THE RIFLE MEETING.

Evening Star, Issue 8768, 8 March 1892, Page 2

THE RIFLE MEETING.

The arrangements at the rifle camp are proceeding satisfactorily, and will be completed ia good time for the opening, though it will be a year or two before the range is brought to a state of perfection. The first shot will be fired at 2 30 p.m. on Friday. The range is pleasaiit'y situated on the property of Mr M'Culloch, at Trentham, some nineteen miles from Wellington, but ia easy of access by train, which will land passengers within half a mile of the camp. The Association havo secured a twenty years' lease of the property at a moderate rental, all pf which for a number of years is to be dovoted to improvements. Tho shooting will be somewhat in the direction of S.E., and the range, which is an open one, is fairly well sheltered from the prevailing winds, Major Sommerville estimates that the competitors thia year wjll not number more than 250, and in consequence the first intention of having thirty targets haß been modified, and only twonty-five will be used. Even with thß reduced number it is expected that the meeting will be brought to a close by the night of the 17th inst. Major Douglaß will be in command of the camp, while Captain Anderson, of the A.D. department, will have charge of the magazine and sanitary arrangements. Major Sommerville will have general supervision of the arrangements, while Captain Collins will undertake the management of affairs in the counoil tent. To Major M'Creadh (Wellington), Captain Lomax (Wanganui), Lieutenant Johnston (Wellington), and Lieutenant Skipworth (Wanganui) will be entrusted the duties of range officers. Seventy bell tents are being pitched for the use of competitors, moßt of whom it is expected will live in oaiap, as shooting will proceed at too early an hour to admit of their residing in town. The camp has been connected by telegraph, and telephone communication between the firing points and butts is in oourse of construction,