RIFLE ASSOCIATION MEETING.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 314, 3 March 1888, Page 2

RIFLE ASSOCIATION MEETING .

Per Press Association,

O amaru, March 2. At a meeting of tho Council of the Rifle Association last night, Blenheim was selected as the scene of next year’s prize meeting, Lieutenant Ross admitting that there was no suitable range at Napier. The design of Kohn and 00. for the new champion belt, for which a prize of £SO was offered, was accepted, Groves, of Dunedin, being second. The now belt will be ornamented with a silver laurel, and the pouch will ho of silver, representing a rifle range. A resolution was passed that the Chairman of tho Association be authorised to obtain a sufliciout number of Martinis for tho use of members of the Association at once A list is now on the ground for signature, and a k largo number have already put their » names down, the cost not to exceed £35. The following have been nominated for tho Council for the present year. Auckland, Col. M'Mahon; Thames, Capt. Lucas; Napier, Lieut. Ross ; Wanganui, Capt. Somerville; Wellington, Capte. Kohn and M‘Credie ; Blenheim, Capt. Griffiths ; Nelson, Capt. Rowlands; Christchurch, Mr Meddlings; Temuka, Lieut. Findlay ; Oamaru, Capt. Creagb, Col. Suinpcr and Capt. Cossgrove ; Dunedin, Major Burns, Capts. M‘Nab and Wilson and Private Richardson. The high wind wbioh prevailed all day prevented the championship being decided as was hoped for, the first stago having to be deferred till to-morrow. The Taranaki Match (standing at 200 yards and kneeling at 300 yards) proved a hard nut to ciack for many of tho leading aggregates. Major Purnell, however, managed to put on a respectable score at each distance, and now has the Rifle Belt at his mercy. The Carbine Championship, however, is now most open, though twentyfour hours ago it seemed a certainty for either Lumsden or Parslow. At the clos# of to-day’s shooting Lieut Ross, of Napier, had a lead of bne point, and if ho wins it on the present occasion it becomes his absolute property, he having held it twice previously. Tho Team Match, finish of Championship, and North and South Island Match will be taken in that order to-morrow. Subjoined is the prize list: New Plymouth match, 200 and 300 yards, 10 shots at each distance ; standing at 200 yards and kneeling at 300 yards ; to count for both belts. Points

Sontag, Waikari, LlO .. ... 08 M‘Car thy, Dunedin, L 8.. .. 68 M‘Kay, Oaraaru, L 6.. .. .. 07 Moorbanks, Dunedin, L 5 ... .> 07 Smith, Dunedin, Lt .. ~00 Sonall, Auckland, L 3 .. .. .. 65 Salett, Ashburton, L 3 .. .. 65 Watson, Port Chalmers, L2 05 Corporal Hutchinson, Dunedin, L2., 05 Langham, Napier, L2 ~ .. 05 Small, Kaitangata, L2 .. .. 64 Davey, Wellington, L2 .. 03 The following take LI each: Churton (Wanganui), M'Nab (Dunedin), Captain White (Auckland), Lieut Oakey (Taranaki), Dalziel (Dunedin), Humphries (Fielding),' Ernest (Hampden), Graham (Wanganui), Humphries (Temuka), Morrison (Dunedin), and Hodgkinson (Auckland). Counted out: Love (Wanganui), Mooro (Queenstown), Parkes (Wanganui), Parnell (Wanganui), Chuck (Blenheim), Gosling (Raugiora). The twenty highest scorers in the Auckland, North Otago and Otago matchos fired off for the Union Company’s Cup. Sergt Jones, of Dunedin, was top scorer, with 209; and holds tip cup next year. Remington (Wanganui) made 207, and Capt Smith (Dunedin) 205. Tho leading aggregates at the closo of to-night’s shooting were :

CARBINES. Points Ross, Napier .. ... .. .. 477 Davoy, Petono Navals ~ .. 476 Tliorbupn, Thames Navals ~ 474 Chapman, Lyttelton Navals ~ 474 Moore, Queenstown Artillery .. 474 Proudfoot, Dunedin Artillery ~ 470 Lumsden, Auckland .. .. ... 470 Williams, Napier Artillery... ~ 4G9 Woolley, Auckland Navals.. .. 468 Kuchen, Wellington Artillery ... 462 Oakden, Peninsula Navals ... .. 461 Lukoy, Thames Navals .. .. 456 Greenfield, S Battery .. .. 453 Payne, Auckland Artillery .. ... 452 Taylor, Wellington Navals.. .. 452 Watson, L Battery ~ ... ... 446 Gunner Logriffeti (Auckland Navals), and Gunner llowo (Wellington Artillery), with 448 shots each, have yet to fire off for twentieth place. RIFLES. Major Purnell, Wanganui 49S Sergt Jones, Waikari ... 482 Capt White, Auckland ... ... 478 M'Tnvish, Peninsuhi ... ... -178 Johnston, Clutha ... 472 Olcey, Taranaki ... ~ 472 Sontag, Waikari ~ ... 471 A. Ballinger, Wellington .. 468 W. Hutchison, Dunedin ... 463 Murchbanks, Dunedin ~ ~ 463 Handby, Auckland - ~ ... ~ 403 Gray, Christchurch ... ... ~ 462 Hale, Auckland ~ 462 Smaill, Kaitangata .. ... ... 400 Parkes, Wanganui .. tt ... 450 Fairs, Auckland ... ~ ... 458 Little, Auckland ~ .. 457 Foster, Wanganui ... it ... 456 Cossgrovc, Otepopo .. .. ... 455 Dauvergne, Rangiora .. .. 455

Tim above carbines have to fire an additional 1Q shots at SQO yards, and the rifles 10 shots at GOO yards: _ The annual meeting of members of the ) N./.R.A. was held to-night. The elec- JT tion of the now Council resulted in the return of most of the old members. As an Otago representative, Major Burns defeated Cants M‘Nab and R'ilkiqsor), aijd Private Richardson and fjapt M‘Credio were beaten by Capt Kohn, of Wellington ; Capt Creugh (Oamaru) by Capt Cossgrove. The questions of new weapons was discussed at length, and the meeting resolved to adopt the MartiniHenry, only 1 2 voting for the Snider. As to the distribution of the present belts, Capt Sorrferville stated it had been suggested to place theiq iq thp Colonial Museum, and get a now one for the Marl tinis, but past winners objected to this course, and eventually the question was left to the Council to decidp. With regard to. the date, southerners favored Easter time, but nothing definite was decided. An attempt was made to get tho standing match removed from belt matches but was withdrawn. Afterwards votes of L 25 to Capt Collins and L 59 to Capt Somerville were pas.-ed.