NEW ZEALAND'S BISLEY.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIV, Issue 58, 14 March 1910, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND'S BISLEY.

The annual championship meeting of the New Zealand Rifle Association, which concluded on Friday at Trentham, was a memorable gathering in many ways. What wonderful strides rifle shooting has made in recent years may be gathered from a comparison of this meeting with the championship meeting of 1892, which was held at Trentham, and was conducted by Major Somerville. He had one range officer, and Captain (now Colonel) Collins did the whole of the statistical work. At this year's meeting there were about twenty-five range officers, and the statistical officer was assisted by a staff of four. Whereas in 1892 there was one solidary pressman present, this year there were ten, besides competitors who acted as newspaper correspondents, and press photographers. The gathering of riflemen which broke up on Friday Avas the largest on record, close upon 600 competitors taking part. Additional interest was centred in the meeting owing to the presence of a number of prominent marksmen from New South Wales. Against their formidable opponents New Zealand's riflemen succeeded in retaining the Gordon Highlanders' Trophy, which they brought from Australia last year, and they also defeated the visiting team in the Empire Match, a severe test. Rifleman Halliday, of Karori, who won the coveted distinction, the King's Prize, by one point, after a hard tussle with the veteran Captain King, is deserving of congratulation upon his victory. Some day, perhaps, Marlborough will provide the winner of the Belt. This Province was ably represented at Trentham, President Masefield, of the Sounds Club, shooting particularly well. He was a member of the team which won the Empire Match, and also of that which defended the Gordon Highlanders' Trophy, and in addition shot into first place in the Rifle Clubs' team which defeated the Volunteers in the United Service Match. For some reason he failed m the final competition for the King's Prize; otherwise his performance was a splendid one. Sergt.-Major Nicholas established a record in the difficult Running Man Match, and Rifleman Law,' who divided second money, also eclipsed the performance of the winner of the competition last year. * rlv, eyerv marksman who went trom Marlborough got into the prizelists, and all, doubtless, gained a good deal more in experience than they won in money. The weather throughout the meeting was particularly bad, a fact which speaks volumes for the ability of the riflemen, who achieved excellent results despite rain and [^ ij*?d nist< Service matches l should be fired under conditions approximating as nearly to actual service conditions as possible, so it is jCnVll' Per, ha Ps> that th« men should have to "rough it" a little. -Battles are not stopped because of a shower of rain. The experience which local riflemen gained at Trentham will no doubt stand them in good stead during the coming season, and may possibly encourage others to j compete next year; and in this way the standard of marksmanship in the Province will be raised. Rifle shootmg is more than a sport and pastime; it is part of the country's scheme of defence. The Boers demonstrated Tiiit a P^Par^ely few men, with little military training but a good rifle and a true aim, could do against large bodies of troops. New Zealand may some day be placed on the defensive as the Boers were.. Compulsory military training will give our troops discipline and teach them how to locate or elude the enemy; pracWff W, **£ nffc -WiH enable them to kill him. For this reason, and also because rifle-shooting i s a healthy! outdoor recreation, it deserves every i encouragement. f