THE NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCES RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1775, 14 March 1906, Page 34 (Supplement)

THE NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCES RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING.

Under the able and experienced management of Lieutenant-Colonel Collins, the New Zealand rifle championship meeting at Trentham reached a highly successful conclusion on Saturday. In the apportionment of the success of the meeting a large share must also be given to the Camp Commandant’s right-hand man, Major Hughes, of Wanganui. The meeting established a record, of entries received, these totalling 430. The large amount of extra

prize-money allotted was doubtless responsible for bringing to the front many young marksmen; for example, Colour-Sergeant MoncriefF, who finished j second in the championship, and who was leading till within the last few j shots, is only twenty-six years of age. j The meeting was* noteworthy as being } the first championship contest in which long-range rifle shooting was compulsory, and though, as Major-General Babington pointed out, other factors enter into the winning of modern battles, there is no doubt of the growing importance l of this department of j military tactics. The reduced nmvw.

per shot —3.8 out of a possible o—nidi cates the great need there still is for practice at the eight, nine and ten hundred yards distance ; which leads to the corollary that these distances must he established as soon as possible on all the chief rifle ranged throughout the colony. The rifle clubs, irom whom came half the entries, again proved their ability to compete on level term® with marksmen from the volunteer forces, the third and fourth men in the aggregates being rifle club members. As the Hon. W. HallJones pointed out, the usefulness of these bodies had been recognised by

Lord Roberts, the highest military authority of the Empire. Two commendable suggestions have resulted from the meeting. The Hon. A. Pitt indicated the desirableness of erecting permanent sheds for tflo accommodation of tno competitors; and Lieuten-ant-Colonel Collins suggested that the next championship meeting should, by the provision of additional prize-money, be made an Australasian meeting, thus attracting to our shores many Australian marksmen who would help to swell the total of visitors to the International Exhibition. Both suggestions have our warm support.