THE EXHIBITION RIFLE MEETING.

Evening Star, Issue 8119, 20 January 1890, Page 4

THE EXHIBITION RIFLE MEETING.

Sixth Day—Saturday,

Had the Council of the New Zealand Rifle Association been entrusted with the selection of a day for the completion of the championship they could not have Chosen a more suitable occasion than Saturday. Queen’s weather prevailed, and the most exacting marksman must have been content with the prevailing elements. The morning was calm with a dull light, and in the afternoon, though the sun shone out btrongly, the light was steady and not too bright. After the luncheon adjournment the Last Try was terminated, but the handful of competitors who had not fired on the previous evening made no material alteration in the positions of the leading men. The first prize was carried off by Corporal Kirk, of the Williamstown Battery, who beat Lieut. Tobin, of Auckland, on a tie. The following were the prize-winners : Tins Last Try.—Open to all competitors not in the first hundred in the Belt counting matches, who hdd failed to win more than LlO in prizes. DOOyds; ten shots.

Counted out : Private Pollock (North Dunedin), Private Manchester (Waimate), Sergeant Parslow (A Battery), Gunner Wataon (Port Chalmers), Air Allison (Christchurch Rifle Club), Sergeant Gilmour (Queenstown Artillery), Mr Neill (Peninsula Rifle Club), Private Wakelin (Christchurch Reserves), Captain Griffiths (Blenheim City Rifles), Private Miller (North Dunedin), .Trooper Watt (Alexandra Cavalry), Sergeant Parkinson (Rangitikei Rifles), Corporal Smeaton (Dunedin Guards). A continuation with the Grand Aggregate Match was then made, and the last two distances were got oft. Again a Victorian obtained first honors, Bombardier Grummett belD g. the successful competitor on this occasion. Captain Hogg, who took fifth prize, was the highest of the Otago men. ihe following were prize-winners in the

Grand Aggregate Match—Open to the 100 highest ®ZRfegate aoorora in the matches counting (or the Belt; 600, 600, and 700 yards ; seven shots at each distance.

Counted out: Captain Buckley (Christchurch Reserves),Mr Humphreys (Rangiora), Captain Cairnes (Victoria). While the fifty highest aggregates were being made out the Press Match was got off, Ihe conditions were ten shots at 200 yards,

and it was expressly provided that the event should be confined to editors or reporters. There were six entries, but a reporter from Christchurch, who had returned that morning on the distinct understanding that the match had been abandoned, is to be allowed to fire on the local range. The highest score was protested against on the ground that he is not a bona fide Press man. It is understood that he is a country schoolmaster, and a correspondent of our morning contemporary. When the shooting began on Saturday P.O. Tailor, of Auckland, led for the Belt with 377 points ; Seaman France, of Wellington, came next with 371 ; Sergeant Jones, of the Wakari Rifles, was credited with 370 ; and P.O. Williams, of Wellington, was fourth with 368. This quartet were expected to furnish the winner. At the 600 yards range France had gained 6 points on Taylor, and the two were on an equality ; but the local representative had fallen back into fifth place. The leading division stood at 403, S points ahead of Williams, and Lieutenant White, of Auckland, who came next with 395. The concluding range of the match had made but a slight alteration in the leading positions, the scores being— France 419, Taylor 418, Williams 417, and White 411. The highest Australian was Private Mitchell with 413. Quite an hour was cut to waste in making up the scores, and as a consequence the visitors from Dunedin did not see the concluding stage. This consisted of ten shots at 700 yards, and when the qualified men assembled at the firing point at five o’cloek excitement ran BigL- Taylor wos the first to finish, and with misses for his third and fourth shots, followed by two outers, he wound up with 31, an average of magpies only. This clearly extinguished his chance. Williams got all his shots on and made 36, his grand total being 453, or 4 points over Taylor. The next to finish was White, and the blackboard also showed ten hits for him, his total being 448. Of the leading division France was the last to fire. He began badly, missing his first shot to the light; but then he got well on, and at the conclusion of his seventh round only required eight to tie or nine to win. Two magpies were disced in succession, and only one shot to go. An outer was required to tie; a magpie to win. While France was taking his sight the wind, which had been but slight, certainly increased in velocity, and after occupying an unusual time over his shot the competitor pulled his trigger amid breathless excitement. Those who had field-glasses with them silently passed the word along the line that it was a miss low in front to the left; and as no signal came back from the butts their report was evidently too true. With the register-seeper’s record “ miss, France,” given in impressive tones, a few members of the Wellington Navals rushed to the firing point, seized Williams, and bore off shoulder high the Rifle Champion of 1890; while Prance, who a minute before was the observed of all observers, was quietly neglected. Such is the irony of fate. The following was the result of the Tub Champion Match.- Open to the fifty highest p.Llirresate scorers in matches counting for the licit. Ten shots at 700 yds. The score made to be added to the previous aggregates First prize, champion belt, gold star, and LOO ; second, silver star and L4O ; third, silver star and L3O ; fourth, silver star and L2O ; fifth, L 1 0; cmht prizes of L 5 tach. F.O. William?, Wellington Navals (champion) .. 453 Seanun France, Wellington Navals .. 451 Gunner Taylor, Auckland Artillery .. .. 440 Lieutcnint White, Auckland Guards .. .. 4tß Lieutenant Okey, Taranaki Rifles .„ .. .. 436 Lieutenant Yorke, Waitahur a Rifles .. . 433 Private A. Ballinger, Wellington Guards .. ! I 433 Sergeant Jones, Wakari Rifles .. .. 431 Bombardier Doughty, Auckland Artillery' " 431 Sergeant Kay, Oamaru Rifles .. .. 4-19 C’aprain Proudfoot, Dunedin Artillery .. ” 428 Gunner Driver, Port Chalmers Artillery .. .. 42s Lieutenant Davey, Petonc Navels ,jeg Private Foster, Christchurch Rifles ” 428

The four last fire off for positions, the three highest to be included in the prize list. The other aggregates were:

Sergt. M'Oregor, Oamaru li lies .. .. .. 1)3 i’rivatc Cameron, ChristcluKch Reserves.. .. d>3 Lieutenant Ross, Napier Artillery.. .. ’’ ,p)3 Lieutenant I’rain, Napier Artillery .. ~ .j]-) Lieutenant Morrison, Dunedin Navals .! ” j-P> Private McCarthy, Victoria Rides, Auckland ” an Private Scott, Wellington Guards 419 Gunner Howe, Wellington Artillery .. 419 Petty-officer Palcthorpe, Wellington Navils " 418 Captain Hogg, Clutha Ride Club _ .. . 417 Private Armstrong, North Dunedin Rides’ " -ne Conner Gardner, Dunedin Artillery .. !! die Gunner E. Buchanan, Auckland Artillery " 416 Private Humphrey, Rangiora Rides .. 415 Sergeant Fredric, North Dunedin Rides .. .! 415 Private Kruse, Wanganui Rides .. .. ' 414 Captain Patrick, Waitahuna Rides .. "413 Major Purnell, Wanganui " 413 Sergeant Kuohen, Wellington Artillery ” -m Corporal Hutchinson, North Dunedin Hides ' 403 Private Blanc, Masterton Rides .. .. ” 407 Sergeant Gray, Christchurch Scottish . ’ 406 Corporal Jolly, Cromwell .. Engineer Lloyd, Dunedin Engineers . 403 Sergeant Chalmer, Port Chalmers Artillery " 403 Corporal Elliott, Wakari Rides .. ”403 Private Simmomis, Irish Rides ~ " 401 Private Dunne, Irish Rides .. .. ” " 303 Private Aitoheson, Kiitangata Rides " “ 393 Private Coventry, Dunedin City Guards .. ” 397 Gunner Webster, Auckland Artillery " 593 Private Harding, Blenheim Rides .. .. ”395 Sergeant M'Carthy, Dunedin Guards ~ 394

Lieutenant Mehaffey (Queenstown Artillery) was qualified to fire, but did not do so. Much as we should have liked to see the Belt won by an Otago representative, we are free to admit that the Wellington Naval Brigade richly deserved their dual honors in providing both the champion and the next best man. When the Exhibition meeting was decided on the corps entered into the matter with spirit, arming theii shooting men with the Martini weapon, and organising a series of popular concerts and dances, with the proceeds of which they defrayed the expenses of no less than fifteen of their members in attending the Dunedin meeting —the men having to fire for positions. No other corps in the colony was so strongly and, as results have proved, so efficiently represented. The company’s success on the present occasion will doubtless stimulate them to further exertions, and it. is reasonable to suppose that they will supply several competitors at the Napier meeting, P.O. Williams, the rifle champion, is a native of the colony, a storeman in the employ of Levien and Co., of Wellington, and has learned his shooting in the Empire City. He has taken part in several of the Association a meetings, but on no previous occasion has succeeded in getting near the championship. It was not till Friday last that he looked formidable, but he then came by “ leaps and bounds,” taking two second prizes, and at the conclusion of the day’s firing was within measurable distance of the championship, though it was hardly expected that he would succeed in overtaking Gunner Taylor. Before the final stage was fired, he received, to use a shooting term, a number M “wrinkles” from Lieutenant Bales, of Victoria, and seemingly he profited by the instruction given, as he never missed one of his ten shots at the 700 yds range. Seaman France, the runner-up for' the Belt, only joined the Wellington Navals at the beginning of this year, having previously been a member of the Newtown Rifles. Though coming from a shooting family, this is only his second appearance at a colonial gathering, and, if wo mistake not, he will again bo heard of on some future occasion. Before dispersing, the Union Company’s Challenge Gup was fired for. This was open to the twenty highest aggregate scorers in the Exhibition, Christchurch, and Otago Matches, and they had to fire an additional stage of ten shots at 700 yds. The winner proved to be Lieutenant Eales, of Victoria who holds the trophy till next year, and as it requires to be won twice in succession before becoming absolute property, the present holder may be expected to pay us another visit on the occasion of the Association’s next meeting. The success of the Victorians on Saturday was most pronounced, they having won the Last Try and Grand Aggregate Matches, and also the Union Company’s Cup.

Corporal Kirk, Melbourne, L10 ■13 Lieutenant Tobin, Royal Irish, Auckland, LS 1G Private Welsh, Kaitangata Rifles, L6 45 Gunner Greenwood, Oamatu Artillery. L5 Lieutenant Rutherford, Kaitangata 1. Mrs. L5 .. 45 Lieutenant Swan, Napier Rifles, LI 44 Lieutenant Benton, Featherston Rifles. LI 44 Private Salek, Ashburton Rities, L4 44 Lieutenant Cosgrove, Maheno, L4 44 Lieutenant Turton, Cromwell, L4 .. 43 Private Fox, Christchurch Reserves, L3 , , 43 Private Cato, Wellington Rifles, L3 .. 43 Sergeant Smaill, Kaitangata Rifles, L3 43 Sergeant Jones, Wakari Rifles, L3 43 Sergeant Jones, Greymouth Rifles, L3 43 Mr Smith, Dunedin, L2 42 Mr Holdgate, Christchurch, L2 _ 42 Private Wright, Kaiapoi, L2 42 Sergeant D'Auvergne, Rangiora, L2 42 Private Reilly, Yarra Wonga, L2 .. Trooper O’Neill, Alexandra Cavalo*, L‘2 42 42 Lieutenant M Keich, Tuapcka Kitted, L2 . . 41 Corporal Ross, Otago Hussars, L2 .. 41 Sergeant Remington, Wanganui Rifles, L2 _ 41 Captain Montgomery, High School Cadets, L2 41 Sergeant Ketripshall, West Taieri, L2 41 Private Gill, Victoria, L2 41 Trooper Peake, Alexandra Cavalry, L2 41 Private Morrison, Dunedin Navals, L2 Sergeant Ross, Otepopo Rifles, L2 41 41 Petty-officer Armstrong, Wellington Navals. L2.. 40 Mr Johnston, Peninsula Rifle Club. L2 40 Mr W. Robertson, Peninsula Rifle Club, L2 40 Gunner Mitchell, Port Chalmers Artillery. L2 .. 40 Seaman Taylor, Wellington Navals. L2 .. 40 Sergeant M'Callum, 0 Battery, L2 .. 40 Private Binnie, South Australia. L2 . . 40 Private Humphrey, Rangiora, L2 .. 40 Private Wemyss, Blenheim City Rifles, L2 40 Lieutenant Kennedy, East Taieri Rifles. L2 40 Private Warring, Marion, L2 30 Private F. W. Scott, Wellington. L2 39 Trooper M'Cotkindale, North Otago Hussars, T.y 39 Mr L. P. Frazer, Dunedin Rifle Club, L2 30 Private J. Wright, Kaiapoi Rifles, L2 39 Lieutenant M'Donald, Oamaru Navals. LI.. Private Humber, Nelson Navals. LI Private Hutchinson, North Dunedin Rifles, r,1 39 Private Cameron, Kaitangata. LI .. 39 Private Webster, South Australia, LI Private Sonntag, Wakari Rifles, LX.. Color-sergeant Willason, Featherston Rifles. Li 33 Lieutenant Anderson, Christchurch Engineers T/i 38 Private Manning, Christchurch R.O., Ll .. ’ 38 Lieutenant Foster, Wanganui Rifles, Ll .. Private Ransom, Blenheim City Rifles. Ll Lieutenant Blatch, West Taieri. Ll.. Private Rabe, Wellington Navais. Ll 38 Trooper Canavon, Marlborough Hussars, Ll Major Aoheaon, Riverton. Ll 38 Lieutenant Boyne, Gore Rifles, Ll .. Captain Chioken, Napier Rifles, Ll.. Sergeant Allan, Otago Hu-sa:a, Ll .. Sergeant Arnold, South Australia, Ll Bugler Marshall, West Taieri Rifles. Ll Private Patterson, Owpopo Rifles, Ll 37

500 600 700 Bomb. Gruramett, Victoria, L12 yds. 3X yds. 33 yds. Tl. 22 — 86 19 — 84 16 — 81 23 — 80 21 — 80 21 — 79 20 — 79 16 — 79 25 — 78 24 — 73 23 — 78 19 - 78 16 — 78 Blent. Okey, Taranaki B., L8.. 33 32 Seaman France, Wei. N., L6 33 32 Pri. Scott, Wei. Guards, L5 . 3X 29 Bomb. Doughty, A Bat., L5 .. 30 29 Capt. Hogg, CluthaR. Club, L4 Gunner Driver, P.C. Art., L4.. Lieut. White, Auckland G., L3 P.O. Paletborpe, Wei. N., L3 35 3X 29 24 23 28 34 29 Lieut. York, Waitahuna R., Lg 24 30 25 26 33 23 27 23 30 26 30 Corp. Hutchinson, N.D.R., 1,2 30 Mr Sloan, Yarra Wonga, L2 Cap. Proudfoot, Dun. Art., L2 Prf. Dunne, Dun. I.R., L2 33 29 31 28 P.O. Williams, Wei. N., L2 " 23 ' 77 Pri, De Grand!, Victoria, L2 30 22 — 77 Ser. Chalmer, Dunedin A.. L2 .! 24 23 — 76 M’Keozie, L2 Corp. Jolly, Cromwell Rifles, L2 28 25 22 — 76 22 _ 76 21 — 76 22 — 76 18 — 76 17 - 76 22 - 75 19 - 75 27 - 74 22 74 Gun. Bunting, Napier Art., L2 28 26 Pri. Mitchell, Victoria, L2 28 30 Ser. Martin, Waitahuna R., L2 3X 28 Ser. Sandford, Ch’oh Rifles, L2 28 25 Mr W. Willocks, C.R.C., L2 .. 30 26 Ser. Fredtio, N D.U., L2 27 20 Corp. Ferguson, Victoria. L2.. 29 23 Ser. M'Gregor, Oamaru R , L2 29 25 20 74 Pri. Simmonds, Irish Rifles, LI 28 23 22 — 73 12 - 73 20 72 Pri. Foster, Ch’oh Rifles, LI .. 28 23 Trooper Chuck, H.L.H., LI .. 29 23 Ser. D’Auvergne, Ranglora, LI 27 26 19 — 72 Capt. Hanby, Victoria, LX 28 26 18 — 72 Gun. Howe, Wei. Art., LI 27 28 17 — 72 Ser. Tyler, Ranglora Rifles, LI 29 26 17 — 72 Mr Cameron, Ch’ch Res., LX .. 31 24 17 72 S«. Jones, Wakati Rifles, LX,. 33 24 IS — 72 Ser. M’Carthy, D.C 0., LX 24 26 22 — 7X Pri. Biane, Maaterten Rifles, hi Engineer Lloyd, Dunedin E., LX 28 22 21 — 71 29 23 19 — 71