NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 3677, 1 March 1899, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

WANGANUI MEETING. PRESS ASSOCIATION. ‘Wanganui, Tuesday. The New Zealand Rifle Association is certainly enjoying the very best of weather for the annual gathering. At the beginning of shooting this morning in the Auckland match —which does not count for the belt—there was scarcely a breath of wind. The score sheets showed that the totals were an impro\emcnt on the winning score of forty-six at Oamaru last year. The prize list gives an indication as to the merit of the shooting, which was as follows ; Auckland Match. J. Turner, Wellington, £6 Shanks, Gore, £5 ... ••• .McMillan, Otago, £4 j' McFarlane, Christchurch, £2 -.-40 Harding, Blenheim, £2 4fa. Armstrong, Dunedin, £2 ... ••• 4o* Harris, Christchurch, £2 ... ... 4* The following took £1 each — son, Auckland,4s ; Hoffeins, Wairarapaw 44; Robinson, Christchurch, 44; Kingri Oamaru, 44; McUacldan, Wairarapari 44; Buchanan, 44; Rutherford, N:u--tangata, 44; W. Ballinger, Wellington,! 44; Williams, Wellington, 44; W. Strachan, Marton, 44; Bidwoll, Wairarapa, 44 ; Steadman, Whangarei, 44 ; Hastie, Oamaru, 44; Purnell, Wanganui, 43 ; Kirk, Petone, 43; Lewers, Petone, 43: Irvine, AVaimea, 43; Winslade, Wa-

ngamii, 43; Keenan, Port Chalmers, -13; Wills, Invercargill, 43; Wakeling, Wanganui, 43; Howe, Wellington, 43; Fraser' Kaibangata, 43; C. Hollard, Potone, 43; Whitley, Kaiapoi, 43; Scott, Wanganui, 43. Counted out—Dodds, Port Chalmers; A. Ballinger, Wellington; Bunkenberg, Wellington; Achison, Dunedin; Rule, Oamaru; Lester, Christchurch; Maingay, Tc Aroha; Gunderson, Christchurch ; Poison, Blenheim. With the above matches out of the way, the men retired to the 300yds range to begin the Wanganui Match, which counts for the belt. Howe, ot Wellington, was successful in putting on a really good score of 33 out of 35, while Phillips, of Manaia, was a good second with 32, and then followed Tonkin (Wairarapa), A. Ballinger (Wellington), Lester (Christchurch) and Beckingham (Timaru) with 31 each. The champion, McGregor, through an unfortunate mistake on his own part had a slice of bad luck. Before firing the last shot at this range lie altered ills elevation, but in lyingl down neglected to lower the ladder of his sight, and fired at a range of-500. This caused him to wind up the range with only 25, and lie failed to maintain his place in' the lead of aggegates. At tiie 000yds range the shooting was quite up to the average, though the wind puzzled some of the inexperienced ones. Dempster rang up the possible, while Greer (Petolne), King (Oamaru;, Barraclough (Oamaru), Donegal! (Gore) and Keenan (Port Chalmers) were within an ace of costing the association £1 for possible prizes. Leaving this range and iToing back to 700yds, Howe, of Wellington, "who had scored 31 at-500, and Lester (Christchurch), with 33, were top of the sheet with 04 each, Keenan being next with 63. King, Armstrong and Henderson followed with 62. Though the .conditions appeared to bo favourable, terribly poor shooting was made, only four or five decent scores being made. King was ,on top with 31 while Richnrdfon, Drummond and McMillan rose with 30 opposite their names. Yesterday the shooting at that range _ was none too good, but it was infinitely worse to-day. King certainly got on a good score, but it is three points short of McGregor's winning score at Oamaru last year. From the start King has shot with the utmost consistency, am be must be a dangerous man towards the finish unless he should strike some bad ammunition. . To-day Major Sommerville examined the shooting - bags of the competitors to ascertain if any-ammunition was in use other than that on issue by the association ; but everything was satisfactory. AVanganui Match, 30U. 500 and VOO yards ; seven shots at each range. The first prize is £lO and. the New Zealand Native Association Cup. King, Oamaru, £lO ... ••• 93 Cameron, Wairarapa, £8 ... ... 86 Henderson, Auckland, £6 ... ... 86 Richardson, Dunedin, £5 ... 85 Straohan, Marten, £5 ... ... ... 8o Armstrong, Dunedin, £4 ... ... 8o Lester, Christchurch, £4 ... ... 85 Ross, Napier, £4 84 Feiijit, Wairarapa, £4 ••• 84 Hawthorne, Wellington, £3 84 McMillan, Dunedin, £3 83 T. Fraser, Kaitangata, £3. B,j Turner, Wellington, £3 ... ... 83 Howe, Wellington, £3 ... ... 83 Head, Whangarei, £3 8^ Lowers, Petorie, £2 ... ... 82 Nimmo, Oamaru, £2 ... ... 82 Drummond, Dannevirke, £2 -... 81 McKay, Christchurch, £2 81 Walson, Port Chalmers,'£2 81 Rutherford, Kaitangata, £2 81 Perry, Wanganui, £2 ... .... 80 R. Halpin, Wellington, £2 ... ... 80 C. Hollard, Petone, £2 80 Donald, Masterton, £2 ... 80 Steadman, Whangarei, £2 ... ... 80 6. Loveday, Woodvillo, £2 ... ... 80 Welch, Wairarapa, £2 80 Raven, Wellington, £2 79 Bairston, Carterton, £2 - ... ... 79 Storkey, Napier, £2 ■ ... 79 1 Thomas, Wairarapa, £2 ... ... 79 The following took £1 each:—Madden, Christchurch, 79; McKay, Invercargill, 78; Kirk, Petone, 78; Oxey, New Plymouth, 78 ; A. Ballinger, Wellington, 78; Churton, Wanganui, 77; Love, Wellington, 77; Williams, Wellington, 77; MeGregoi% Oamaru, 77 ; Buchanan, Auckland, 77 ; Ingpen, Woodyille, 77 ; Robinson, Christchurch, 77; Dempster, Dunedin, 77 ; Kruse, Wanganui, 77; Wilson, Woodville, 76; McLean, vvairoa, 76; Begg, Dunedin, 76; Millner, Napier, 75; Wakeling. Wanganui, 75. Counted out —W. Ballinger, Petone; I Trevethick, Petone; Dixon, Portobello ; I Steuben, Timaru; Sommerville, Wanganui'; Boleyn, Timaru; Spinks, \Voodvillo ; Hollard, Petone; Domigan, Gore ; Hughes, Wanganui; Perkins, Christchurch. At the fipisli of this match a start was made with the Wellington match, 500, 600 and 700yds, seven shots, and counting for the belt, the shorter lange being fired first. Kruse, AVanganni, and Millncr just missed “possibles.” Fergnsson (Marion), Dodds (Port Chalmers), Drummond (Dannevirke), AYilliams (AVollington), Nimmo and C. Holland (Petone) each left off with 33. Ten others had 32 to them credit. LEADING AGGREGATES.

At tho close of the day’s shooting the following were the positions of the lead-ing-men in the aggregates for the

championship:— - - King.Oamaru ... Armstrong, Dunedin ... ... • • Lester, Christchurch 282 Richardson, Dunedin 279 McGregor, Oamaru 278 Millner, Napier ••• 27/ Feist, Wairarapa Ross, Napier 273 Perx-y, Wanganui 273 C. Hollard, Petone 272 Drummond, Dannevirke 272 T. Fraser, Kaitaugata 271 Howe, Wellington 270 Sommerville, Wanganui 269 G. Loveday, Woodville ... --- 269 W. Ballinger, Wellington 268 Williams, Wellington 267 Turner, Wellington ••• 267 A. Ballinger, Wellington 266 Harding, Blenheim ... 264 Hawthorne, Wellington 264 Storkoy, Napier 263 Ingpon, Woodville ... ... 261 Robinson, Christchurch ... ... 261 Kruse, Wanganui 260