CANTERBURY RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3200, 17 April 1871, Page 2

CANTERBURY RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Easier Meeting.—Third Day. A further instalment of good shooting weather enabled the sixth annual Easter meeting of the Bile Association to be closed on Saturday afternoon, with a success unsurpassed by any previous gathering. The order was for the firing to commence directly after the arrival of the noon train at the Heatheote; and, though many considers--dons were opposed to the attendance of competitors being so large as on the first two days of the meeting,- still the number proved sufficiently great to lender more than ordinary shooting necessary for securing a prize. Some regret was to be felt at the absence of of one or two from the country'districts who stood well in the firing at the first range for the All-Comer’s prizes on Tuesday afternoon; but the circumstance was as unavoidable as unpleasant, and such absentees may perhaps derive some consolation from the fact that, had f;hey been present, their task would have been no easy one to win. The weather, as we have said was fine, the atmosphere being bright and clear and almost without wind. The arrangements for conducting. tbe;flring,were much thesame.ason the first two days, and Captain Hawkes was in comipand of the ground. The completion ;of the firing for the All Comers’ dap was the first, business, and it was found on calling the 'roll that the following scorers at the first range were absent: —Lieut. Urquhart, E„ 6 points; Sapper Allen, E., 2 points; Private Wilson, City Guards, 2 points ; Sergeant Clarke, 7 points ; Private Wearing, No. 5 Co. Rifles, 8 points ; Corporal 'Roberts, C.V.A., 6 points; Private City Guards, 2 points; Sergt.-Major Warner, C.V.A., 13 points ; Mr Manning, 0 ; Corporjl Chapman, No. 2 E., 13 points ; Lieut. Craig, C.V.A., 6 points; Sapper Allison, E., II points; Private Cameron, No. 3 Co. Rifles, 11 points; Private Hunter, No, 3 Co. Rifles, IS points; Private Rule, City Guards, 8 points ; Sergeant Frew, City Guards, I points; Mr Charles, 4 points; Sergeant Pate, No. 3 Co Rifles, 5 points ; ami .*iergeaut Inner, £., 12 points. The firing by those who were present was commenced with out delay, and was carried through with all despatch. Manyof those who promi-ed well at the first range were soon disposed of. Fox commenced with an outer at st)o and did still worse by missing with his fou th and fifth shots, thus losing all chance. Dixon missed his first three shuts at SOU yards, and was also out. Conley commenced well at this range with a bull’s-eye, but then gave a miss* and also missed with bis fifth shot, thus likewise retiring into the shade. Perkins followed suit by missing his two first and two last shuts at the same range. Mr Harman materially inju<ed his scoe by missing the second shot at SUO yards, and (he fourth at 60U yards, irvate ‘V. Thomson, whose shooting was very regular on Tuesday could not get on to the target at all at 50u yards. Mr Glassford, who, in consequence of using a small hire rifle had to allow six points to all but Capt Bird, Capt Thomson, and Mr Barnes, who had also small .bpres, began well at 600 yards for keeping up his ■core—his first two shots being bull’s-eyes—-but,he missed his last shot at that range, also his first shot at 6 )0 yards, and flnishet up wiih two outers, thus when six points were deducted from the total of 40, he was left entirely out of the prize list. Mr Cuff recorded one rules at 500 and two 00 yards by reason of which he was completely distanced. Capt Thomson fired very steadily throughout, only scoring three hits outside ;the centre hue, in the whole: fifteen shots. Papprili, unfortunately, missed his first shot at 60ii yards—the only miss he re* corded in the competition. Gulliver fired with great steadiness up to bis two last shots both of which he missed, and thus allowed Mr Papprili and Mr Harman to pass in front of him. Captain Thomson, the winner, fired with a Henry rifle, and it should be noted thajt this is the third time in succession that behss carried off this prize. His score last year was 01 points, but the shortest-range on that occasion was SOU yards, whiah (fully accounts for the difference between fife re- • ective winning adores. Captain Thomson, after alldwing the Enfield rifles six points, was still, as it will be seen, two p dots ahead. The other competitors who used small bores —Me srs Bird, Glassford, and Barnes—were, however, completely beaten. The Ladies* Cup, a new feature at the Beater meeting, brought a large field, and produced some good scoring. This fact, to the winner, who is of the High School

Cadet*, is all the more creditable, whilst those adalt Volunteers, who were defeated, bare no reason to be at all ashamed of- being distanced by such a score. KtmU had j onw one outer in hfs ten shots, and-at one tlnm made four bull's/eyes ia.anMMon. j F<»; was leading up to the sixth saw, bubtheg began to record centres, whilsiJßsrle gave a pull qn the bull’s eye*,! and, S after thkmß h * h shot, was one poiatbabead. * a centre, and finished off with’a bull’s-eye, still leaving Earle with bis advantage of one. Wolfe pulled up well in his last four shots, which comprised three consecutive bull’s eyes. - • At- his last shot, - be- had .a hull’s eye to make to tie Fox, but be failed to do more than a centre, and was beaten for Second-honours. Ollivier, who-doe» not profess to be l a crack shot, and who went in purely on speculation, shot with a steadiness which makes us hope that he will devote a little more of bis time to the practice of rifle shooting. He bad only two outers in his ten shots. The tie between him and Wolfe was decided by the comparison of shots in inverse order, as provided for by the Wimbledon rules. Baton, Harman, Dixon, Perkins, and (Jrquhart all commenced well, but fell off towards the end of their shooting. During the. afternoon, several sweepstakes for small amounts were also fired for. The Cup. Open to all comers. Distances—6oo, 600, and 700 -yards. Bifle—Any, everything allowed, any pull Number of shots—Five at each range, position—Any. Entrance Fee -‘-Members, Stej Non-members, Ss. Target —6ft. square. Due Sighting Shot at each Range. Regulation Enflelds -allowed six points. '•-i

Ist prize, £3—Captain Thomson, No. 2 Company Rifles. 2nd prize, £l—Mr Fapprill. 3rd prize, 15s—Mr Harman. 4th prize, 10s—Gunner Gulliver, Ladies’ Cor, Distance—4oo yds. Number of Shota—Ten. Position—Any. Rifle—Government; Minimum pull, filbs. Entrance—Members, Free ; Non-members, ss.

Name. 'O <o . 600 yds • : O ; o 1 Total. Sapper Earle, E. Cadets... 11 6 10 27 Gunner Fox, G,V;A. ... 15 "? 3 25 Gunner Hudson, C.V.A. 9 6 2 17 Sergt. Dixon, No. 2 E. ... 15 3 0 18 Sapper Conley, No. 2 E. 16 11 5 32 Sapper Perkins, No. 2 E. 16 3 7 25 Sapper Townsend,No. 2 E. 11 11 0 22 Mr Hannan 12 13 11 36 Sapper Trevella, No. 2 E. 6 11 2 19 PrVt. W. Thomson, No. 5 15 0 2 17 Prvt. Paton, City Guards 10 9 10 29 Mr Glassford 17 13 10 40 Mr Cuff 16 10 ■ 4 29 Captain Thomson, No. 2 17 16 14 47 Trooper Cohn, C.Y.C. ... 12 2 8 23 Mr Papprill 14 11 14 39 Captain Bird, C.V.A. ... 3 4 7 Sapper Barnes, E. 9 6 0 15 Lieut. Pavitt, E. 9 8 0 17 Sergt. Haven, C.V.A. ... 7 11 6 24 Gunner Gulliver, C.V.A. 13 14 9 36

400 yards. Private Paton, City Gaurds 3\ Mr Glassford ... 29 Mr Cuff • •• t25 Mr Packard i28 Captain Bird, C.V.A. • •• 19 Sapper Barnes, B, ... )29 Gunner Gulliver, C.V.A. ... 29 Sergeant Raven, C.V.A. 29 Lieutenant Pavitt, E, 25 Mr Papprill 23 Mr Hesketh 24 Mr T. M. Ollivier 33 Gunner Fox 34 Mr Harman 32 Private Thomson, No. 5 ... 12 Sapper Conley, No. 2 E. SI Mr Crosbie 24 Sapper Trevella, No. 2 E. ... ... SS Sergeant Dixon, No. 2 B. ... ... 32 Sapper Perkins, No. 2 B. ... 27 Lieutenant Wolfe, City Guard 33 Trooper Cohn, C.T.C. ... 24 Lieutenant Drquhart, E. ... 24 Captain Thomson, No. 2 *16 — Wilson ... •15 Gunner Gullircr, C.V.A; ... •15 SorguMajor Deacon, C. Cadets 24 Lieutenant Craig, C.V.A. ... • •• *14 — Dunn 19 CorporalRoberts, C.V.A. ... 23 Trooper Hadfleld, C.Y.C. ... 17 Ensign Davies, B. Cadets ... 26 Sapper Earle, B; Cadets ... 35 Sapper Townsend, No. 2 E. • si *15 — M'Neuh ... ... * Retired before firing all their shots. 28 1st Prize, Siver Cup—Sapper Earle, Cadets. 2nd Prize Cup—Gunner Fox, C.V.A. 3rd Prize, a Cup—Mr T. M, Ollivier. E.