THE FEDERAL RIFLE MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10083, 19 March 1896, Page 5

THE FEDERAL RIFLE MEETING.

FIFTH DAY.

WAKELIN, OP CHRISTCHURCH, WINS THE BELT.

[By TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Oamaru, Wednesday, Light showers of rain fell last night, bub this morning broke bright. The sun was rather puzzling, and the wind from the rear. Ammnnitionof Victorian manufacture, which arrived from Wellington last night, was issued this morning, but some of the competitors, including one or two Australians, preferred to go on with the Auckland ammunition of May and September 1895 make. Tub last day or two but few complaints have been made against the ammunition. As nothing has been heard from tl»e Admiral respecting Imperial ammunition, the Federal Match will be tired with Auckland ammunition of 1895. 011RISTCHUUCU MATCH. Shooting began to day with the Christchurch Match, 600 yards, ten shots, which was begun last night and interrupted by a gale. The leading prizes are .—

Ritchie, Christohuroh, £8 40 Jackson, Chiistchurch, £6 ... 40 Kempshall, Duuedin, £5 46 Lester. Christchurch, £4 ... ... 45 MoParlane, Christchurch, £4 45 White, Auckland, £.1 44 Craigie, Southland, £3 43 Henderson, Thames; Sontag, Dunedin; Hutchison. Duuedin; Wakeliu, Christchurch ; Doughty, Auckland; Ballineer, Napier, 43, each £2; Ross, Napier; McGregor, Oatnaru ; Mclror, Kaikoura; Proudfoot, Duuedin; France, Karon, 43. Williams, Napier; Smith, Dunedin; Hicks, Sydney; McDonald, Viotoria; Shelton, Bluff; Moodia, Queensland; Willmott, Queenstown; Dempster, Dunedin; Howe, Wellington; Keating, Sydney; Hughes, Wanganui; Waiterford, Queensland, 42. A. Armstrong, Dunedin; Benton, Featheraton, Nimmo, Oamaru, 41; £1 each. Counted out; Sanderson. J. Armstrong, Jones, Kirk, Webster, and Hall. Rule failed to find the target with his Bighters, but scored an outer with his first counter, and, winding up with 37, still held the pride of position, but has begun to go back, and his aggregate is now only three ahead of Doughty, who shot very steadily this morning. Todd and Bradley, two Australians, with 34 and 33, lost their positions, while McGregor, of the local Rifle Club, shot up a point behind Doughty. Wilkie, with 36, also fell back, hut the positions of the others were not much changed.

ONION COMPANY'S COP. Sheltnn, of Bluff, being the highest aggregate in the Oatnsrii, Otago, and Christchurch matches, with 219, wins the Union Company's Cup, which ho holds for a year. Rule, of Oamaru, was second with 214. GRAND AfiOKEOATK MATCH. On resuming, after lunch, with the 700 yards in the Graud Aggregate Match there was a strong left wind blowing, and only fair shooting was made. Corporal Winterford, of Queensland, was the highest scorer with 31, Smith, of Invercargill, coming next with 30 The following is the prize list in the Grand Aggregate Match. 506, '300, and 700 yards, seven allots; the 100 highest aggregates in the belt matches ;— Corporal Winterford, Queensland, £8 ... 93 Simpson, Kaiapoi, £6 IK) Lieutenant Jack, Dunedin, £5 89 Armstrong, Dunedin, £3 89 Corporal Browno, Auckland, £3 88 Volunteer Manuel, Queensland, £2 ... 88 Voluuteer McParlane. Christchurch, £2 88 Bairstow, Carterton. £2 87 Volunteer Hanley, Queensland, £2 ... 87 -Major Whyte, Oamaru, £2 ... 87 Sergeant \Vakelin, Christchurch 87 King, Oamaru ; France, Karori; Turner, Wellington ; Williams, Wellington ; Dodds, Port Chalmers, 86 points each. Howe, Wellington : Parsons, Kaikoura ; Little, Oamaru ; W. Loreday, Woodville; Captain White, Auckland; Scrgt, Ross, Victoria, 85 each ; Wilkie, Upper Hutt; Ross, Napier, 84 each—£l. Counted out: Sergt. Sommerville, Wanganui. Last year, Scott, of Cliristohurch, won this match with 94, and 82 counted out. CHAMPION TEAMS MATCH. Tho following is the result of the Champion Teams Match the scores made by each man of the team in the Belt matches except Grand Aggregate Match Hon. Reserves Cliristchurch No. 1 team, £10 1916 " A" Company, Queensland, £5 1905 Oain&ru Rifle Club, No. 1 team 1869 Dunedin City Guards 1817 Wuodville Rifle Club 1813 Oamaru Rifle Club, No. 2 team 1809 "A" Battery, Auckland 1767 Dunedin Rifle Club.. 1764 Wanganui Rifles 1755 Hon. Reserves, Christchurch, No.2team 1729 Petone Rifle Club 1700 LAST TRY MATCH. At three o'clock the Last Try Match, for those who have not won more than £8 in matches already, was fired. There was some very good shooting, and three made within one point of tho possible. EHridge, Port Victoria, wou this match last year with the same score that took it to-day, while the same score, 41, was counted out. The following is the prize list of the Last Try match, 10 shots, 400 yds Hallard, Petone, £8 49 Vernon, Sydney, £S 49 Cox, Woodville, £6 49 Willis, Southland, £3 48 Williams, Napier, £3 48 Stephens, Sydney, £3 47 Burns, Karori; Captain White, Sydney; Morrison, Marton ; Robinson, Christchurch ; 'L'esnimond, Sydney, 47 : Allen, Port Chalmers ; Sergeant Clark, Dunedin; Stewart, Dunedin ; lngpen, Woodville, 46—each £2; Hale, Wellington; Craigie, Southland, 16; Stoneham, Dunedin; Leslie, Oamaru; Depelehet, Napier; Manson, Port Victoria; Seaman Henderson, Thames; A, Dickson, Portobello; Corporal Powell, Nelson; Crease, Queensland; W. Jones, Dunedin— 45. Hendry, Taieri: Wardle, Lyttleton; Brydon, Dunedin; Ritchie, Christchurch ; Seymour, Woodville; McHutchison, Bluff; J. Johnston, Southland; Moore, Petone; Gray, Marton, 44—£1 each. THE CHAMPION BELT. At 4.30 p.m. the highest fifty aggregates after the completion of the Grand Aggregate were paraded to (ire the final stage of ten shots at 700 yards, the score at which, added to the previous aggregate, would decide the champion shot of the colony for 1896. The wind was steady from the left with good light. As there were scarcely tun points between the eight highest aggregates—Wakelin and Rule, 490; McGregor, 488; Kirk, 484; Wilkie, 483; Howe and Todd, 482; Doughty, 481 — an exoiting finish was promised, and so it proved. A few minutes to five o'clock tho men proceeded to the range, and were not long in getting into position, two firing at each of the 20 targets. There was a fair sprinkling of the public present. Most of the shooting men not engaged crowded along the firing points, but the chief interest was centred on 24 target, on which Wakelinand McGregor were firing; and 22 target, on which was Rule, who had as his companion Captain White, of Auckland. Wakelin scored 4 and 3 with his siqhters, which ho discarded, but both Rule and McGregor brought up a bull and then the magpie disc, and decided to accept them. Kirk refused his sifters of a magpie mid ail outer, as did Walker, an outer and a ricochet, but Howe accepted 5 and 3. Very little notice was taken 6f the other competitors. When the business shots had gone Rule, with 12, was leading Wakelin by oue point, while McGregor had got on 13, and shot up level with Wakelin, and the local men were jubilant. The interest was increasing every moment, and with five shots fired Wakelin had recovered his lost ground, and was again in the lead with 510, Rule and McGregor 509. With their sixth and seventh shots each of the three leading men brought up the bulls eye diso, and the position remained unaltered, Wakelin being 520, and Rule and McGregor 519 each. With his eighth shot Wakelin got outside of the magpie ring, while Rule registered an inner, and McGregor raised tho hopes of his friends by scoring a bull. This brought him on top with 524, Rule being 523, and Wakelin 522. All this time, Kirk, Howe, and Wilkie had been deserted, ami a glance at their scores showed that Howe, with 32, had fired into fourth place, while Wilkie, who had a miss, was fifth with 509, and Kirk sixth, MS. With their ninth shot, McGregor and Wakelin each got a bull, and Rule a magpie, the scores being then: McGregor 529, Wakelin 527, Rule 520, with a shot each to go. The excitement over the leading trip was at fever heat, especially as if McGregor hit the target Wakelin would have to make an inner to tie and a bull to beat him, and Rule a bull to tie. As the leader despatched his last shot all eyes were strained on the target, but the delay in the disc coming up gave the spectators a pretty near idea that McGregor had lost all chance of tho belt by getting off the target, and his range total being 41, left his grand aggregate tit 529, Wakolin was the next to finish, and only required to hit the target to tie McGregor's total. Ho gave the public a little surprise, and by bringing up a magpie finished with 40 and a grand aggregate of 530. Rule had yet to fire, and as an inner would put him on even terms with the Christchurch crack, it was thought to be well within him to keep the belt iii

' the district. However, it was not to be, as he wound up with a magpie, or a po"' c behind Wakelin, and even with McGregor; and this left Wakelin, who fires from his bafek, champion rifleman of Mew ZealandThough there is little doubt that but for the unfortunate miss with his last shot McGregor would have been hailed as champion. Wakelin was warmly congratulated and carried shoulder high from the range. Howe ana Kirk finished up with a bull and a magpie and two bulls respectively, and finished fourth and fifth. , Sergeant VVakelin is known throughout the colony as a very consistent shot, and his win was an extremely popular oue. Both Rule and McGregor come in for hearty congratulations on their excellent shooting, especially the former, who has stood well the strain of being in the lead for such a time. The following is the result of the Champion Match, 10 shots, 700 yards (added to previous aggregates)

Sergeant Wakelin, Hon. Reserve Corps, | Christchurch, Champion Rifle Belt, Gold Medal given by Defence Minister, and £30,429542455525340 .... ... 530 R. L. Rule, Oamaru Rifle Club, Silver Star anti £30, 490—5344355433—39 ... 529 J. McGregor, silver star and £15, 488— 5355355550—#1 . ... 529 Bombardier Howe, Wellington Artillery, silver star and £10,432—5353245553—40 522 Lieut.-Coinmandor Kirk, Petone Navals, silver star and £8, 454234543235536 520 Volunteer McDonald, Victoria, 477—37... 514 Xoreeant Ross, Victoria, 476—36 512 F. Wilkie, Upper Hutt, 483-28 511 Volunteer Todd, Victoria, 482—29 ... 511 C.P.O. Williams, Wellington, 478-33 ... 511 Lieut. McPherson, Sydney, 475 36 ... 511 Corporal Simpson, Kaiapoi, 473— ... 511 Lieut. Dodds, Port Chalmers, —44 ... 510 Sergt. Doughty, Auckland, 481—28 ... 509 Lieut. Jack, Dunodin, 473— 507 Corporal Bradley, Queensland, 473—31... 501 Corporal Moodie, Queensland, 469—35 ... 501 Volunteer Turner, Wellington, 470—32... 502 Col. Sergt Dempster, Dunedin, 475-26 501 Corporal Brown, Auckland, 455—43 ... 498 Captain Smith, Dnuedin, 468—29 497 Vol. McFarlane, Christohurch, 460—37... 497 W. Ballinger, Petone, 458—39 497 Sergt.-Major Whyte, Oamaru, 471—25 ... 496 Shelton, Bluff, 466—30 496 Parsons, Kaikoura, —37 496 Steadman, Whaiigarei, 460—35 495 Vol. Matheson, Sydney, 456—39 495 Wilson, Woodville, 457—38 495 Volunteer Ballinger, Wellington, 456—38 494 France, Karori, 469—33 492 Volunteer Hicks, Sydney, 460—32 ... 492 Chapman, Wairoa, 460—32 492 Smith, Invoroargill, 456-30 492 Smith, Wairarapa, 461—31 492 Spiers, Oamaru, 468 -23 • 491 Volunteer Hamlcy, Queensland, 459—31 490 Captain White, Auckland, 470—19 ... 459 Vol. Aitclieson, Kaitangata, 469—20 ... 489 Corp. Wiuterfoni. Queensland, 461—28 48!) ,T. Armstrong, Dunedin, 458 —31 489 Vol, McKay, Christchurch, 457—32 ... 489 King, Oamaru, 457—31 4.88 Vol. Manuel, Queensland, 456—30 ... 486 Vol. Fraser, Kaitangata, 459-27 ... 486 Little, Oamaru, 461—24 485 Lieutenant Ross, Napier, 456—29 ...485 Sergeant Thorpe, Wairoa, 456—29 ... 485 Kempahall, Dunedin, 462—20 4X2 Barstow, Carterton, 456—26 482 The following is Champion Wakelin's target BBwmwnm

Rule and McGregor having tied for second place fired oil five shots at 700 yards with the following resultßule. 45243: Total 18. McGregor, 2542,1: Total 16. Rule, therefore, takes second place. Wilkie, Williams, McPberson, Todd, and Simson having tied will fire off in the morning for the Bth, 9th, and 10th prizes of £5 each. Lieutenant Dodds, of Port Chalmers, being the highest scorer in the final stage with 44, wins tho Rifle Challenge Cup, which he holds for one year. FEDERAL MATCH, The following team has beon chosen to represent Now Zealand in the Federal Match, which will he rod to-inorrow : — Sergeant Wakoliu, (Jhristchnroh; Bomb. Howe, Wellington; Lieut.-Commander Kirk, Wellington; -C.P.O. Williams, Wellington; Corporal Simson, Kaiapoi; Sergeant Dodds, Port Chalmers; Lieutenant Jack, Dunedin ; Sergeant Doughty, Auckland; Lieutenant Ross, Napier ; and Volunteer A. Ballinger. The first six aro the highest volunteer aggregates, while tho remaining four were chosen by the Council. Captain White of Auckland is the first emergency. As tho New South Wales team have decided to take part in the Federal Match, there is no doubt as to its comintr off. ANNUAL MEETING OK THE ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting of the Association was held to night. The following were appointed Council representatives :— Proudfoot, Dunediu; Donald, Wairarapa; Williams, Napier; Harmau, North Canterbury; Atkinson, Taranaki; Smith. Southland ; W. Ballinger, Wellington ; Whitehead, South Canterbury; Hughes, Wftiiganui; Allport, Nelson; Creagh.Oamaru; White, Auckland; Harding, Marlborough. It was moved that the next meeting be held at Auckland. An amendment was moved that it bo held at Trentham. Captain White, of Auckland, said he could not give an absolute guarantee, but thought ho could safely promise a good level range at the North Shore near the racecourse, with Rangiroto for a background. The racecourse buildings would be available uud the Ferrv Company would carry competitors free. They could billet them at the notels, and also raise £100. It was resolved to hold the match at Auckland conditionally on getting a good range in good order, and 100 cash, Harmau, of Christchurch, raised the question of Government assistance. Mr. Seddon, in September, definitely stated that no assistance would be given after this year. MajorSomerville said the Premier had obviously changed his mind. The lion. Hall-Jones, representing the Government at the meeting, emphatically stated that assistance would be forthcoming. Speaking of the Military Conference recommendation, he said they were enemies of the Association and condemned it without hearing. So far from injuring volunteering the Association was beneficial to it, while the Association had the imprimatur of Lord Wolsoley, Lord Roberts, and tho highest military authorities, whose approval was of more value and weight than the Military Conference of New Zealand. He thought the time was near at hand when New Zealand riflemen would be fully recognised by the Government, The 1897 meeting was fixed for the third week in February. It was resolved to reduce the time limit by one minute, and that in future all 200 yards ranges bo fired in the sitting find kneeling position. [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] Oamaro, Wednesday. To-day was another good day for shooting, and soino splendid scores were put up; The Auckland men, however, were out of it. Doughty, whom we hoped to see well up, was unfortunato in the final 10 shots at 700 yards, and is not even in the first 10. Ho finished with 500, and it is a rathor remarkable fact that he made exactly the same score for the championship of 1892, when he won the belt, and again in 1895, both meetings being held at Trentham. Again, his score this year for the Union Company's Cup is the same as his score in 1892. In the Cliristchurch Match, fired this morning, tho Auckland men's scores were White 44, Doughty 43, Henderson 43, Head 40, Movers 40, Buchanan 38, Steadman 35, Taylor 35, Hobbs 32, Browne 31. Webster and Greenshiclds left by to-day's train, and will be home on Saturday. In the Grand Aggregate Match tho scores were Browne 88, White 85, Steadman 82, Head 81, Taylor 80, Buohanan 73, Doughty 71. In the last try the scores were Henderson 43, Meyers 38, Hobbs 36. The "A" Battery enter a team for the Companies' Teams Match to be fired on Friday, whioh will consist of Doughty, Browne, Taylor, Buchanan and Head. Our men purpose leaving hereon Saturday, and should be in Auckland on Wednesday next. Captain Robertson; who has been assisting Captain Lomax as range officer, has given universal satisfaction for the fair and impartial manner in whioh he has carried out hts duties. Ho loaves for Dunedin to-morrow morning, and returns in time to go on with the men on Saturday.