RIFLE-SHOOTING.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5559, 10 April 1905, Page 7

RIFLE-SHOOTING.

SA T CRDAY’S COMPETITIONS. One hundred and fifty volunteers went to Tremham on Saturday aI I erne on . Tho weather was not pleasant, hot the heavy rain experienced in AVellington was ab-ent at the hut's, only a .slight shower falling towards the close of the day. Lieutenant Hntchen acted as range officer and Lance-Cor-poral Nathan as trench officer- The following corps were represented ; —Pdst and Telegraph Rifles. 33; Hutt Rifles. 22; Engineers. 10; Submarine Miners, 1-1: Civil Service Rillos. 13; Highland UiTle.s, 13; Kelburuo Rifles, 12; Zcalandia Rifles, 12; College Rifles, 8. The 500 and 000yds ranges were used. The wind was very tricky. Details; — ZEA LA NDIA RIFLES. This crops concluded its trophy-shoot-ing. Lance-Sergeant Guy and LanceCorporal Smart won the A Class trophies with aggregates of ISI and 175 points respectively. Lance-Sergeant Guy’s team won tho teams match with G 27 points (aggregates of three matches). B Class trophies were won hy Corporal Guy and Corporal Astill with aggregates of 88 and 85 points respectively. Scores:—

Tho third competition for company trophies in A Class was won by Corporal Piercey, with a total of 220 points, Sergeant Willis being second with 207, and Sanper Mitchell third with 20-1 points. Tho B Class competition was won by Sapper Hughes, Corporal G. Gapes securing second prize. The highest aggregate for the season was obtained by Sergeant-Major Homer. Ho wins tbo Hallemtein Cup, which ho holds for one year, and secures the comjmny’s gold medal—total points 586. Corporal Piercey was runner-up, and Corporal Gibbs secured third place. The B Class Aggregate Cup, presented by Mr S. G. Ross. was won by Sapper Yosseler, who has shot most consistently throughout the season. The second prize was won by Sapper Hughes. Sapper Oliver was third. SUBMARINE MINERS. The Submarine Miners fired a handicap competition for a trophy presented by Air Anyon. Tho prize was won by Sapper McGibbon, Sapper C'roll second* Scores:— 500 600

HXJTT VALLVY RIFI/ES. The Hutt Valley Rifles fired the first of two matches for Mr Wilford’s and also, two company trophies. Scores

ROOT AND TELEGRAPH RIFLES. This corps fired a match against exmembers of tho corps. Conditions—sixteen men a side, ten shots at 500yds. The present members totalled 494 points against the ©x-members’ 392, leaving tho former winners by 102 points. Captain Morris presented turn trophies, to be won by the highest scorer in each team. Of the present members, Private Churches was topsooror with 40. Ex-Private Clouston topped the score in the ex-members’ team. Leading scores;— Members Private Churches, 40; Private Jones, 39; Corporal Bolton, 38; Lieutenant Horton, 36; Sergeant Milne, 35; Colour-Sergeant Roache, 35. Ex-members—Private Clouston, 35; Private Wakelin, 35; Private Stewart, 31; Private Cornwall, 30; Private McLeod, 30; Private Dudley, 28.

AVELLINGTON NAVALS,

0.P.0. HARRIS WINS THE BEET, At Miramar on Saturday afternoon the Wellington Navals concluded their competitions for the company’s belt and other trophies. A stiff southerly wind was blowing, and rain fell most of the time, the shooting being very poor. Ten matches are firoa iv, r t] le belt, any two of which can be dropped, the highest aggregate in eight matches being the winning score. C.P O. '' ■ won the belt with an aggregate of 463. This is the sixth occasion on which he has secured the trophy, and for his performance receives an additional prize of £5. Harris also won a gold medal, presented by Mr Shepperd, and a trophy given hy Mr Rogers. P.O. James was “ runner-up " with a score of 453 and P.O. Ross third. The B class aggregate was won by Gunner Collins with a total of 372, Gunner Dixon 1253) second. P.O 1 . Hutchen won tho C class aggregate with 432. P.O. Galnan (411) second, Gunner Bishop (372) third, Gunner C. James (339) fourth. Gunner Bishop received a “leg-in” for Mr Humphrey’s trophy. P.O. Hutchen won a clock presented hy Messrs Thompson and Lewis. The following were the scores made on Saturday afternoon in the final mate!i (ten shots at 600yds):—P.O. Roes, 36: 0.P.0. Bams.' 32; P.O. Janes, SO; P.O. McKay, 29. THE BELT. The champion belt, won this year (for tho sixth time) by Chief Petty Officer Harris, has'been competed for by the Wellington Navals for twenty-four years. Captain Charles Johnston presented it. for competition in 1881.

Until 1893, it was fired for twice a year. Since then the competition ha*: been •annual, cite winner holding it for two.vo months. The belt can never be won outright, but each winner receive.** a heavy gold medal as an emblem of having secured the prize- A silver plate, bearing the name of tlio success* i’iil competitor, together with the date of his win and score*, is riveted to the 10.d.1 icr portion of the holt each time it ; is won, and as the belt now contains thii'ty-oight of plates, there L very little of the original to he seen. Tiie companv lias this valuable prize insured for £75. It is considered the oldest belt being competed for in Wellington district, if not in Xew Zealand. The first successful competitor was Petty Officer France. He won the bolt with a. score of 73 points in January. 1381. Two years later ho was again successful. Seaman A. Dixon was the next successful competitor, winning tho bolt in August, 1881. Band-Sergeant H. J. Dixon had his name inscribed on tho trophy in Juno, 1882, and two years later another plate bearing his name was added. In September, 1882, Seaman J. Rabo (who was until recently chief petty officer) won tho belt for tho first time. In June, 1883, ho -was again successful. Ton years afterwards —April, Babe, who had risen to the rank of pet tv officer, again had Ids name placed on " the belt. Seaman 0. Franco was the winner in June, 1883. H. J. Dixon and C. Franco, two of tho belt winners, have joined tho great majority. Seaman G. Howe—known in shooting circles as Bandsman Howe—was a member of tho Xavals years ago, and had his name riveted to the belt in December, 1883. Petty Officer W. T. Lee vers won tho trophy in December, 1834. Chief Petty Officer W. Harris, whose name appears on the belt six times. obtain his first win in December, 1885. Four years later, when ho had risen to the rank of petty officer, he was again successful. Another four years elapsed, and in December, 1893, he registered another win. In tho following Juno another plate bearing his name was fixed to the belt. After these two successive wins, Harris was not heard of as a champion for nine years. Ho won the belt in 1903, and again this The next winner was Mr W. J. Williams, until lately licensee of tho Central Hotel, Petono. His name is inscribed on the belt no fewer than ton times. He was the most successful of all the competitors. As a seaman, his first win was in December, 1886. Holding tho same rank, he won again twelve months later. In June, 1888, another win was plaoed to his credit, and again in December ho was successful. Two years 1 ater—Deoomb er, 1890—du ring wh ioh time h© had been promoted to petty officer, he once more gained possession of tho belt, and in the following June another plate had to b© affixed to the trophy bearing his name. He won the belt three times in succession from June, 1892, to June, 1893. Five years passed, and in the interval Williams was raised to the rank of chief petty officer, the 1893 win being his last. C.P.O. Armstrong was winner in May, 1887; P.O. Taylor in June, 1889; Seaman Balcombe, June, 1890; Seaman Stitt, December, 1891; Gunner Bnlford, December, 1896, and as petty officer in 1901; P.O. Fredric, May, 1897; Petty Officer C. W. Martin, 1900; Potty Officer J. G. Ross, 1902 and 1904; and C.P.O. Harris, 1905. TIPPER HXJTT RIFLE CLUB. Tho Upper Hutt Rifle Club held a competition for Mr TisdalKs trophy, Tnke Whiteman securing a ‘Teg in.” Captain J. Ross made a possible of eight bull's-eyes (including sighter), at 600yds. Highest scores: —- 200 500 600

During the Easter holidays a triangular match will ho fired at Trentham between tho Karori, Petone, and Opaki rifle clubs. The clubs will endeavour to make it an annual fixture.

A Clo&s. 300 600 yds vds Up, . Tl. X/.-Sergeant Guy ... 33 26 6C — 59 L.-Corpoval Smart ... 25 27 4 — 56 Col.-Sgt. Bunckonburg 29 25 SC — 54 Corporal Hugo ... 27 19 9 — 55 Private Barcham ... 23 20 . 9 — 52 B Class Corporal Astill ... 18 14* 6 — 33 Corporal Guy ... 16 20 KC — 36 Private Jackson ... 12 1 13 — 35 ENGINEER s. The Engineers completed their i third competition and the season’s aggregate. Scores A Class. 500 600 vds yds Hp. . Tl. Corpora! Piercey ... 39 29 5 — T3 Corporal Gibbs ... 25 31 13 — 68 Sapper Vosseler ... 29 25 12 — 66 S.M, Homer ... 32 32 6C — 64 B Close. Sapper Fleet ... 30 25 8' — 63 Snpppf Larnach ... 22 25 12 — 59 Sapper Oliver 30 23 5 — 58

yds yds Hp Tl. Sapper MeGibbon ... 25 24 3 — 52 Sapper Croll 18 16 15 — 49 Sergt.-Major Baker 26 15 5 — 46 Sapper Huggins 24 - 10 13 — 46 Sergeant Sheffield ... 25 13 5 — 43 Q.M.-Sergt. Horse ... 23 18 2 — 42 Sergeant Caldwell ... 26 9 5 — 40 Sapper Kerslake 22 16 so — 38 Sapper Coleman 12 12 10 — 34 Sapper Lechner 19 5 8 — 32 Sapper Robinson 11 5 15 — 31 Sapper Wright 4 0 15 — 10

(seven shots): — 500 yds 600 yds Hp Tl. Private Jackson. 17 19 14 — 50 Private Withers 16 18 16 — 50 Private Broad 21 13 14 — 48 Sergeant Woods 20 18 9 — 47 Private Gifford 15 19 12 — 43 Lieutenant Hollard... 25 17 so — 42 Private .nan-ton 12 12 16 — 40 Private Wahren 16 8 24 — 40

yds vds yds Hp. Tl. Tuke Whiteman 33 29 25 10 — 97 li. Kitchen 31 30 26 10 — 97 Captain J. Boss* 31 30 35 sc — 97 F. Wilkie 33 31 32 so — 98 J. McKay 33 28 26 9 — 9S F. Whiteman, sen , 33 26 25 6 — 90 H. Whiteman ... 31 27 24 6 — 88 J. Greenwood 31 27 30 BO — 88 J. Whiteman 30 27 2-1 7 — 88 P. Edwards 31 20 21 9 — 81