THE FEDERAL RIFLE MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10082, 18 March 1896, Page 5

THE FEDERAL RIFLE MEETING.

FOURTH DAY.

[ay telegraph,—press ASSOCIATION.]

OAMARU, Tuesday. The weather this morning was dull. Shooting began at half-past eight a.m., with a light breeze from the north-east. The entries of two or three Queensland teams, and that of the Victorian team, have been rejected for the Champion Teams Matoh, as they do not fulfil the conditions of the match. It has been decided to hold the annual meeting on Wednesday night, and the social on the following evening. The general opinion here is that the Federal Match will fall through, The visitors are evidently intent on having

matters their own way, or they will withdraw. It is nob at all likely that the

Association will submit to allowing Australians only to test the ammunition, but that some of New Zealand's best marksmen will also take part in tho best. So it is rumoured that, in tin event of Imperial manufactured

ammunition being secured, unless the test pleases them, the Australians will still adhere to their inteution to withdraw. This action of the visitors, after the liberal manner in which they have been treated by the Association, has caused a good deal of comment among the New Zealand competitors, Thursday has been fixed for the Federal match, in order to allow the Queeuslanders to return by Friday's steamer from Lyttelton. The Championship will be fired to-morrow afternoon, and the meeting, provided the weather holds fine, will finish on Friday afternoon.

hawke's bay match. Great interest centred in the shooting to-day owing to the closing of the firing in the matches counting in the grand aggregates for the belt. The Hawke s Bay match occupied the time until the luncheou adjournment, and the weather was excellent for good shooting though at times the wind was a little shifty. At the beginning there was scarcely a breath of wind, and then it came light from the left, changing shortly after to the right, and as the first range was finishing a light air came down the range. At the longer ranges the wind freshened, yet not sufficiently to interfere to any extent with the shooting, Sergeant Ross, of Victoria, who had gone back with 47 wound up with 92, and took first prize, his score being seven points ahead of that with which Head, of Auckland, won this mutch last year. To-day 82 was counted out, while last year it was 74. Rule, who was at the head of the aggregates at the close of last night's shooting, held his position, and finishing up with 8-3, increased his lead to l.'i from \V. Loveday, and the local residents were jubilant at the stubborn fight one of their men was making. There were no possibles in the Hawke's Bay match, but it must be remembered this match is a ten-shots match. At the 500 yds range Loveday, of Woodville, (tod Robinson, of Upper Hutt, wound up with 48, ami Robilliard (Kaiapoi), Chalmer (Duncdin), Ross (Victoria), McPherson (Queensland), and Aitcheson (Kaitangata) made _ 47. Rule, who got on 4li, maintains his position for the Belt, but Wilkie and White, who were second and third in the aggregate, made only 38 and 37 respectively, and gave place to VV. Loveday and Aitclieson, Todd, of Victoria, keeping his place fourth. The others, who were well up when the shooing began, made the following scores Doughty, Auckland,3!); King, Oamaru, 31; Wilmott, Queensland, 38; Scott, Christchurch, 35. Turner, of Wellington, shot into eighth place. The GOO yards range was fired in perfect weather, there being a splendid lieht, hut the wind was changeable and varying from left to right, and at times a light air came down the range. .The chief scorers were: Bradley, Queensland, 4(3; Ross, Victoria, 45; Ross, Napier, 45; Waldon, Greytown North, 45. Rule shot steadily, and held his position at the top, and increased his lead by two points. The following are tho chief prize-winners in the Hawke's Bay Match, 500 and 600 yards, 10 shots

Ross, Victoria, £8 92 Bradley, Queensland, £6 ... 89 Robilliard, Kaiapoi. £5 88 Myers, Auckland, £4 87 Avery.Pahiatua, £4... ... „ 86 Jack, Dunedin, £4 86 France, Karori, £3 86 McPherson, Queensland, £3 86 Thorpe, Wairarapa, £3 85 Then follow : Howe, Wellington; Holland, Pctone, Rule, Oamaru; Chalmers, Dunedin ; A. Ballinger, Wellington; 85—£2 eiuih. Courtney, Melbourne; McKay, Christchurch; Hicks, Sydney; Kirk, Petone; Randall, Petone; Wukelin, Christchurch : Clark, Diuiedin ; Deinster, Dunedin ; 84. McKarUne, Christchurch; Wilson, Woodville ; Brown, Auckland; Moodie, Queensland ; Burns, Karori: Robin, Napier; W. Loveday, Woodvillo; 83. McColley, Sydney; Nimnio, Oamaru ; Smith, Wairarapa ; Banks, Christchurch; Meddiugs, Christchurch ; 82—£1 each. . Counted out: Aitcheson, Kaitangata; Williams, Wellington ; White, Auckland ; McGregor, Oamaru ; Lyders, Duncdiu.

W.|N(IANOI MATCH. I On resuming after lunch the Wanganui Mutch, ten shots' at 70!) yards, was started with i light wind from the loft, and good averse shooting was being made, but when the first squad was halfway through a sudden change in the wind took place from left to right, completely upsetting calculations, and causing innumerable bursts. Several had on (rood scores until the change came about, and then woro unable to find tho target. By the time the second squad were down the wind settled down steady, and tho shooting improved. Wilson, of Woodville, winning with tho fair scoro of 43, which is the saino total as Hughes, of Wanganui, won with last year. The othor good scores will bo seen from the prize list, lhe positions in the championship, except the leading man, changed a good deal. W. Loveday, of Woodville, who was second, and fired when the wind changed, missed every shot, also Ills slghters, and completely ruined what looked like an excellent ohance of finishing well up for tho belt. Aitcheson, who was third, got on only 23. and fell away. Doughty, of Auckland, fired well, and with 37 kept bis position as third, and at the same time pulled 6 points on Rule. Todd, of Victoria, opened badly, but once he found the spot ho kept there, and winding up with a couple of bulls brought his Boore to 40, and placed him second in tho aggregates with 370, or only six behind tho loader. McGregor, ot Oamaru, and Bradley, of Queensland, with 41 and 3G respectively shot up, and are lying equal for fourth plaoe. Wilkie regained a little of the ground lost in the morning, and getting on 33, is sixth. WakeJin. of Christchurch, who fired very indifferently iu the early part of the meeting, is getting back to something like his old form, and with 39 is a tie for tenth place with Kirk, of Wellington, who fell away in tho Waugatiui Match. The othor changes aro of no great moment, as the men are well down tho list. The following is the prize list for the Wanganui match, 700 yards, 10 shots ;— Wilson, Woodville, £8 ... 43 McGregor, Oamariij £0 41 Kempsnall, Dunedin, £5 41 Volunteer Crease, Queensland, £4 ... 40 Avery, Pahiatna, £4 40 Watsou, Port Chalmers, £3 40 Volunteer A. Young, Queensland, £3 ... 40 Captain White, Auckland, £3 40 Volunteer Todd, Victoria, £2 40 Lieutenant Dodds, Port Chalmers, £2 ... 40 Sergeant Wakelin, Christchurcli, £'2 ... 39 Sloan, Melbourne, £2 _ _ ... 39 Volunteer Mackay, Christchuroh, £2 ... 38 Kiernan, Sydney; W. Ballinger, Petone, 38; Doughty, Auckland ; Chapman, Wairoa; Ingpen, Woodville; Stewart, Dunedin; Dickson, Portobello; MoFarlane, Christohurch; Feast, Featherston; Chicken, Woodville; Watkins, Dunedin, 37. Jack, Diiuedin; Bradley, Queensland; McDonald, Victoria; Robinson, Napier; Ross, Napier; Prott, Victoria, 36. lirydone, Dunedin ; Lester, Christchurcli j Harris, Christchuroh, 35— £1. Counted outMcHutcheson, Bluff; Tessmond, Sydney; Kruse, Wangauui; Barstow Carterton ; Willoughby, Petone,

OHUIBTOIIORCU MATCH. At 4.15 p.m. the men proceeded to the 690 yards range to fire the Christchurch match, which would have decided the highest 100 aggregates to fire in the Grand Aggregate Milton, but only threo or four shots had been fired by those down on the first squad when yet another change of wind took place, a fresh norwest blowing. Then a lull took place, and almost without a momont's notice a fierce south-west squall came up, and Major Somerville, seeing that the targets were not likely to stand the atraiu, telephoned to the officer in charge of the butts to take down the targets, and it was onlyjuat in time, as the wind blew with great force for a while. By this time it was nearly five o'clock, and as there would be no time to finish the match the men were dismissed and the match will he fired afresh to-morrow morning. The gale only lasted a short tiino and then lessened, but the delay was unfortunate as there will be a great rush to get the championship ott to-morrow afternoon. So far the programme for to-morrow is the Christchurch Match in the morning, followed by tho Grand Aggregate Match. Then will come the Last Try ami Nnrserv Matches, and at four p.m. the tiual stage iii the Uhampioushi].).-

THE CHAMPIONSHIP AGGREGATES. The following are the highest aggregates at the close of the day's shooting ;— Kule, Oainaru ( — jji® Volunteer Todd, Victoria Sergeant Doughty, Auckland McGregor; Oamaru Corporal Bradley, Queensland Wilkie, Upper Hutt _ ;™j* Volunteer McDonald. Victoria ;]»- Lieutenant-Commander Kirk, Petone ... •«>> Sergeant VVakelin, Christohurch Volunteer McKay, Christchurch ••• «M) Chief Petty Officer Williams, Wellington _ 306 Bombardier Hnwe, Wellington Volunteer McPherson, Queensland ... Sergeant R033, Victoria ••• Colour Sergeant Dempster, Dunedin ... Ss-t-Volunteer Punier, Wellington •"' Aitcheson, Kaltaugata •>}» Fraser, Kaitangata; Shelton, Bluff; Smith, Wairarapa, 348. Sergeant Moodie, Queensland, 347. Captain Smith, Dunedin, 34G. Volunteer Scott, Christchurch; Sergeantmajor White, Oamaru; Volunteer A. Ballinger, Wellington, 345. Spiers, Oainaru; Volunteer Hicks, Sydney ; Avery, Pahiatua, 344. Captain Simpson, Kaiapoi; Lieutenant Jack, Dunedin ; Steadmau, Whaugarei, 343. Sergeant Thorpe, Wairoa; Little, Oamaru; Captain White, Auckland: Sergeant Shanks, Gore ; Colour Selgeant Robson, Napier, 341. Kempshall, Dunedin ; \Vilsou, Woodville ; Sloane, Melbourne; Parsons, Kaikoura ; Lieutenant Dodds, Port Chalmers, 340. Lieutenant Domigan, Gore Volunteer Crease, Queensland ; Captain Gaigett, Queensland; Volunteer Banks, Christchurch ; W. Randall, Petone ; Col.-Sergt. Giant, Queensland, 339. Volunteer Manuel, Brisbane ; Volunteer Matheson, Sydney ; Gunner Taylor, Auckland ; Chapman, aij roa, 338, Atkinson, Hawera; Willmott,' Queens town ; Corp. Browne, Auckland ; King, Oamaru, 33G. W. Ballinger, Petone ; Smith, Invercargill; Corp. Lavery. Christchurch; Bmislow, Carterton; Volunteer Hamloy, Queensland. Volunteer Purnell, Wanganui ; Corporal Meddings, Christchurch, 334, Captain Grant, Waimate ; Chicken, Woodville ; Major Burns, Dunedin ; P.O. Woolett, Dunedin, 3:13. MeArdle, Pahiatua ; W. Loveday, Woodville; Sergeant Kruso, Wanganui ; Feast, Featherston; Corp. MeAlley, Sydney, 33.'. Serge. Webster, Melbourne ; Home, Woodville ; France, Karori, 331. Gunner Head, Auckland ; Bairstow, Carton; Harris, Little River, 330. No word has been received from the Admiral respecting the Imperial manufactured ammunition for the Federal Match.

[BY mKQEAPH.—OWN COKHESPOSDKNT,] Oamaru, Tuesday. Two more matches were completed to-day. The Hawko's Bay, seven shots at 500 and 600 yards, and tlie Wanganui, ten shots at 700 yards. In the former, Meyers took a prize of £4 with 87, making 43 at 500, and 44 at6oo. I send his diagrams as under :— MEYERS TARGETS. 500 YDS. (500 YDS.

The scores of our men were as follows Meyers 87, Brown 83, White 82, Head 81. Doughty 79, Buchanan 72, Greenshields 71. Steadman 70, Henderson and Leigh 68, Taylor 67, Webster and Hobbs 58, Taylor wassing*larly unfortunate at SJOyds, petting down at a time when he started with an allowance of one foot for the wind, and winding up with seven feet, making three misses in his score. This has pulled him back in the aggregate. In the Wanganui Match (700 yards), White comes in for £3 with 40, and Doughty for £2 with 37. 1 send White's diagram, as under:—

white's TARGF.T.

The Auckland scores in this match were: —White 40, Doughty 37, Steadman 32, Buchanan 32, Head 31, Taylor and Leigh 30, row 24, Webster 23, Hobbs 22, Henderson 21, Meyers 20, Greenshiclds 19. The total winnings of our men, so far, amount to £40— much below Auckland's usual average. Doughty, however, is well up for the Belt, and is shooting steadily, and stands a very good chan«e of bringing Auckland out top of the tree. Should the day be fine to-morrow, we expect to finish the whole of the Championship matches. On Thursday the Federal Match is to be fired, which will probably take all day. Friday will then complete the meeting. Our men are all in good health, but so far have had very little of what is usually called luck _in their times of shooting, so often misssing parts of .the day when the light is even and the wind steady. The aggregates so far are as follows Doughty 31i7, Steadman 343, White 341, Taylor 348, Buchanan 337, Brown 336, Head 330, Leigh 316, Meyers 310, Henderson 235, Webster 283, Hobbs 280, Greeushields 270.