THE COLONIAL PRIZE FIRING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5950, 22 March 1880, Page 5

THE COLONIAL PRIZE FIRING.

Reviewing the recent meeting in Nelson, the Dunedin Star b&jb : • The recent meeting of the New Zealand Rifle Association afforded ahundanfr proof of the improvement in the ska! of marksmeri iri ..this Cof 011 !? In every match'fired the average scores of prize-takers were considerably -oyer centre?. While; it, was satisfaptoryj to note this, and also the large increase in the number of competitors, one could not but feel disgusted at the want of proper arrangemehts. This was in a measure due! to the.determination of Government, come to at the, last - mo? ment, not to grant leave of absence to Mr F. Stevens, whonad hitherto acted as secretory to the Association, and who had . recently been transferred from the Defence Department to. the Land Office. On the part of some,.members ; of. the; Council of the Association , there was v an evident desire to Reinstate Mr Stevens, if possible, and obstacles were accordingly thrown in. the way of Captain Webb, his successor. The markers also did their work in a slovenly, manner, while the less said of the register-keepers the better, for with one or two exceptions, these men could not write a legible hand, and as their score-sheets were frequently incomplete, the tots had to bo fiUed up by the Press representatives present. On the third day of the meeting a system of progressive firing Was introduced, and worked capitally.: The men, however, complained bitterly of being mustered twice daily, before commencing firing, and haying to go' through certain • military movements. The , Hon Major Raillie, and Major Lean have doubtless had considerable experience in drilling bodies of men, but meetings such as that just passed are solely for the purposes of, shooting, and it may bo suggested that a considerable saving of time would be effected'bythe employment of men experienced in local rifle associations—say for instance Captains Wilson and Muir of Dun-, odin, and Captain Payne of Auckland. The cavalry tournament was a very interesting affair, but as it must be carried out at a considerable loss—unless the affair is conducted, near a large centre of population whereby a large attendance could be secured—and since the competition is confined to one particular portion of the North Island it might be worth while the attention of the. Council as to fwhether this portion df, the programme should not in future be discontinued, and an ordinance competition substituted, in its place. Another matter worthy of consideration is whether the championship matches should not bo extended so as to include all the allcomers’ matches. If A competitor is unfortunate at any range in theßelt matohee } as at present fired for, it is', impossible) for him to make up his lost'ground, and that champions are not infallible* was shown by the sorry spectacle made by both Oaky and Purnell in the last range of the North v. South match. - With this exception, however, Oaky had Jbeen firing exceptionally well all through the meeting, arid his position was well earned. The Otago representatives did not show up so well as might have been exgioted in the Belt .competitions, but the City uards, by theirfinng on the Monday following shbwed unmistokeably theirability to hold their own against all comers in company matches. The score of B'2 over centres per man was a fine one, arid will not probably be beateri in this Colony by any team for some time to come. Owing to the small-bore matches not being taken until the close of the meeting, several members who had entered for them forfeited their chance of firing, and if these matches are to be continued the meetings will in future have to be so conducted that the firing will begot through within a week. ' At; a meeting -of the representatives . on March 10, the following resolutions amongst others 1 were adopted, and-ordered to be foie

warded to the Council of theAssoeiation:— “ That the Council be recommended io appoint, a >Committee to; select a permanent range, And recommend the Government io purchase the same, and vest it in trustees the benefit of the New Zealand Bide Association.”--" That at future meeting* the Committee take stop* to improve the marking.”— “ That the Committee be asked to erect > telephone on the range, and place some competent person in charge of the markers at the next meeting.”—“ That-the Committee be recommended to increase, the aggregate prizes, and place the- on an equality withthe Eifles,’’—“ That the number of matches for both belts be increased to five at least, and that a greater number of long distance' matches be introduced.”— “Thatthe Committee be recommended to procure more targets.”—;“ That tenders be called :in Wellington; Nelson and ’.Marlborough papers in future,: for ; the measingand canteen, and .the same be given to (he highest tenderer, if a fit and proper person.”—“Thatthis meeting recognises with great pleasure the institution of’, the | Companies! matches, and trust the Council .will 1 see their way to increase the prize money for the same, and, if possible,make the efficiency certificate one for the current year.” Motions were-proposed and negatived, “That inspection parades should not count points in future ;” “ That the programme should be 1 left blank, naming the matches, and dividing. pro rata the totalfsum to be fired for on> the 1 number of competitors-;” “ That all Snider ' rifles matches be included in the rifle. belt matches.”