two reasons:— (1) The reduced capitation allotted to volunteer companies has not permitted the granting of the annual allowance to their former representatives; and (2) a number of those who usually attended the annual gatherings of this Association visited Victoria, and are therefore unable to spare the time to visit Blenheim. The question of increased capitation to volunteer companies is one which might seriously be considered by the authorities, as it would maintain the excellent shooting standard now held by New Zealand volunteers, as shown by their competition in Melbourne. The amount subscribed towards tho Association by Blenheim residents is LIU, which compares most favorably with that collected in larger towns at former meetings.