NEW ZEALAND RIFLE MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8830, 19 March 1892, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND RIFLE MEETING.

SEVENTH DAY.

NO TIE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

[BT TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.! Wellington, Friday. It has been discovered that there was no tie between Purnell and Doughty for the Championship, as the former had been credited with 27, instead of 26, ab the 700

yards range in the grand aggregate match, which gives him a total grand aggregate of 508. or a point behind Doughty. The error was traced this morning, and found to be the fault of the registerkeopor. In firing off the tie for the tenth place in the Championship, Sontag made 14 to Sedgwick's 9, and takes the position, though, before firing, they agreed to divide the money. The Union Co.'s Cup was decided this morning ; ten shots at 700 yds being added to the aggregate in the Nelson, Christchurch, ana Otago matches. The event is second in importance to the Championship, and Doughty was again top, with a total of 243, having made 36 in the final stage. T. .Tones, Waikari, made 43, and finished with 242, Spiers being third with 239. Only ten of the twenty qualified took part in the match, the others being. Gunner Henderson, Thames, 237 ; Gunner Howe, Wellington, 237 ; Randall, Palmorston, 231 ; Seaman Holmes, Petone, 231 ; McCarthy, Waikari, 227 ; Captain McKeich, Tuapeka, 221 ; Sergeant Son tag, Waikara, 220. The total number of rounds of the ammunition fired during the meeting was 43,239. The presentation of prizes takes place in town to-night. The amount of money taken for sighting shots is £193 4s, being an increase of £55 14s over the Napier meeting. The tie in the District Representative Match for the Martini-Henri rifle presented by the Hon. R. Seddon, between P.O. Williams, Wellington Navals ; Gunner Rait, Wellington Artillery ; and Cameron, Tenui Rifle Club—s shots, 600yds—was fired off, when Cameron won, with 21.

Rait made 19, and Williams, 17. The meeting then closed. Bandsman Corporal King, of Oamaru, won the Rifle Cup, being the highest scorer in the final stage of the championship. PRESENTATION OF PRIZES,

The presentation of prizes in connection with the Now Zealand Rifle Association meeting took place in the Garrison Hall tonight, Mrs. Ballance officiating. Major Sommerville regretted the absence of the Garrison Band to do honour to the champion, but Major Newall, the officer in command of the district, explained that the notice received was too short to assemble the man, and if there was any blame ho took it to himself.

Sorgoanb Doughty, of the Auckland Artillery, who won the championship, was accorded an enthusiastic reception in stepping up to receive the Belt, as was also Major Purnell, who acted as runnor up. The latter was also presented with a long service medal. Others who bad fired well throughout the meeting, were also accorded a hearty recognition of their abilities. At the conclusion of the presentation, three cheers were given for Mrs. Ballance, after which the Hon. J. Ballance addressed thoso present. He said it gave both Mrs. Ballance and himself great pleasure to bo present at the gathering of the marksmen of the colony, and ho was also pleased to hear that the present had been one of the most successful gatherings of the Association. In mentioning this they should not overlook the fact that much of the success was due to Major Sotnmerville, who had inaugurated the establishment of a permanont range. No doubt it was an advantage to have a permanent position, as the members would have better quarters, and not be subject to the disabilities of attending tho holding of meetings peripatetically. Ho regretted that Major Sommerville, owing to ill-health, was prevented from taking any further active part in the management of the Association. There would, ho was sure, be universal regret among all volunteers on this account. While Defence Minister he had had experience of tho energy displayed by Major Sommerville in furthering tho interests of tho volunteers, and lie hoped that tho gentleman appointed to succeed him would do his duties with tho same ability. He congratulated the Association on tho decision to federate with tho Rifle Association of Australasia, which could not bub end with advantage to New Zealand, as visits of marksmen from this to the sister colonies would show what material our marksmen were made of. He heartily congratulated tho champion on his victory, but as an old Wanganui resident, and friend of Major Purnell, ho had hoped for the victory of tho latter; yet he was now convinced that tho best man had won. Ho hoped that the young volunteers would persevere in coming to the front. Tho movement was attended with healthy exercise, and to become proficient in shooting proved a man to be of steady habits. In concluding, he referred in congratulatory terms to tho long and creditable service of Major Sommerville.

[BY telegraph—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] The local papers offer hearty congratulation? to Sergoant Doughty, the winner of the belt. The Times has the following in reference to the history of the competition for tho championship " Curiously enough the belt, which was carried off in 1861, tho Association's first year, by Auckland, has once more gone to the North, making the seventh win for the Northern district. Otago still stands highest with nine champion belt winners. Wanganui and Napier havo four on their record. Wellington has twice held the belt, and Taranaki once ; while Canterbury has never touched tho coveted honour. On three occasions there was no competition. From 1862 to 1872 the South Island held the belt, which, during the twenty years following, went twelve times to the North and seven to tho South ; and was onco not competed for. The history of the carbine belt, which has been competed for sixteen times, shows a vastly different rosulb as between the two islands, the North having won it fifteen times, and the South once. In this record Auckland figures twelve times and Napier three, being won on the latter occasions by tho samo marksman, Lieutenant Ross. On the whole, taking both the matches, at tho later dates Auckland has established its supremacy in marksmanship, and we congratulate Sergeant Doughty on the success he has so well won at his early ago-" _ THE RIFLE CHAMPION. Wo yeaborday gave some particulars respecting Sergeant Henry Doughty, who won the championship for the year. Within the last five years Auckland ha 8 held the Champion Belt twice, with VVhifr

and Parslow, and now we have it a third time with Doughty. The present champion is a steady and consistent shot. Ho has won his company's belt twice, and the Auckland District Champion Belt once. He won both company's belt and the district champion belt when he attended the Exhibition rifle meeting at Dunedin in 1890, and on that occasion he finished eighth for the championship. He does not smoke and is a total abstainer. Sergeant Doughty has had a close run for the championship with that steady veteran Purnell.