OUR RIFLE "REPS."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8482, 5 February 1891, Page 6

OUR RIFLE " REPS."

[by one of them.] Our shooting representatives returned on Sunday by the 8.8. Takapuna, having had au exceedingly enjoyable trip. We left Auckland on Thursday, 15th January, and had a somewhat rough passage down to Napier per s.s. .Wairarapa. During the finer weather the younger reps, amused themselves with deck quoits, Eales and Sloane (of Victoria) proving themselves adepts at the game. Our officers formed " nap" parties, and seemed to enjoy themselves until it began to blow, when the cards failed to charm them, and they began to think of what they had for dinner. Arrived at Port Ahuriri we wore met by some of the shooting fraternity, and taken charge of. Having got settled down in our various hotels, wo proceeded to do the lions of Napier, and all our men who had not already seen the place were delighted with its beauty, liveliness, and general freshness. Tho botanical gardens, cemetery, etc., are very well kept, and are a striking contrast to the Auckland Domain and Sy-raonds-street Cemetery. On Sunday we attended the Cathedral, where wo heard an eloquent discourse, and a nice service by a well-trained surpliced choir. On Monday we got out to Taradale, where our advance agent, Parslow, had arranged for us to stay during the shooting. Wo were well treated by the good folks of Taradale, and had to thank Mr. Drumtuond for the use of the local rifle range for a practice on Monday afternoon. ' On Tuesday we settled fairly down to business, and most of our conversation turned on sights, verniers, " lines," whites," straight bars, "cants," etc. The first day we tried the caterer's luncheon tent, but one trial was quite sufficient, and for the rest of the meeting we brought our own lunch in the drag, specially prepared by host Ouligan and his good-natured better-half. Besides this, each day a prize-winner " shouted" a basket of fruit. I will not say much about the shooting, except, that it was remarkably good, and that a fair score was no use but that a really good one was required to got a prize. We were dubbed "The Auckland hummers," and Captain Somerville alluded to the " A" Battery crackshots as " the sharks." Doughty's 99 in the teams match, Weir's 97, and McCallum's 94 in the Wellington Match were very creditable scores, and the two youngermen promise to make splendid shots. Weir of course is an old rep., well-known both in New Zealand and Australia. Parslow, Buchanan, Taylor, White, Henderson, and Webster are all old reps., and too wellknown to need any comment. Osborne is an old shot who shoots well locally, but seemed to have no luck at Napier. Kelly is a young shot, and this is his first big meeting, although he ha 3 been shooting on and oIF in Auckland for six years. Ho shoots with the V., and made some very good scores. Greenshields, Craig, Spinley, and Shepherd are all " colts," and next year should have improved sufficiently to win some prizes. McCarthy, Hay, Cooper, Skinner, Tobin, Haultain, and Soall have all been good shots in past years, but seemed to make little or no headway this meeting. Wo had a splendid trip home across country, and round the West Coast. Leaving Napier at three p.m. on Tuesday, we arrived at Woodville the same night at half-past nine, where we put up at the Masonic and Murphy's. In the morning we had some trouble to find room on the coaches, having to load and stow our own baggage, and getting nothing but bad language from the uncivil drivers. McCallum was left with his portmanteau in the middle of the road, and had to walk through the Gorge, missing the train at Palmerston in consequence. The drivo through tho Manawatu Gorge was splendid, but the new railway line (which is now complete) looks rather dickey in places, as if the vibration from tho trains would cause landslips. Catching the midday train at Palmerston we arrived at Wanganui in the afternoon, putting up at Foster's Steam Packet Hotel. In the evening the reception of Kruse, the champion, took place, after winch we adjourned for a smoke concert given by the Fire Brigade, when tho usual toasts, songs, etc., were gone through. On Friday morning Lieutenant Foster took us out to tho rifle range, which is pleasantly situated about a mile from town, and is about the best practico range in the colony. We had some good practice, Henderson and Weir making the possible at 500 and 600 yards. At three o'clock wo started for New Plymouth, picking up Haultain, Cooper, and Eales (who had run down to Wellington) at Aramoho junction. Arriving at .New Plymouth Friday night, we had all Saturday morning to do New Plymouth, Where we met a number of old friends. Sailing at one p.m in the smart packet Takapuna, we had a good run up to Onehunga, where Captain Geddes was waiting with four greys for his champion team. The rest of us came on to Auckland in cabs, and found it wet and miserable, as we loft it on the 15th ; and so ended a most enjoyable and not unprofitable holiday trip. •