RIFLE ASSOCIATION

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4312, 22 March 1901, Page 6

RIFLE ASSOCIATION

OPENING OF THE MEETING. THE FIRST DAY’S SHOOTING. : PRESS ASSOCIATION. WANGANUI, March 21. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Rifle Association, opened inis morning under favourable auspices, the day being fine and bright, with only a light front wind blowing. A few words of welcome were addressed to the competitors by the Mayor. Then Mr Willis, M.H.R. for the district, said he hoped that future gatherings of riflemen would be as successful as those held under Colonel Sommerville’s guidance. The handicapping of the rifles will cause discontent, particularly to those using Martinis. The Council decided upon the following handicaps and standards; • —Seven shots—Range 500yds, handicap 1, standard 35 ; 600yds, •! and 33; 700yds, 2 and 32. Ten shots’—Range 500yds, handicap 1, standard 50; 600yds, 2 anJ 48; 700, 3 and 45. Even with this handicap the .303 weapons have ail the best of it, as the ammunition for this gun is cf English manufacture. Among the competitors are the present champion (King, of Oamam) and exchampions W. Ballinger (Wellington). Okey (Taranaki), Remington (.Wanganui), Williams (Wellington), Kruse (Wanganui), A. Ballinger (Wellington), Smith (Dunedin) and Wakelin (Christchurch). Should either of the Ballingers or King win the Belt this year the trophy will become his own property. AVellington is regarded as having a strong team, and on his performances at Woodville W. Ballinger is thought to have a great chance for the Balt, but there he did not meet several excellent shots from the North. In the field-firing competitions, the men will be .given something new. Ranges up to about 1500 yards will be ; used, and the men will have to judge the distance. Colonel Summerville adopted this idea after his visit to the Transvaal, and ■ believes that it will bo of great value to the men should they at any time have to take the field on active service.

It is generally understood that the Government, when taking over the meaning next year, will offer-special inducement to marksmen to visit Treutham, which is to be the permanent range. If so, it will have to remove the difficulty with respect to weapons, and give all and sgndry who wish to compete the opportunity of securing weapons iu sufficient time to practise. About 225 men took part An to-day's shooting, but the list is incomplete, frelsh competitors arriving 'luring the day. Thirty-two of the competitors aro usiug the Martini-Henry rifle, hut today’s shooting has proved that the .303 is the more effective weapon, none of those usiug the former being prominent in the prize list. Proceedings. opened at 11.30, and some fair shooting was done at the 200 yards range of the Nelson Match, Churton. the Wanganui veteran, scoring within a point of the possible. At the 500 yards, Sergeant Okey (Taranaki), Marshall (Karori), Remington (Wanganui), Irvine (Waimea) and Cox (Auckland) each gained the possible, and take 10s each, the prize for the possible at this range being reduced from £1 to the sum named. Marshall fired' with the Martini-Henry, but baying made the standard score under the handicapping system, did not derive any benefit from the handicap. F. Ingpen (Woodr ville), also with a Martini-Henry, made 84, and, being allowed one point, his total \for the'range was _35. . He dobs not receive a possible prize. On going back to the final range (600yds), the .following were the chief scores : —Stephens. (Tirnaru),- 65, McKay (Christcbnrdh) 64, Marshall (Karori) 64, Craw (Potone) 64.. As the men took up their positions at this range, the light ohang. e-i considerably, and from the bright glare of,the early portion of the day the’ sky became overcast and dull, and 1 it was feared that wet would net , in. No rain fell, however, and, to-hight there is every, prospect of the weather remaining fine. At the 600 yards the shooting was only medium, McFarlane, of lI.M. Reserve Corps ‘ (Christchurch) being on top with 34, Bunting (Palmerston) and Moosoman (Wanganui) one point away. I, With the completion of -this match, shooting ceased for the day, but greater progress will - have to be made with the other matches if the meeting' is to be finished' next week-.

i Competitions for the mounted corapa- ! nies, which were set down for the 29th hist., have been abandoned 1 owing to the ■ refusal of the authorities to grant free j passes for horses and men. A Hastings , team is here, having come at its own; expense, but the association will probably refund a portion of the expenses, j Following is the prize-list in the Nelson Ma/toh, 200yds, 500yds, and 600ydis, seven shots at each range, kneeling at 200yds. G. Loveday (Woodlville), £7 ... 97 | Lieutenant Cox (Auckland), £6 ... 96 I Sergeant Stephens (Timaru), £5 ... 96 LVfooseman (Wanganui), £4 ... ... 93 Feast (Wairarapa), £4 ■ ... ... 93 Sergeant Allport (Stoke), £3 • ... 93 MoFarlane (Christchurch), £3 ... 92 Burns (Karori); £2 ... ... ... 92 Best (Kaitangata), £2 ... ... 92 Henry (Tuapeka), £2 92 Lester, (Christchurch), £2 ... ... 92 Maingay (Piakq) 91, Sergeant Okey (Taranaki) 91, Head (Wellington) 9i, Oiiurton (Wanganui) 91, Jones (Wellington), 91, Perkins (Christchurch) 91, MoKnight (Dunedin) 91, Oakley (Nelson) 91, McDonald (Timaru) 90, Ferguson (lluinterville) 90, W. Ballinger (Wellington) 90, Hobbs (Hastings) 90, Wain (Studlholme) 90, Winslade (Wanganui) 90, McKay (Christchurch) 90, Header. I son (Auckland) 89, Smith (Kaitangata) j 89, Adams (Patea) 89, Whilley (Kaiapoi) 89, Lester (Taranaki) 89, Love (Wanganui) 89, Boleyn (Cilarlton) 89, Trevethiek (Petome) 89, each £l. Counted out—Marshall (Karori), Domigau (Gore), Ching (Stoke). At last meeting 95 won this match, while 84 was counted out. Colonel SommOrville is in charge of the range, and is assisted as range officers by Colonel Francis, who recently returned from South Africa, lieutenants Harper and Redmond, of Wanganui. Twenty-five members of the permanent force axe here from Wellington: acting as markers, but have an unenviable posi. tion, as the trench is very wet.