PRELIMINARY COMPETITIVE FIRING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1306, 22 January 1868, Page 2

PRELIMINARY COMPETITIVE FIRING.

The preliminary competitive firing for the Government prizes, took place yesterday, at,the rifle range, Point Chevalier. During tile day a high wind prevailed from the S.S.W., almost precluding anything like accurate shooting. The number of competitors was nearly double that of last year, but we regret to say that the result of yesterday's firing leaves Auckland without a representative in the forthcoming competitive firing for the Government prizes, out of a total of nearly sixty competitors, not one has succeeded in scoring 50 points, the number necessary to qualify a member to compete for the prizes. The ranges iverc 400, 500, and 600 yards, seven shots at each, and the highest scores made were the following :—Lieut. Thompson, A.R.Y., 42; J. C. Soall, 38; Franklin, A.N.V., 37 ; J. W. Duff, 35 ; It. E. Garland, No. 6 Company, 33 ; Robinson, jSTo. 1 Company, 34; Constable, A.N.V., 32; Messrs. A.Morrow and Hazard scored 16 and 40 respectively. There were several others who did not make a single point out of the whole 21 rounds. We hear tLat the wind was so high during the firing as to render good shooting an utter impossibility ; and there certainly must have been some great drawback to account for such poor scoring. Wherever the fault lies, it does appear to us that the men have not had a fair chance in being compelled to fire under such very unfavourable circumstances. Pressure on our space compels us to hold over the scors until our next.