RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4318, 29 March 1901, Page 7

RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

CONTINU ATION Ob' ' THE • SHOOTING. press Association', i WANGANUI. March 28. , Tho weather 1 broke, beautifully fine again to-day. Shooting began shortly after 7 o’clock. The Nursery Match (for those 'who-have not won_orer £4 at a previous- meeting and £5 at _ this meeting) and the Bronze Medal Match (restricted to' bronze medal matches of the New Zealand Rifle Association for the year 1900-1901) were shot off simul. taneously. It- was decided to take the final stage -of the • championship, at 9 o’clock to-morrow morning. -The follow, ing is the prize-list:

Boys, Timarrv, 48; Pirie, Napier, 47 : Kiernan, Marton, 17; Needham, Pal. merston, 47; Mills, Dunedin, 47; Bockingham, Timaru, 47.; Hobbs, Hastings, 47 ; Saywell, Wairaki, 47 ; Howard, Napier, 46; Murfett, Hastings, 46; John, stem. Marton, 46; Taunton, Taranaki, 46 ; G. Drummond,’Wanganui', 46; 'Martin, Timaru, 46; Paterson, Hawera, 46 ; Morrow, Canterbury, 45 ; Henley, 'Hawera, 45—-each £l. . ■ Counted out-r-Jack, Palmerston; Me. Culloch, Waipawa ; Gee, Linwood; and Morton, Kimbolton. ." . Tb» conditions of tho> Bronze Modal Match were changed from seven shots at’ 200, 500 and 600yds, to ten shots at 500 and 600yds,.‘with the following results:'—' '

The next .'natch taken was. the Companies’ Tctams! .Match, but with ton ranges finished, .tlio match was ijite?rupfcedand. the:.,; moil were squadtied for the District Representative Match, ten shots at-500 and 600 yards. 1 ,T|i'e districts ■ entered ’ were 1 :*-Tarariakt,Wanganui and Napier (combined), Wellington, Caiiterbury and Otago. The Auckland representatives, who were combined with Nelson, Marlborough and Westland, were prepared to compete,. but, unfortunately, there, was a misunderstanding with respect to tho representatives from Nelson and Marlborough, and they had not a sufficient number on the range to make tip a team. Thus the northerners were shut out. There was some fine shooting in this match, and Pine rang on a couple of possibles. Following is the result of the match; District Representative Match; 500 and 600 yards; seven shots.

hibition Shield, and Pirio, who made a possible at' e.aph traugcy Wolds Hobson and ' Son’s Cup for the year. The other scores -were : —Wellington. 1211; - Canterbury, 1195; Otago, 1186. After lunch the ' . Teams Match was concluded.- • Tho conditions of this match were seven shots at 200, 500 and 600 yards. ’ The 500yds range was filed first. Tho scores were:—Victoria Rifles, Auckland, 456; Timanx Port Guards, 456; Petone Rifle Club, 454 ; Kaitangata Rifles, 447; .Palmerston North Rifles, 447; Woodviile Rids Club, ,456; Wanganui Rifles/442 ; Akarana Rifle Club. 441; Canterbury' Engineers, 440; Hon. Reserve Corps, Christchurch. 438: Karori Rifle Club, 436. In this match the prise money was considerably curtailed, anclrwas merely a sweepstake l for entrance ixiohey. ' Timaru and the Victories. divided first and second money or, £ls and £lO. Petone took third prize of £3, and Kaitangata . and , Palmerston North divide the fourth of £3. —There uas a considerable amount of discontent at the cutting down, of the prize money, but this has happened in the same'match for several meetings. In the afternoon a large number of citizens were present on the range, in the hope of witnessing the final shooting for the Championship,_ but it was decided, .to, .get the. field volley firing off before the competitors began to disperse. The Field Firing Match was watched with groat interest, and was one of the first of its kind fired at the association meetings. Not only the visitors on the range, but the competitors themselves, took a lively interest :n it. Tho con-

ditiens were somewhat. .changed from the official programme, and were something like this—Wooden targets three feet by two feet were stuck on the sand hills some distance behind the targets, at which the men had been firing throughout the meeting,' and the competitors were taken far., back behind any range they had been firing at, and it was a. -question of judging distance. iSquads of. (tw.ffnty ■ men. from Canterbury district, Wellington district. -Auckland and Otago districts combined, and Taranaki, Wanganui and Napier districts combined were taken to tho extreme end of the range, and had to fire volley shots at the abovementioned targets. Then they wore marched another distance, and fired further volleys., later on advancing to a shorter distance, firing further volleys and finally indulging in independent firing, those who got on the greatest number ot hits, in addition to points for com,‘maud, volley and dressing, being the winners. Tho conditions as to distance wore such as might result in the event of men being required for active service. Although the Cumber of shots registered on the targets was not great, it was generally admitted that anybody being in the vicinity of the object would have had an exceedingly lively time. Following is the result of the competition : Canterbury—Points for - hits 60, points for command 7. points for volleys 12, points for dressing B—total, 87. Wellington-—42—s—S—(B-59. _ Auckland and Otago—27—l IP=R—r 8—55. Wanganui, Taranaki and Napier— Jx —S—l2— 1 7—48.

At all ranges the Martini made good shooting as tho .303. After tins match th-j volley firing took place, hut tho 600yds was struck ont as tho light was failing. The result was;—. Canterbury—Points for hits 420, poients for volleys, etc. 30—total, 4no. Wanganui, Taranaki arid Napier—399 —13—412. ■ Auckland and Otago—376—19 —390. Wellington—36s—l9—3B4. Wilson, of Woodvillc, not King, of Oaxnaru. takes Thain’s presentation rifle and 1500 rounds of ammunition. i

Nursery Match, ten shots at 300yds. Lawrence, Kaitangata, £6 ... 50 Perrin, Palmerston,” £3 ... ... 43 Hyde, Napier, £4 43 Greenwood, Hutt, £3 ... ... 49 Smeill, Kaitangata, £2 ... ... 49 Lindsay, Stiiclholme, £2 ... ■ ... 48 Ashley, Palmerston, £2 ... ... 48 Barhle, Charlton, £2 ... ... 48 Trent, Christchurch, £2: : .... ... 48

Sergeant Hobbs, Hastings, £3 and silver medal 94 Pearson, .Tinjam, £4 ... 92 Burns, Karori; '£3 ... 92 A. Ballinger,-PotonGi' £2 91 Sergeant Okc.v, Taranaki, £2 91 Welch, -Wairarapa, £1 ■ ... DO Gleadow, Napier/-£1 89 Johnston, Marton, £1 . 89 Winslado, Wanganui,, ‘ £1. 88 Dove,' HuntejviUe, £1 ... 87 Saywell, WrnTpki,. :£1 • 80

TAEANAKX, WANGANUI AND NAPIEK. Thorpe, Wairoa ... 61 Sergt. Okey, Taranaki ... ... 62 Harford. Tedding ... ‘ ... ... 5-1 Parkes, Palmerston North ',;.. ... 64 Needham, ; ... 06 Mooseman, Wanganui ... G5 Chur ton Wanganui ... 55 Hughes, Wanganui ... ... ... 60 Winslade, Wanganui ■ ... 67 Purnell, Wanganui ... • ... . . . 61 Gleadow. Napier ... 39 Pirie, Napier . ... ... 70 ilyde, Napier : '. ... 63 Williams, Woodvlll© ... 63 Humphries,. Taranaki , ... .... 61 Ingpoii; Woodville ■ •..*. .. 55 W. Lovdday, Woodville .. ... 67 G. Loveday, Woodville ; ... ... 60 Nelson, Woodville ... ... 62 J, Wilson, Woodville ... 63 Total ... 1220 The winners take £20 - and the Tflx-