THE FEDERAL RIFLE MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10079, 14 March 1896, Page 5

THE FEDERAL RIFLE MEETING.

THIS OPENING CEREMONY. [•V IttLSQIIAPH, — rftijsa ASSOCIATION.]

Oamaru, Friday. Lovely weather prevailed for the opening of the Rifle Association Meeting, then being bright sun with a fresh north-easterly breeze. The competitors expressed themselves pleased with the general arrangements, though they are not favourably impressed with the raised mounds, as they fear that they will shake with the recoil after each shot. The total number of entries is 254, as follows: —(Jtago and Southland, 89: Wellington and Wairarapa, 39; Canterbury, 39 Hike's Bay, 17; Wang»qui and Taranaki, 16s i Queensland, 15; Auckland, New South Wales, ana Victoria, 12 eaoh; Nelson, 2; South Australia, 1. About 303 or 400 of the publio were present when the first shot was fired.

Major Somerville thanked the Oam&rn residents for their generosity, and welcomed the visitors from Australia. He regretted that it was possible this would be the last meeting the Association would hold, as he had been informed that they could not look far any further support from the Government.

Mrs. Aitken (the Mayoress) then tired the first shot, which brought up the inuer disc, just on the edge of the bull's eye, amid cheers.

The Mayor declared the range open, and then handed Major Somerville a cheque for £150.

The Hon. Hull-Jones said the Government was ulive to the importance of maintaining the defences of the colony in a high state at efficiency, and every member of the Government was similarly impressed. He regretted to hear the remarks nude by Major Somervilla that this was likely to be the last gathering, and said if it rested with him there would be a meeting next year and for many years to come. (Cheers.) He referred to the Johannesburg incident, as showing the necessity for efficient marksmen. The Government had during the past year expended £30,000 beyond the expenditure of the preceding year, and the Johannesburg affair may have had something to do with their advancing defences. Six Maxims, he said, were being imported, and so keenly did the Government feel on the defence question, that they were approaching the Imperial authorities with a view to securing officers to complete the military staff of the colony. The presence of the squadron in New Zealand waters must have been encouraging to the voluuteers, as, in the event of war, they would know that they would have outside assistance. He referred to the recent increase in the defence vote by the Imperial Government, and said, while at Home they were fully alive to meet auy emergency, so was New Zealand quite prepared to undertake her share. The Martini-Honry rifles had been adopted on the recommendation of their military adviser, and the Government could act go behind that. The Lee - Metford was no doubt a good weapon, but a long distance rifltj was not of such necessity here as in other countries. Then, again, there was the cost. They would iind that when the Government changed the weapons it would be from the Martini, to the weapon of the future. lie welcomed the visitors, and he trusted New Zealand would shortly send a team to Australia, and also to Eugland. Colonists had to hold their own in other outdoor sports, and he did not fear the result if a team were sent to compete at Bisley. The Association could feel assured that this would not be the last meeting. As to thfe defences, they had no anxiety about them, as everything had been done to put them on a proper footing. He was confident that Imperial defence would eventually come, as sure as night followed day. Three cheers for the Mayoress terminated the ceremony. Among the distinguished visitors on the range were Colonels Webb(Unnedin), Gordon (Christchurch), and Sumpter lOainaru). At half-past two a start was made with the 500 yards range of the Nelson Match, and though the wind remained steady, it was soon apparent that something was wrong, as the shooting was very erratic, and miss after miss was recorded in quick succession. The ammunition, of course, came in for its share of condemnation, but it may be that the meu failed to gaiu the proper elevation, or that the waving grass interfered with them. Be that as it may, there was no doubt that the shooting at the 500 yards was about the worst seen at an Association gathering at that range for some time. Some well-known marksmen complained of the ammunition, to which tliey attributed their low scores; but on the other hand those who got on fair scores had nothing to say against the ammunition. At the 500 yards range the chief scores were;—liule, Oamaru, and \V. Smith, Irivercargill, each one point below the possible; Johnston. Dunedin, 33; Smith, Dunedi.i ; Moody, Queensland, 31 each. Hanks, Christchurch: Hall, Wellington; Parker, Christchurch : Scott, Christchurch; Head, Auckland; Robinson, Christchurch; Smith, Dunedin; Crease, Queensland, 30 each. Donald, Wairarapa; Robertson, Tuapeka; and Morrison, Marton, failed to find the target at all, while there were several who only got one or two shots on, and those poor hits. Coming back to the 600 yards, the leading scores were;— Head, Auckland, 65. Smith, Dunedin; Rule, Oamaru, 64. Banks, Christchurch, 63. \V. Scott, Christchurch; Moody, Queensland, 62. Barker, Christchurch; Kirk, Wellington; J. Johnston, Dunedin; W. Smith, luvercargill,6l. At 600 yards much the same order prevailed as at the previous range. The chief scores at the range were:—Cameron, Oamaru, 30. Raven, Wellington; Wilson, Woodville, 27. Little, Oamaru; Sontagg, Dunedin; Trehick, Pctone; Scott, Christchurch; Wilkie, Upper HuttjMolvor, Kaikoura; White, Oamaru, each 25. The following is the prize list of the Nelson match, 200,51)0, and 600 yards ; seven shefs, not counting for the belt Private W. Scott, Reserve Corps, Christchurch, £8 87 Wilson, Woodville Rifle Club, £6 ... 80 Wilkie, Upper Hutt Rifle Club, £5 ... 85 Sergeant Moody, "A"Company,Queensland, £4 ... 85 Cameron, Oamaru Rifle Club, £4 84 Private A. Ballinger, Wellington Guards £4 ' 83 Private Raven, Wellington Guards, £3... 81 Guuner Greenshjclds, "A" Battery, Auckland, £3 ... ... 81 Private Fraser, Kaitangatu Rifles, £3... 81 W. Smith, Invercargill Rifle Club, £2 ... 81 Gunner Taylor, " A " Butery, Auckland £2 ... ... ... 80 G. Ferguson, Queensland Rifle Club, £2 79 Grace, Petoue Rifle Club, £2 79 Little, Oamaru Rifle Club, £2 78

Sergeant-major White, Oamaru Artillery ; Patterson, Hawera Rifle Club : W. Loveday, Woodville Rifle Club; Sergeant Parker, Christcluirch City Rifles, 78 each. Robinson, Upper Hint Rillc Club: Captain Mckenzie, Inyercargill Battery; Private Robilliard, Kaiapoi Rifles; Aule, Oamaru Rifle Club; Captain Smith, Dunedjn City Guards; Gunner Head, "A" Battery, Auckland; 77 each Nlmmo, Oamari) Artillery; Avery, Pahiatn Rifle Club; Spiers, Oamaru Rifle Club; Wills, Southland Rifle CM; 76 each. Cox, Woodville Jtifle Club; Lientenant Jack, Dunedin City Guards; Sergeant Krusti, Waiij(anui Rifles; 75 each. Corporal Gormen, Brisbane Volunteers; Kelling, Hawera Rifle Club; 74 each £1. Counted out; Grey, Marton Rifle Club; C. Hale, Wellington Guards; Lester, Christchurch. Last year Burns, Karori, won this match with 93, while 82 was counted out. The Government has decided to give a silver oup as an extra prize it) the Federal MatchThe nnmber of rifle club members present is 07, and members' Defence Corps ami volunteers, 157, The day being a public holiday, there was a larger attendance of the public than usual at the opening of these gatherings.

As an instance of the poor display at 600 yards the following scores by hitherto reliable men may he quoted Wakelin, U'nristohureh, 5; Churton, Wanganui, 9; Williams, Wellington, 11; Rose. Napier; 12; White, Auckland, 13; Hanley, Victoria, 17; Doughty, Auckland, 18 W. Ballinirer, Wellington, 18. Something from 30 to 83 would be a fair score for any of the'aboye. On returning to the parade ground the onp absorbing topic was the ammunition and it was universally agreed that it was absurd to goon as at present. Members of the Australian teams declared they would not fire in the Federal Match with the present ammunition, while several NewZealanders threatened to rptqrn home at once, as jijttine target was simply a Question uf luck'. This evening the representatives from the districts have held meetings at their respective hotels, aud the feeling is that it is usoless to go on with the j/resent ammunition. A deputation was appointed to wait oil .the Council with a view to remedying the evil, but the Council at present is powerless, though every effort is being made to get fresh ammunition from Wellington or Dunedin. Major Someivillo is in communication wjth the Defence Department, Wellington, asking if asupply of Victorian manufactured ammunition in stock there is available, failing which an endeavour will he made to get a supply of New Zealand ammunition of 1894 make from Dunedin, which is said to'be fairly good. This unfortunatooircumstancelms thrown the Association on the horns of a dilemrpa, and members of the. council they cannot proceed and the programme as in the book cannot at til event) be gone on with ta-tuqrraw, (To

night it is proposed that the Maflborpue)i* Kynocli match 500 yards, 10 shots, counting for the |)elt, should be takpn in the morning. In this match Ryrioch provides the ammunition himself and if the proposal is carried oqt it will be interesting to watch and compare the scores in the match with those at 500 yards to-day. In the afternoon it to proposed to take the ladies' match, '200 yards, tc,n shots, standing, kneeling, or sitting, ww oqnnted fqr the belt. The reason of this course is to enable a better quality Qi ammunition to be secured before 18 principal matches begin. [*V I*LKQRAPn.—OWN COnRKSTONDIINT.] Oamaro, Friday. The whole of our men are in comfortable quarters, and in excellent health so far. We expect to have three men in the prize list: Greenshiolds, Taylor, and Head. Head also takes a prize of £1 for his possible at 200 yards. T|ie following are the scores of the whole of our men Greenfields 81. Taylor 80, Head 77, fSteadman 07, Brown 67, Hobbs 65, Meyers 64, Henderson 63, Doughty 60, White 60, Buchanan 66, Webster 47, Leigh 00.