New Zealand Rifle Association Meeting.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXI, Issue 6505, 14 March 1896, Page 3

New Zealand Rifle Association Meeting.

Encouraged by the assurance of th( Hon. Mr Hall-Jones that a misapprehen sion existed as to the intention of the Government with respect to withholding further assistance to the New Zealanc Rifle Association, the marksmen begar shooting under the happiest auspices, Misgiving's were, however, entertained as to the quality of the Auckland-made ammunition, and that there was good cause for doubt was unfortunately, more than justified when the long-distance ranges were reached. The cartridges proved to be uneven, and in one package of ten no less than eight of the ten rounds were found to be bad. Some of the best shots fared very badly indeed, and in more than one instance proved marksmen failed to hit the target altogether. What little wind there was wine steadily from the left, so that the fault could not be ascribed to that ciuse. In the Kynoch Match, which is to be fired this afternoon, Kynoch ammunition will be used, so that an opportunity will shortly be gjven of comparing it with that supplied oy Captain Whitney, of Auckland, and used so far. The cup which we mentioned yesterday as having been given by the Government as a special prize for the Federal Matcn will, we understand, become the absolute m-operty of the winning team. The iS'elson Match (200, 500, and 600 yards), seven shots, not counting for the Belt constituted the day's work. Gunner Head (A Battely) put on the possible at 200 yards, making seven consecutive buU : s-eyes. Smith 'Southland Rifle Club) and Rule (Oamaru Rifle Club) each scored 34 at 500 yards, the local man winding up with an inner. Johnston (Dunedin Rifle Club), Captain Smith (City Guards) and Sergeant Moodie (Queensland) followed with 31 each. The highest scorers at the close of the two completed ranges were Head (Auckland) 65. Rule (Oamaru) 64, Banks (Christchurch), 63 and Moodie (Queensland) 62. The final distance however proved disastrous to most of the leading men. the winner ultimately turning up in Private Scott (Christchurch) with a total of 87. That the shooting was tuuch inferior to that at Trentham last year will be readily gathered from the fact that it then took 93 to win the first prize in the Nelson Match, and the competitors unanimously admit that the falling oft is entirely due to the ammunition for it is generally recognised that the range is an admirable one. The following are the prize-takers in the Nklsox Match —200, 500, and GOO yds, seven shots. Priv. Scott, Hon. Reserves, Christchurch, LS ... ... ••• S7 J. G. Wilson, Woorlville Rifle Club, L 6 8(i J. Wilkie, Upper Hutt Hifle Club, L 5 85 S'erst. Moodie, Qieens'and, L 4... ... S5 A. Cameron, Oamaru Rifle C üb, L 4 .... S4 Priv. A. Ballinger, Wellington Guards, L 4 ... S3 Priv. Raven, Wel'ington Guard?, L 3 ... SI Gunner Greensliields, Auckland Artillery, L 3 - SI Priv. T. Fraser, Kaitang&ta Rifles, J-3 SI Cupt Smith, Southland Rifle Club, L2 SI Gunner Taylor, Auckland Artillery, L2 SO G. C. Ferguson, Queensland Rifle Club, L2 79 W. A. Grace, Petone Rifle Club, L2 ... 79 T. S. Little, Oamaru Rifle Club, L2 ... 7S Sergt -Major Whyte, Artillery, LI ... 78 A. Patterson, Hawera Rifle Club, LI ... 78 W. Loveday, Woodville Rifle Club, LI 7S Sergt. Parker, Christchurch City Rifles, LI 7S F. Robin.=on, *pper Hivt Rifle Club, LI 7 / Oapt. M'K'-uzie, G Battery, LI ... 7 Priv. Robillianl, Kaiapoi nifles, LI ... /7 R. L. Rule, Oamaru Rifle Club, LI ... 77 Capt ."niith. Dunedin City Guards, LI Gunner Head, A Battery, LI .... ... 77 \V. Ximmo, Oamaru Rifle Club, f-1 ... 76 Corp. . v mith, Oamaru Arsillery, LI 76 G. T. Avery, Pahiatua Rifle Club, L 1... 76 J. F. .'-piers, Oamaru Rifle Club, LI ... 76 A. R. Wills, Southland Rifle Club, L 1... 76 A Cocks, Woodville Rifle Club, LI ... 75 Lieut, .lack, i uned : n Ci ! y Guards, LI 75 Sergt. Kruse, Wanganui Rifles, LI ... 75 Corp. Garget", Brisbane, LI ... ... 74 F. A. Kelfing. Hawera Rifle Club, LI 74 Counted out : W. J. Gray, Marton Rifle Club : C. Hale, Wellington Guards ; and S. W. Lester, Christchurch Artillery. The following are the scores of the Oamaru men who failed to get into the prize-list:—

Blvth, Oamaru Rifle Club ... ~. 71 j.eslie, Garrison Band ... ... ... 70 Every, Oamaru Rifle Club ... ... 69 Creagh, Oamaru Rifli Club ... .... 65 M'i-regor, Oamaru Rifle Club ... ... 63 King, Uannaru Rifle Club ... 63 Ha-iie, Oamaru Rifl • Club ... ... 60 Probert, Oamaru Rifle Club ... ... 60 M'Diarmid, Oamaru Club ... 58 Herron, Nava's ... ... ... ... 51 Church, Oamaru Rifle Club ... ... 51 Lieut. Oil ! ies, Mounted Rifles ... ... 49 Barnes. Navals ... ... ... 40 R. C. Gillies, Mounted Rifles ... ... 36 Major Sommerville had a meeting in the evening with the Australians, when the latter complained bitterly of the quality of the ammunition, and practically stated that unless a change were made they would not see the meeting out. The justness of their complaint was conceded, and Major Sommerville undertook to telegraph to Dunedin and Wellington to see what ammunition was available. Meanwhile it was determined to proceed with the Kynoch Match and Ladies' Match (the latter not counting for the belt). SECOND DAY—SATURDAY. Firing besan in earnest this morning, when the first stage of the Championship was taken. Punctually at nine o'clock a start was made with the Marlborough (Kynoch) Match, ten shots at 500 yards. The competitors are restricted to the use of Kynoch ammunition, and one and all confessed that it was a decided improvement on that supplied yesterday. True, the weather was more favorable, the light being dull, with the faintest breeze from the right. The winner turned up in a local marksman (Sergeant-Major Whyte, of the I Battery), who made 49, or one within the " possible," and was cheered as the bull's-eye disc registered his last shot. Gargetc (Queensland), after scoring eight consecutive bulls, made an outer with his ninth shot, and finished with an inner. Sub-Lieut. Kirk, of the Petone Navals, won this match last year with 49, and three others made 48, so the shooting to-day was not quite so good. Appended is the prize list: — Marlborough Match—soo\'ds, 10 shots. The winner to hold a silver cup presented by Kynoch and Co., who supply the ammunition for this match free of cost. Sergt.-Major Whyte, Oamaru Artillery, LS 49 Corp. Meddings, Christchurch Guards, L 6 4S Corp. Jackson, Christchurch Rifles, L 5 47 W. v l -teadman, Whangarei Rifle Club, L 4 46 P.O. Williams, Wellington Navals, L 4 45 Corp. Lavery, Christchurch Reserves, L 3 46 S. Harris, Little River Rifle Club, L 3... 46 Sergt. Purnell, Wanganui Rifles, L2 ... 46 Corp. yarirett, Queensland, L2... ... 46 Corp Lyders, 1 lined in Engineers, L2 45 Private Matheson, Sydney, L2... ... 45 W . Smith, Taueru Rifle Club, L2 ... 45 Trooper Strachan, Alexander Cavalry, L2 1 45 Benton, Featherston Rifle Club, LI .... 45 Gray, Marton Rifle Club, LI ... ... 45 Private Todd, Ballarat, LI 45 Corporal Kradley. Queensland, LI ... 45 Private M'Kay, Christehurch Reserves, J. M'Diarmid, Oamaru Rifle Club, L 1... 44 J Loveday, Woodville Rifle Club, L 1... 44 Private Winslnde, Wanganui Rifles, LI 44 Brydone, Dunedin Rifle Club, LI ... 44 Private A. liallinger, Wellington Guards, LI 44 Randies, Melbourne Rifle Club, LI ... 44 Staff-dergeant Webster, Melbourne, LI 44 Col-Sergeant Grant, Queensland, LI ' 44

, Sergeant Moodie, Queensland, LI ... 4' Lieutenant Kirk, Petone, LI 4 Private Kobilliard, Kaiapoi, LI 4' 0. r.O. Wooiley, Dunedin Navals, ... 41 1 Robinson, Upper Hutt. Rifle Club, L 1,... 4! Counted out: M'Ponald (Victoria) Clacher (Q leensland), Hieks (Sydney), W, H. Baliicger (Wellington), Gates (Grey town), Armstrong (Dunedin), Grant (Wai mate), Craw (Little River), Smith (Invercargill), M'Grfgor (Oamaru), Head (Auckland), Naser (Kaitangata), Prott (Sydney), Chalmer (B. Battery). The following Oamaru marksmen failed to get into the prize-list in the Marlborough Match : Probert, Rifle Club ... ... ... 42 Little, Oamaru Rifle Club ... ... 42 Barnes, Navals ... ... ... ... 42 Ha<-t;e, civilian ... ... .... ... 41 Lieut. Gillies, Mounted Rifles ... ... 40 King, Rifle Club ... ... ... ... 39 fsimmo, Rifle Club ... 39 Rule, Rifle Club ... ... ... ... 39 Strath, I B -ttery .... ... ... .... 39 Everj', Rifle Club .. ... ... ... 38 R. (J. Gillies, Mounted Rifles ... ... 37 Spiers, R Club... ... .„ .... 36 Creagh, Rifle Club ... ... ... 33 Leslie, Garrison Band ... 31 To ensure a thorough test of the various kinds of ammunition three squads of four men each were marched to the 500 yards range and five shots per man fired. The result was that the Victorian article proved the best, and it will be used in connection with the Federal Match, while the 1895 ammunition, sent down for the use of the Association and put aside in favor of the specially-prepared Auckland cartridges, was better than that manufactured by Captain Whitney. The following are the totals : Victorian, 85 points ; 1895 Government ammunition, 66; Auckland, 60. Before a beginning was made with the Ladies' Match, 300 yards (not counting for the belt) the wind had freshened considerably and was blowing from the nor'east. Whitney ammunition was used. The first prize was taken with a score of 47, as against 46 made by Randall last year. Prize-winners : Ladies' Match, 200 yds, ten shots, standing, sitting, or kneeling, Capt. Trevithick, Petone Rifle Club, LS ... ... ... ... 47 Private Todd, Ballarat, L 6 ... ... 46 Captain White, Victoria, L 4 ... ... 46 Lieut. Ross, Napier, L 4 ... ... ... 44 Little, Oamaru Rifle Club, L 4 ... ... 44 Johnston, Queensland, L 3 ... ... 44 Rule, Oamaru Rifle Club, L 3 .... ... 44 Sergt. Hawker, Victoria, L2 ... ... 44 Sergt. Manning, Christchurch Reserves, L2 44 Lieut. Guy, Waimate, L2 ... ... 44 Speight, Dunedin Rifle Club, L2 ... 43 Hiedman, Whangarei Rifle Club, L2 ... 43 Color-Sergt. Grant, Queensland, L2 ... 43 Private Hale, Wellington Guards, L 1... 43 P. young, Victoria, Kifle Club LI ... 43 M'lver, Kaikoura Kifle Club. LI ... 43 J. P. Every, Oamaru Rifle Club, LI ... 42 Sergt. Moodie, Queensland ... ... 42 A. Ballinger, Wei ington Guards, LI ... 42 G. yhelton. Bluff Rifle Club, LI ... 42 Private Vernon, Sydney, LI ... ... 42 J. G. Wilson, Woodville Rifle Club, LI 42 t-'ergt. Humphreys, Hastings, LI ... 42 Captain Smith, Dunedin Guards, LI ... 42 Captain Taylor, Pahiatua Rifle Club, LI 42 W. Nimmo, Oamaru Fifle Club, LI ... 42 J. Spiers, Oamaru Rifle Ciub, LI ... 42 J. Kempshall, Dunedin Rifle Club, LI 42 Bombardieo Leste r , E Battery, LI ... 42 Private Tonkin, Christchurch Reserves, LI 42 Col Sex'geant Dempster, Dunedin, LI ... 42 W. S. King, Oamaru Rifle Club, LI ... 42 C. f-'p;ight, Dunedin Rifle Club, LI .... 42 Counted out : Lieut. Jack, Dunedin, and A. M'Donald, Merino R.C., Victoria. The scores of the other Oamaru competitors are— Cameron, Oamaru Rifle Club .... ... 41 Creagh, Oamaru Rifle Club ... ... 39 M'Gregor, Oamaru Rifle Club .... ... 39 Whyte, I Battery... ~ 37 Smith, I Battery ... .„ ... ... 37 Lieut. Gillies, North Otago Mounted Rifles ... 37 R. C. Gillies, North Otago Mounted Rifles ... ... ... .... ... 37 M'Diarmid, Oamaru Rifle Club... ... 35 Hasne, Civilian ... ... 34 Leslie, Ganison Band ... ... .... 2S Probert, Oamaru Rifle Club .... ... 27

At 2.30 p. m. a start was made with the Auckland Match, 300 yards, ten shots ; and this will be followed by the first distance (300 yards, seven shots) of the Oamaru Match. Both of these count for the Championship. Major Sommerville has been advised that 20,000 rounds of Yictorian ammunition can be supplied by the Defence Department. It will reach the camp on Monday evening, and will suffice for the rest of the matches on the programme. So far as the Auckland Match (300 yds, ten shots) has proceeded, the highest scores are— Willmott, Queenstown Rifle Club .... 46 Dempster, Dunedin ... 45 Steadman, Whangarei 45 Doughty, Auckland ... ... 45 Rule, Oamatn ... ... 44 Wilkie, Upper Hufct ... .„ 44 Atkinson, Hawera .... .... 43 Howe, Wellington ... ._ 43 Young, Sydney 43 Trevethick (Petone Rifle Club) and Todd (Victoria) tie with 89 for the Carbine Cup, and will fire off.