GUN CLUB SHOOT.

Northern Advocate, 22 August 1924, Page 3

GUN CLUB SHOOT.

FORTNIGHTLY COMPETITIONS. L. WEBB TAKES DUFF CUP. Yesterday afternoon a number of active members of the Wliangarei District Gun Club together with a, number of interested followers of the sport were present at the club's grounds in Rust Lane to either witness or participate in the proceedings. The weather, although fine and bracing, was not altogether desirable for shooting. On the background of a whit- coloured sky the light proved far too bright, aand the trick cross wind, although slight, proved detrimental to marksmanship at certain angles. The first shoot, a handicap sweepstake match of six birds, commenced at 2 o'clock, a small field of six shootists facing the trap. This match was by no means brilliantly contested. D. I*. North and L. Webb with four kills each tied for first place and decided to divide the prize money. The next match was the competition for the Duff Cup. presented by Messrs C. 11. Drysdale and Co., of Auckland, for competition amongst members of the club. Although this shoot is regarded as the foremost of the club's yearly events, the entries for competition yesterday were far below what was expected, only six facing the trap. The conditions governing this cup as set down by the donors are that the cup requires to be Avon two years in succession or three times at intervals. Last year this trophy was annexed by L. Webb off the 14 yards mark with 14 kills out of a possible In. Yesterday afternoon, in a 10-bird handicap shoot, L Webb again became the possessor of the coveted honour and now retains it. The shooting throughout the match was extremely poor I. Webb , * offort this year cannot be considered en a par with that of last year, although he was much more severely h.ind.eapped. Shooting off the 19yd mark le missed two birds in the seconc round and i.iiain two more in the la-.it round, fir- ; ishing with 11 kills to his credit. The ! runner-up, J. Wright, secured 10 clays off the lGyd mark, the rest of the shooting being of a low standard. Although the cup was not available for presentation the winner's club associates showed enthusiastically their appreciation of his popular victory, expressing their good wishes for success on future occasions. The winner said l:e only wished the cup was in his possession at the present time so that j he could honour the occasion and the donors by filling it with the firm's product. He admitted not being up to his usual shooting standard and laughingly remarked that it took an old dog for a hard road. The third and last match of the day was an open handicap sweepstake of six birds. Altogether there were ten participants, a marked improvement on j the numbers entered for the previovs events. Shooting in this match also proved poor. H. S. Mackenzie ' ran nit a. winner with the possible, the runner-up being M. Whitelaw, who missed the last bird after securing his Brst five off the first barrel. The proceedings closed at 4.30 after j juite an attractive and pleasant afterloon's sport. In excavating a trench outside som"> iew premises, the Blenheim municipal jasworks employees uncovered a Manlesinan steel pipe, similar to the gas j nain for which they were searching, j ind bored a hole in it with the object >f connecting Mr Wandcn's shop with ;he gas service. When, the hole was joTed (relates the "Express"), it was Uncovered that the pipe was an underground telephone conduit, and as a result of the mishap a lsvrge section of :he telephones in town was out of commission for some hours. The telephone conduit is exactly similar to the gas naiii, so that the men's mistake was i natural one. Considering the calmness of the weather at Nelson during the past few lays, it seems strange that sm.-li bad .veathor could have been experienced n the Strait and at Wellington (said Ae Nelson "Mail," commenting on ;he storm in which the Eipple was lost). It frequently happens that the •>ad weather comes as far as Jackson's Head and no further. It can be blow.ng am! raining on the Strait side of Tackson's Head, while a few miles in rowards the From-h Pass, the stars may ie shining and the water may be comDaratively smooth.