THE RIFLE ASSOCIATION MEETING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11536, 24 March 1898, Page 4

THE RIFLE ASSOCIATION MEETING.

The meeting of the New Zealand Bifle Association at Oamaru has justified the existence of the Association as an adjunct to the defence system of the colony and, therefore, as an institution worthy of support from the public purse. It is true that the scoring was not equal to that of some former meetings, but that was due to the gales, which blew with little intermission throughout the week, rather than to any falliug-off in the skill of the marksmen. The scores show that the Association continues to fulfil what should be its primary, function of encouraging men to make themselves so proficient with the rifle that they may feel tolerably certain of hitting an object, smaller than the proverbial haystack, when they fire at it from a distance of more than a few hundred yards. It is true that there are those who hold that the shooting which constitutes the hulk of the Bifle Association’s programme does not do this; that the man who makes half a dozen, consecutive bull’s-eyes on the rifle range with a first-class weapon, and all the appliances that ingenuity can suggest, would cut but a poor figure if firing with a Government rifle at small rapidly moving objects and at unknown ranges. _ There is, perhaps, some force in this contention, but it must he admitted that a man accustomed to intelligently use his rifle, even on the rauge, would have an immense advantage, on the field of battle, over one who was not. He would, of course, be better able to judge distance, he would know how to make allowance for wind, and he would, moreover, have the all important confidence which comes from, a trust in his weapon and himself. Again, it must be remembered that practice on the rifle range is the only kind of shooting practice which can be generally followed by the defenders of New Zealand. It would, no doubt, be better if they could be trained by deer-stalking, as are Hie Boers, hut they cannot. It is true, however, that the shooting at the Bifle Association meeting might he made of a more practical military character, and a good step in-that

Erection Baa been taken by Colonel Pole-Penton by tbe introduction of the field firing and Lloyd-Lindsay competitions and other matches exclusively for volunteers. Some of the competitors chose to grumble at what they considered the waste of time in some of these events and in the Ladies’ match. In regard to the last-named contest they were perfectly justified ; the match was simply a farce. If the ladies wish to amuse themselves with the rifle, by all means let them do so ; but as they will never be called upon to use that weapon in the defence of the colony, they should not take up any of the time which should be devoted to the improvement of the skill of those who possibly may. As regards the field firing and LloydLindsay competitions, the case is altogether different. These are exercises of practical utility, to which more time might well be given. They may be regarded as the return due to the Government for the assistance —free ammunition, free travelling, and the free services of artillerymen as markers—granted to the Association, The general features of tbe meeting just closed were, on the whole, satisfactory. The complaints about the "New Zealand ammunition heard during the early part of the proceedings seem to have arisen more from prejudice than from any sufficient cause, as it has been stated that towards the close of the shooting, when competitors were allowed to use either New Zealand or Victorian cartridges, it was found that very many of them preferred the former. The discipline and conduct of the men were admirable, and the marking of the artillerymen, concerning which some doubts were expressed before the meeting, proved to be entirely satisfactory. Altogether, the colony and the Association are to be warmly congratulated upon the result of the annual gathering.