THE VOLUNTEERS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 843, 27 April 1888, Page 14

THE VOLUNTEERS.

The firing for the Association Challenge Cup, presented to the YVellington Rifle Association by the New Zealand Clothing Factory, open to teams of five men from any Volunteer Corps in the district, took place on Saturday at tho Polhill Gully Rifle Range. The weather was all that could be desired for good shooting, the light being nice and steady, and the shooting “ dead in.” The City Rifles were represented by two teams, the Guards, Navals, and Newtowns, one each. The D Battery-Artillery did not compete, one of their team being unavoidably absent, while the other corps—Te Aro, Wellington, and Thorndon Rifles—do but little shooting, and were as on previous occasions unrepresented. The contest for the Cup has been looked forward to with much interest by our local Volunteers, and was, to use sporting language, considered a moral for the Guards, thoughmany persons were inclined to pin their faith on the City Rifles, whose run of success lately has been most marked. The latter, as the result proved, were not disappointed, the City Rifles securing both first and second places, with a capital average of over 72 points a man. The conditions were Ranges, 200, 300, aud 500 yards; seven Bhots ; any position ; YVimbledon targets ; Kynock ammunition. At the first stage, the City Rifles (No. 2) made 141 ; Guards, 139; City Rifles (No. 1), 138. Atthe next range, City Rifles (No. 2) increased their lead by 25 points, the total being 268 ; City Rifles (No. 1) coming next with 243, the Guards giving way to the Newtown Rifles, who now occupied third position with 240. At the final stage, 500 yards, the Newtowns “burst,” the team only making 74, while the Guards considerably improved their position by making 110. As matters now stood, the contest for first place lay virtually between the two City Rifle teams. As No. 2 was 25 points ahead of Iso. 1, nothing else appeared to be in it; but as the final stage (500ydo) progressed, No. 1 commenced to gradually overhaul them, and the excitement amongst onlookers and competitors became most intense. The result of each shot was keenly watched and totted up, as it slowly but surely reduced the difference between the two teams, and it was the last shot fired that decided the result of one of the closest and most exciting finishes witnessed on our local range, No. 2 team winning by 3 points, scoring 365, as against 362. YVe congratulate the corps ou its well-earned victory, which is as popular as it was well deserved, the members of the corps being most assiduous in their practice to keep up their shooting. The Navals, who brought up the finish, were certainly placed at a disadvantage, having to compete with carbines as against rifles, which considerably lessened their chance of success. Individually some excellent records were made, notably "the fine score of Private McGregor (City Rifles), 81, of which 32, out of a possible 35, was made at 200yds. Sergeant Madely’s (City Rifles) 29 at 300yds and Corporal Jackson’s (City Rifles) 29 at 500yds, are worthy of note. The arrangements were in the hands of P.O. Taylor (Navals) ,vho carried them out without a hitch. The following is the order in which they finished, and the scores made at tho different ranges :

200 300 500 TV yds. yds. yds. 365 City Rifles (No. 2) 141 127 97 City Rifles (No. 1) 138 105 119 362 Guards ... 139 92 110 341 Newtown Rifles... 134 106 74 314 Wellington Navals 123 97 86 306