N.Z. RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XX, Issue 56, 8 March 1886, Page 4

N.Z. RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

(By Telegraph. ) Wanganui, Saturday. Beautifnl weather was experienced yesterday, and. great interest was taken in the finish of the Otago match, the first two ranges of which had been fired on Friday night. As ifc was the last counting for the Belts, and the final selection of twenty to fire for the Championship could be made immediately the Otago match was completed, the New. Plymouth match, the only one in \yhich competitors had to stand firing, being finished before lunch, an adjournment was made until 2.30, at which hour it had been decided to fire the final stage for the Carbine Championship. At the hour appointed, there oould not have been less than 700 or 800 of the Wanganui citizens present, of whom the greater number were ladies. This championship did not excite much interest, as it was considered a certainty to Lieut. Ross of Napierj who had a strong lead of 19 points from Corporal M'Kenzie of Wellington. The result fully bore out public opinion, as Ross was declared champion with 485 points, Webster of Auckland, who pulled twelve j ooints on Ross, being second with 475, and Kuchen of Wellington, third with 468. The following are the aggregates of the wenty who firedfor the Carbine Champienship : — CARBINE CHAMPION. Lieut. Ross, Napier . . . . 485 Gunner Webster, Auckland . . 475 Sergt. Kuchen, Wellington . . 468 P.O Lloyd, Wanganui.. .. 467 Corpl. Parslow, Auckland .. 467 Gunner Bunting, Napier . . 463 j Corpl. M'Kenzie, Wellington.. 463 Sergt. Perry, Wangarui .. 462 j P. O. Turner, Wanganoi . . 460 Bugler Gill, Thames . . . . 458 Gunner Driver, Port Chalmers 453 Sergt. Webb, Wellington .. 451 Sergt. Grey, Well?V..on . . 451 Seaman Floyd, Thames . . 451 Seaman Weir, Thames . . 450 - Gunner Moore, Queenstown . . 447 Gunner Williams, Napier . . 445 P.O. Stitt, Wanganui . . . . 444 P.O. John, Thames .. ..440 Gunner Barnes, Port Chalmers 439 Lieut. Ross being the highest aggregate takes the Carbine Belt, N.Z.R.A. Gold Star, and £40. Gunner Webster, N.Z.R.A. Saver Star and £20. Sergt. Kuchen, N.Z.R.A. Silver Star and £10. P.O. Lloyd, £7 10s. Corporal Parslow, £2 10s. Lieut. Ross was heartily congratulated on his second winning of the belt, having won it at Auckland in 1884. Parslow and Lloyd having tied for fourth place had to fire off thr.e shots, when the latter scored 10 to Pdrslow's 9 and took the position. Kuchen ahd Floyd with 39 each being the highest scorers in the final stages had to fire off for the Carbine Cup, Floyd scoring 12 to Kuchen's 11. After a few minutes delay the Rifle aggregates were paraded, and in this contest great interest was taken. Capt. Acheson, of Eiverton, had a lead of nine points, and it was thought, as he had fired mosfc steadily throughout the meeting, he would be declared the winner, though there were many who held the opinion that Lee, Cooper, Foster, and Remington, who were next in order named, had a good outside show, and with a little luck one of them ought to gain the coveted prize. Acheson started well, but with his fourth got off the target, and was registered a miss. His remaining shots he managed to keep on the target, but they were poor hits. Lee and Cooper also fell away, but on the other hand Remington and Foster were shooting well, and when the former had finished it was seen thafc he had tied Acheson with 443, having pulled up eleven points in the ten shots. Great enthusiasm was expressed when the totals were declared, and the excitement was intense when Foster was firing his last shot, as he only wanted a bullseye to be with the leaders. As he fired the target was examined with great interest, but he only scored a centre, thus taking third place with 442. Cooper and Downie tied for fourth place with 434. As Remington and Acheson laid down to fire off three shot3 for the championship the excitement was such that with difficulty the crowd could be kept outside the ropes. Remington opened with a bullseye, which elicited applause from his many admirers. Acheson did not score with his first shot, which missed to the right. Remington missed with his second shot and A__teson scored a centre. Remington 5, Acheson 4, and one shot each to go. Remington, who was firing very coolly, registered a magpie (3). making his total 8. Acheson, who appeared rather nervous, had still to fire, and a centre would put him equal to Remington, while a bullseye would win him the belt. Immediately he fired the black disc was hoisted from the butts, showing the hit to be an outer, Remington thus winning on the tie by 2 points. Remington was immediately rushed by the crowd, who carried him triumphantly to the eanteen, where he received many congratulations, and his health was drunk in bumpers. Remington being a local man his win was very popular, and crowds flocked to his tent to congratulate him. Foster, who finished third, also being & local man came in for hearty congratulations. Downie beat, Cooper in firing off for fourth place by 9to 4. Captain Acheson admits he was nervous when firing the final stage. The following is the result of the Rifle Championship : — RIFLE CHAMPION. Sergt. Remington, Wanganui 443 Capt. Acheson, Riverton . . 443 Lieut. Foster, Wanganui . . 442 Private Downie, Thames . . 434 Lieut. Cooper, Auckland . . 434 Sergt. Lee, Auckland . . . . 430 Private Taylor, Auckland . . 424 Capt. Lucas, Thames . . . . 442 Private Chuck, Blenheim . . 421 Private Giblin, Stoke (Nelson; 421 Sergt. Hay, Auckland . . . . 418 Lieut. Griffiths, Blenheim . . 418 Private Maddock, Blenheim . . 417 Private Mann, Dunedin . . 416 Private Greer, Wellington . . 412 Private M'Meckan, Otago . . 410 Private Mathers, Masterton . . 410 Sergt. Mooseman, Wanganui. . 410 Private Sowell, Taranaki . . 409 Corpl. Frederick, Dunedin . . 402 Sergt. Remington being the highest aggregate, takes the Rifle Belt, N.Z.R.A. Goli Star, and £40. Captain Acheson, N.Z.R.A. Silver Star, and £20. Lieut. Foster, N.Z.R.A. Silver Star, and £10. Private Downie, £7 10s. Lieut. Cooper, £2 10s. Private Downie being top scorer in the final stage, wins the Rifle Challenge Cap. The following are the highest aggregates in matches Nos. 1, 6, and 9, who fire for the Union Company's Cup on Monday mornGunner Webster, Auckland . . 244 Lieut. Ross, Napier . . . . 243 Lieut. Smith, Wanganui .„ 239 Seaman Weir, Thames . . 233 P. O. Lloyd, Wanganui " " 235 Sergt Kuohen, Wellington ".". 232 Capt. Somerville, Wanganui.. 232 Gunner Moore, Queensland . . 231 Lieut. Hoskins, Taranaki . . 230 Private Sterling, Auckland . . 229 Gunner Driver, Port Chalmers^ 228 Seaman Hennessy, Thames . t 227 Lieut. Griffiths, Blenheim . . 226 Sergt. Chuck, Blenheim „ 225 Sergt. Gray, Wellington . . 225 Sergt. Perry, Wanganui . . 225 Sergt. Remington, Wanganui . . 225 Buckley, of Auckland, Love, Wanganui, Foster, Wanganui, and Lee, Auckland, each 224, fire off for 19th and 20th places. A Civilian match was fired yesterday afternoon, Mr Gross of Wanganui, taking first prize, £4, and Mr F. Williams, being second, £3. The, Staff match was won by Major Neill, Mr Wilkinson being second, and Lieut. Collins third. About twenty teams have entered for the Teams Match, which will be fired on Monday morning.