THE CHAMPION RIFLE SHOOTING

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XIII, Issue 575, 7 May 1868, Page 3

THE CHAMPION RIFLE SHOOTING

(From the Wellington Independent)

The Annual Tune Shooting which com menced on Monday and terminated on Tuesday ovenins, aflords tho best proof that the liberalty' of the Government Sn devoting a considerable sum yearly to rifile priz * has been appreciated by the Militia and Volunteers throughout the colony. Tbe object contemplated by the General Assembly was the ejicouragment of volunteering, fostering of a movement, which, now tint the country is all denuded of troops, is of ths Tiinst important nature nnd this object has been pained. Four-otid'twi-nty representatives of Militia and adult Volunteer companies, besides seven Cadets—making a total of thirty-one com petitors —have taken part in the friendly contest. Last year there were but fourteen, nil told. The shootinj was superior to that at a % iy former meetine, and tbe scores, were considerably higher. In 1868, the belt was tak"n bv Christie, with a scire of 39; in 18R7 Chisholm claimed it by a ncorn of 42, and this year it has been won by Taylor, with a score of 47 out of a oos■ible 60 Thus it will be seen that there is a marked improvement in the shoot) ■ ctbe result of tbe care and attention with which practice has been pursued. Tho present is the third time the crack shots of the colony have met at Wellington to «rlect their champion, a::d for the third lime an Otago man has won tho laurel and carries lack with him the belt so eagerly sought after by representatives from every part of tho colony. Why this should be the case is very evident. The volunteer movement is now of some standing throughout Otago. It has been warmly supported there by all classes of the community ; it has been made a primary and not a secondary object with many of the leading men of the province to encourasrn a spirit of emulation between tho --everal corps, it is almost the sole duty of Cant ain and Adjutant Atkinson, who, as a soldier of soms standing, knows that a man who cannot use his rifle is an encumbrance to a battalion, to make the young men attentive to rifle practice at all season of the year. These are the reasons why Otago tlways takes the belt and well our southern friends deserve it. It 13 to be hoped that at the next rifle meeting Wellington may be represented at tha friendly contest. Wo have some good shot 3 amongst us. and if our Volunteers will devote a little time to practice and the general public •will heartily and actively support the cause, there is no reason why, with care and attention to instructions of tbe Colonel commanding the district, tho belt should not remain in this province. The improved shooting of this year is only thel result of practice. It is worthy of note,] th?t while last year the scores which won! prizes were 42, 33, 35, 35, and 33, at the j recent firing they were 17, 47, 45, and 4t.j disclosing the pleasurable fact in the briefi space of twelve months, not one man only,] but several, have greatly improved. There is no reason why this improvement should etop. It is possible to obtain in five shots at the three ranges as many as sixty, and it is to be hoped that at, the liRTt, meeting' something nearer that number may carry off the belt end the gold medal of tbe •olonj.