NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION PRIZE-FIRING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5398, 6 March 1879, Page 2

NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION PRIZE-FIRING.

[PEE "-HERALD " SPECIAL WIRE.] Nelson*, Rifle Camp, Wednesday.. [FROM OtTR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] The second and third matches were completed this morning before breakfast. Some very fine shooting was made in each, especially amongst the carbines. The North again shewed np prominently in the priz=liat. In the second match, Read, Thames, takes first prize, with 37 points; Fentoo, third, 3G; McLeod, seventh, 35 ; and Skinner, eighth, 35 ; Kelly tied with 35, but counted out. The other Auckland and Thames men were scattered about between 35 and 33. Cooper endeavoured to retrieve yesterday's misfortune, but did not fire on the S-inch bulls-eye until the last four shots, out of which he scored three bulHeyes and a centre, finishing - with 33. VVaiuku is still out in the cold. In the carbines. Thomas heads the list with 37, Gordon, another Thames Naval, also securing a prize, and little Moore bringing up the rear of the prize list with 33. After breakfast, the second match for the belt, and the fifth on the programme, was commenced. Paynter completely chilled all by the way he froze on to the bulls-eye at 400 yards, where he scored the possible, after a bulls-eye_ for sighting shot. Skinner also kuocked the 2-feet square about considerably, scoring six bulls-eyes and a centre at the first range. Keller (Thames) did likewise. Cooper, shooting against luck, dropped a short cartridge in front of the target near the beginning of the match, and failed to pick up the lost points. Notwithstanding, he perseveringly stuck to the target throughout the remainder of the match. Six centres and an outer at 500 yards is hard lines for anyone. Leigh shot well at 400 yards, but notwithstanding congratulatory telegram, failed to stick to it at 500 yards, where he scored only 12, bringing up with a total of 51. Poor Kelly again died in a hole at 600 yards, where ten only were credited to him, and his lofty score of 46 and 7 shots to go culminated at the very mediocre total of 56 Skinner made 66, steady slogging. Keller, Thames, who was leading with 52 at the two first ranges, missed a shot, but comes in with 69. Old McLeod, a veteran representative of the mining community, beats his first match score by one, his total being 39. Mat Cameron, of No. 3 Company, reached 600 yards with 47 points, and died at SS. Big Davy Reid, of the Thames Scottish, also came to grief after two good scores—in fact, in a general way, we Northerners are nowhere at 600 yards. The prizelist is not yet out, but from what I can gather, Kelly and Skinner are the only likely men to shine in it, and Skinner's prize is rather doubtful, as the shooting was very tropical amongst the first dozen or so. Marshall, of the South, is at the top with 73; Paynter and another, 71 each. A proteat against Marshall for firing sighting shots after breaking off at dinner, is now being considered, but as this was expressly allowed by the Major in Command, he is not likely to be prejudiced, though it is clearly against the rules. In the sixth match, the carbine men made some very good scores, the Thames man, Armstrong, making 6S, and others from that district being well up. Bowden, Auckland, still keeps up his pecker, and is shooting well, and stands a good show with 67 for fourth prize in the aggregate.. For the rifle belt, the leading man, I believe, is Paynter, with 106, but he is said to be either tied or beaten by another Southerner. For Auckland, Skinner shews up well with 101; Cooper next, with 94 ; Leiuh, 84; Allen, 82; Fairs, 76; Kelly, 91; McCarthy, 77. The others I have not ascertained. [press association.] The firing commenced at 7 thia morning. The weather was splendid. Matches 2 and 3 are finished. The prize-men are, for the former:—(l) Reid (Thames), 37 ; (2) Burns (Nelson), 3G ; (3) Fenton (Thames), 36 ; (4) Sharland (Nelson), 35; (5) Kitchen (Nelson), 35 ; (6) McLcod (Thames), 35; (7) Skinner (Auckland), 35 ; (S) W. BalliDger (Wellington), 35; (9) Turner (Blenheim), 35. For the latter match (y Thomas (Thames), 37 ; (2) Burr (Napier), 37; (3) Somerville (Wanganui), 34; (4) Coleman (Waikato), 34; (5) Hotuie (Wanganui), 33; (6) Gordon (Thames),. 33 ; (7) Banister (Wellington), 33 ; (8) Jack (Dunedin), 33. In Match No. 5, at the 400 yards range, Paynter and Ring have just each scored a full mark of 2S. In the second mitch, besides the winners, the scores were Turner (Blenheim), 35 ; Paynter (Stoke), 35; Kelly, 35 ; Smith, 35 ; Mcintosh, 34; Mills, 34; Waddel, 34; Purnell, 34; Keening, 35 ; King, 34; Acheson, 34 ; Griffiths, MeArtney, Miller, Coventry, Marshall, Lee, Rogers, Grossman, Come, Adams, Clark, Davis, Linstrom, Cooper, Sergts. Ballinger, Best, and Parker, each 33; Kennedy, Weir, Hutchison, Wilcocks, Capt. Small, Morris, Cuff, McKenzie, Haycock, Wilson, Monk, Skey, Richardson, Cameron, J. Douglas, Bradley, and Waugh, each 32; Martin, Keal, • Freeth, °D. Alien, Philpotts, Gorran, F. Sutton, Anderson, Douse, Beach, Captain Thompson, Kelly, and Mcintosh, each 31 ; Lancaster, A. Ballinger, James Marshall, aud Mair, 30; Saunders, Jenkins, Crasswell, Soper, Hunter, Wood, Martell, Buckley, James Daige, Hancock, B. Sutton, Cording, and R. Harding, 29 ; Miller, Stagg, Thornburn, Adolphe, Morrison, and Perettz, 2S; Marcathie, Sutton, and Reeves, 27 ; Gray, 26; Hunter, Fairs, Dixon, Helby, and Parson, 25 each. In the third match (carbines), besides winners, Armstrong, Judge, Stone, Harris, Johnston, Banister, and Waugh, 33 each; Woolley, 32; Mcintosh, Milne, Gully, Price, Hull, Hunter, Leech, aud Lloyd, 31 ; Mapp, Bowden, Houston, Hood, Dixon, and Ross, 30; Crapp, 29 ; Walker, Rowland, Wiggott, Johns, Laird, and Nicholson, 2S ; H. Winsett, and Kerncode, 27 ; Haucock, 26 ; C. Birch, and Pell, 25; Silcock, 24. Fifth match (rifles), 400 yds., 500 yds., and 600yrds. The top scores are: Marshall, Christchurch, 72 ; Coventry, Dunedin, 71 ; faynter, Stoke, 71 ; Purnell, Wanganui, 70 ; W. Ballinger, Wellington, 70; Judge, Christchurch, 70; Kelly, Thames, 70; Hutchinson, Ofcago, 69; South, Dunedin, OS ; Coleman, 6S ; Buckley, Christchurch, 67 ; Kennedy, Nelson, 67 ; A. Ballinger, 67; Harding, Otago, 67; Philpotts, 07; Grossman, Nelson, 67. In tbe sixth match (carbines), 300 yds., 400 yds., and 500 yds.: Mapp, Christchurch, 73; Judge, Christchurch, 70; Coleman, Waikato, 6S ; Armstrong, 6S ; Laird, 67 ; Bowden, 67 ; Mcintosh, 65 ; Gordon, 65 ; Crapp, 65 ; Houston, 64.