NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6829, 6 October 1883, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

AUCKLAND MEETING. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PEESB ASSOCIATION.!

"Wellington-, Friday. The sixth prize meeting of tbe New Zealand Rifle Association Trill be held at Auckland, commencing on Thursday, 2Sth Fehraary ntxt. Special free railway passes will be issued by the Government to those volunteers, members of the association, who may require to travel to and from Auckland. These passes will be issued by the officers commanding the several districts to those volunteers only w'bo actually intend to take part in tho contest, but such volunteers must send in to the Secretary of the association at Wellington not la ter than tho 16th February an intimation'of their intention to compete, as without notice 110 free passes will beissued under any circumstances. Passes, moreover, will only be issued to enable competitors to arrive at Auckland by Wednesday, the 27th February, and will be available for the return journey by the first opportunity after the completion of tho firing. The Union Company will convey members of the association intending to compete at single fares for return, tickets. The programme comprises the following matches :— Kelson Match (first), for Rifle or Carbine Belt. 300 and EiOO yards; 7 shots at each distance. There will be fifteen prizes, representing £60, mado up as under:—One each of £15!, £10, £8, £6, £5; two of £4, three of £2, and five of £J.

Canterbury Match (second). 200 yards ; 10 rounds. Twenty prizes will be offered in this match, amounting to £50, as follows :— One each of £10, £8, £6, and £4 ; six of £2, and tea of £1.

Otago Match (third), for Rifle or Carbine Belt. 200 yards ; 10 rounds. Twenty prizeß,, amounting to £50. as follows :—One each of £10, £8, £6, and £4 ; six of £2, and ten of £1.

Auckland match (fourth), for rifle belt. 200, 500, and 600 yards; seven rounds at each distance. Twenty-five prizes, representing £70, as follows :—One each of £12, £10, £8, £6, and £5; two of £4, three of £2, and fifteen of £1,

WEllington match (fifth), for carbine belt. 200, 300, and 500 yards; Beven rounds at each distance. Twenty prizes, representing £50, as follows :—One each of £10, £8, £6, and £4; fix of £2, and ten of £1.

Marlborough Match (sixth), for rifle belt. 500 and (100 yards ; ten shots at each distance. Twenty prizes, representing £50, made up as in the case of the Wellington Match.

Union Match (seventh), for carbine belt. 300 and 500 yards; ten shots at each distance. Fourteen prizes, representing £40, made; up ns follows :—One each of £10, £8, £6, Oind £4 ; two of £2, and eight of £1.

National Rifle association : The silver meon.l will be awarded to the highest aggregate scorer in the seven foregoing matches. The twenty highest aggregate scorers, who must be volunteers on the active list, in the Nelson, Canterbury, Otago, Auckland, and Marlborough matches, armed with rifles (who will be presented with suitable badges) will then fire a second stage match of ten shota at 600 yards, the scores of which will be added to the aggregate scores, and the highest scorer will be rifle champion of New Zealand for 1883-84, and entitled to hold the rifle champion belt for twelve months. In the event of there being a tie for a place among the highest twenty, it will be decided by firing shot for shot at 600 yards, a course which will also be adopted in case of there being a tie for the grand aggregate prizes. The 20 highest aggregate scorers armed with carbines, who must be volunteers en the active list in the Nelson, Canterbury, Otago, Wellington, and Union matches, will lira a second stage match of ten shots, at 500 yards, for the Carbine Championship of New Zealand for 1883-4. If either of the champion belts is won two years in succession, cr three years at intervals by the eame person, it will become the absolute property of such winner, winners under the Government prizefiring regulations being allowed to count. The following is a list of the aggregate prizes for rifles :—lst, Kiflt) Champion Belt, New Zealand .Rifle Association gold star, and £25; 2nd, New Zealand Rifle Association silver star, and £12 10s; 3rd, New Zealand Kiflo Association silrer star, and £8; 4th, £5 ; sth, £3. For Carbines : Ist, Carbine Cho.inni"n Salt, New Zealand Bifle Association gold star, and £20 ; 2nd, New Zealand Rifle -Association silver star, and £10; 3rd, New Zealand Rifle Association, silver star, and £6 ; 4th, £4. Tlliere will also be a Civilian Match, to ba fireel at 200 and 500 yards, seven shots at each distance, for which six prizes, amounting to £13, will lie offered. The Union Company's Cap will be fired for by the twenty highest scorers in the Nelson, Canterbury, Auckland, and Welllington matches; ten shots al; 500 yards. Four prizes are offered in the Rifle Company's Challenge Match, and a similar number in the Carbine Company's Challenge Match.