THE FEDERAL RIFLE MEETING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10621, 17 March 1896, Page 6

THE FEDERAL RIFLE MEETING.

(Per- United -Pbess Association. )

Oaiubu, March 16.

Another, almost perfect day for shooting, jrhioh began at 9 o'clock with a bright sun and > light breeze blowing down the range. ■ The' lecond range of the Oamaru Match (500yds, ■even shots) was first undertaken, and the champion (W. Ballingar), who wag in one of the first squads to finish, put on the .possible. The shooting at 500yds dispelled any misgivings the competitors may have had as to the quality of the ammunition of April to September 1895 moke, u five possibles were put on, being a record number at any qno range in association matches. ' Those making them were':—WBallinger. (Wellington), Arnold (Sooth Australia), MatheJion (Sydney), Aitcheson (Kaitangata), Raven (Wellington). Those 1 point under the possible were :—Gruy (MartOD), M'Caliey (Sydney), WiUiams (Wellington). Going back to 700yds Araold (South Australia) led with 65, W. Ballinger and Cornell (Wanganui) each 64 being next. As the men retired to 700yds the wind shifted from the rear to the left, and gradually increased, those down first having all the best of it. As was expected, the capabilities of the marksmen were tested'to the utmost, and though several fair scores were made, there was a large percentage of misses, »nd many good shots burst up. Arnold (South Australia) had a miss when the first prize appeared well -within grasp. Sloine (Victoria,) had 12 to make with three shots to be on top, but missed all three. There were .several instances of this sort of lack, the men attributing the breakdown more to the change of wind than to the ammunition, though iu respect of the latter an occasional bad packet was fmnd. At 700yds the chief scores were Shelton. (Bluff). 30, Fraser (Kaitangata) 29, M'Pher*on (Queensland} 28, Hendry (Taieri) 28, Warden (Lvttelton) 27, Manson (Port Victoria) 27, Hicks. (Sydney) 27. Both W. Ballinger and PutneU (Wangaßui), who had 64- oa, burst up cooapletelyi the champion only hitting the target with his fourth shot, making three for 'the range.' Furnell missed his first «ix shots, including sigbters, and wound up with.three outers.' .The following failed to find the target with nine shots, including sighters :—Lester (Christchurch), Taylor (Pahiatua), Seller"! (Napier), Cameron (Oamarn), Gillies (Oani&ra),Matthews (Mcsterton), Barnes (Oamaru), Dropp (Christchurch), ll'lvor (Eaikoura). The fpllowisg'is the prize list:—

Oamaru Match.—3oo, 500, and 700 yards : seven shots at each range, counting for the Belt. Shelton, Bluff, J2lO ... ... ... ... „ SO Arnold, South Australia, £8 .. ... „ 89 Fraser, Kaitangata, £6 _ ... ... .., 88 Manaon, Victoria, JES ■ ... ... ■ ... „. 86 M'Pherson, Queensland, £5 _ ... ... 85 Howe Wellington, £4 _.- ■.„ .„ ,„ 84 Raven, ■Wellington, £i ... ,„ ... ... 84 Humphreys, Hastings'. £i ... .„ ' •»" 84 ■ Garget,-Queensland; £i ' ... „. 84 Uathieeon, Sydney, £3 ... ... . „, 84 , Bradley, Queensland, „ „. 83 Sim, Teinuka, £3 S3 Shanks, Gore, £3 .... ... , ... 83 Simpson, Kaiapoi, £3 „ ... .. ... 83 Kule, Oamaru, £3 , ... , ... '..: ... 83

Wardell (Lyttelton), Hicks (Sydney), King (Oamaru), G. Loveday (Woodyille), Domigan (Gore), Robinson (Christchurch), Spiers (Oamaru), SmithI'(Dunedin), each 82 ; Hand ley (Victoria), Kirk (Wellington), W. Loveday (Woodville), Wilmott (Queenstown), Robs (Victoria), Williams (Napier), Wilson (Wood-ville). Winterford (Queensland), each 81— £2 each; Wilkie (Upper Hutt), 81; Scott (Christchur'ch), Grant (Queensland), Wills (Southland), Todd (Victoria), Thorpe (Wairoa), Proudfoot (Dunedin), Buchanan (Auckland), M'Calley (Sydney), Foreyth (Riverton) each 80; Hendry (Taieri), A. Ballinger (Wellington), Hawker (Victoria), Smith (Invercargill), Winslade (W<mganui), Woollet (Dunedin),' Grace (Petone), Doughty (Auckland), Tamer (Wellington), Aitcheson (Kaitangata) each 79,' £1 each.

Counted out: Sloane (Victoria), Gray (Marton). Last'year Hawker (Victoria) won this match With 91, while 82 was counted oat.

•The Otago Match (500, 600, and 700 yards, ■even shots at each) was then proceeded with. A strong left wind was blowing, and there wesonly fair shooting. At the conclusion of the' Oamaru Match the leading aggregates were: Fraser (Kstitangata) and Bradley (Queensland), 170; Mathieson (Sydney), Garget (Queensland), 169; Todd (Victoria), Wilmott (Queenstown), 168; Howe (Wellington), 167 ; Rule (Qamaru), Kirk (Wellington),. Doughty (Auckland), 166 ; Willrie (Upper Hutt), 165.

Lientenant Keating, the captain of the Sydney men, who was indisposed on Saturday took part in to-day's matches. Lake (of Wellington) who,, too, was ill,, returned to Wellington.

On the men parading after lunch, Major Sommerville, ia addressing the men, said a good deal of "coaching" had been going on fey members who left their owe squads to instruct their comrades as to windage and elevation. This, he said, could not be permitted, and he tratted to hear no more of it ot an example would, have to bo made of any offending member. A start was then made' with the 500yds,of the Otago Match. The wind wag still blowing fresh from the left, bat there was a fairlygood light.. ■ The wind had; its effect on the shooting which was not up to the standard of that at the 500yds range of .the Oamaru Matchin the morning, only one possible being put on, and that" by Rule, of Oamaru. Four others narrowly escaped the major score, only being one point away, tho-e being Grant {Queensland), Head (Auckland), Meaddings {Christehurch), and W. Loveday (Woodviße). Moore (Petone) had the bad lack to miss his sixth shot, all the others being bull'seyes,, and the same fate befell M'Gregor.of Oamaru. M'Cardie (Pahiatua) had six consecutive bolls, and wound up with an outer. The 600yds wns tired under much the same conditions as the previous range, but the wind if anything had taken off a little, and Parsons, ofKaikoora, succeeded, in getting on tha first possible at 600yds at the meeting, this entitling him to an extra prize of £3. Bants (Christchurch); and Speight (Dunedin) esch made 33, while the following made 32 ■•:— Bule (Oamaru),' W; Loveday (Woodville), Wilkie (Upper Hutt), Ferguson (Queensland),, King (Oamaru), De Pelicnet (Waipukurau), Smith' (Wairanvpa), and Bradley (Queensland). M thi« range G. Loveday (Woodville) had a slice of bad lock, opening with an outer and finishing, with six bolls. A. Ballinger got on 87, with a miss. Whits (Auckland) and Hoodie (Queensland) put on five consecutive bulls, bat with the remaining shots the former brought tip the outer disc and the latter the outer and a magpie. E. Wakelin (Christchurch) made a strong bid for the extra prize of £3 for the possible, rattling on nix bulls, but had the misfortune to skip past the target with has last shot. W. Ballinger (the present champion) fared badly both at this and the previous* range, getting amiss at each, and fcoring only ES »t 500 yards snd 20 at 600. These, with his bid-burst at TOOydo in the' Oamatu Hatch, has rained hie chance of repeating last gear's performances. The shooting throughout was very irregolar, and few competitors missed the dreaded "0." On leaving this range for 700 yards the leading ecores were:—R,ule (Oamaru), 67; Parsons (Kaikoura), 66 ; Banks (Chlistehnrch), King (Oamarn), and Grant (Queensland), 65. The wind continued to fall as the shooting progressed ; consequently the scores , at. the longer' distunes compared very favourably with those of the morning at that range. BPCalley (Sydney) and Smith (North Wairarapa) got on, the spot and wound up with the really excellent score of 32. Watkin's (Donedm), Little (Oamarn), and J. Richwdlon (Dunedin) each made 31,' while other good scores were those of A. Dickson (Portobello) ■nd Doughty (Auckland). Several of the men, however, fonnd it difficult enough to hang on, and though there were no possibles of misses there; ware several who were next door to it, and in some instances competitors retired seeing that it was useless to persevere. Though the shooting among the lesser Hght3 was somewhat irregular it was no fault of the *mmunifcion, but was due more to tha faiiirig li&ht end to the haze which cams down behind the targets. Rule shot well thronghout the match, and besides securing. first prize ha forced his way to-the front in the aggregates. Wilkie, too, improved his position, and is in the second position [or the Belt. The winning score in this match, though of a high standard, does uot approach that of Wakelin, of - Christchurch, lust y«»r, at Irentham, who took first money with the brilliant score of 99 out of IDS. With tiio fiuish of this match, cease firing sotmded. The following is the prize list :—

Oiago;Match. —500, 609, and 700 yards! seven shots; counting for the Belt. Role, Oamaru, £8 ... ... ... 94 Parsons, Kaikoura, £6 ...... ... ... 93 Sergt.-major White, Oamaru, £5 ... ... 90 'Wil£e,UpperHutt,£4 ~. ... 89 Moodie, Queensland, £4 ... .„ ... ... 8M Lieut. Domigan, Gore, £i. .. ... ... ... 89 King, Oamaru, £3 ... 89 W. Loveday. Woodville, £3 8S Aitcheson, Kaitangata, £5 ... ... ... 8? McDonald. Queensland, A'3 87 Shelton, Bluff, £3 ... • _ ... ... „ 87 P.O. Williams, Wellington, £2 ... ... ... 87 Smith, North Wairarapa,. £2 ...•■■... ■... 8« Little, Oamaru, £1 ._ _. ... 86 Spiers, Oamarn, £2.;. „ .„ .. ... 86 Hyde,Pahiatua,£2 SB Sergt. Doughty, Auckland, £2 ... ... ... 85 Bttndall, Petone, £2._ _ 85 Lieutenant Stbneham (Dunedin), Colour-ser-geant Grant (Queensland), 85 each; Harris (little Eiver), Colour-sergeant Dempster (Dtmedin), VolunteerTurner (Wellington), Willoughby (Petone), 84 each; Sergeant Thorpe (Wairoa Rifles), Volunteer Scott (Christchurch), Volunteer Hamley (Queensland), Patterson (Hawera), Volnnteer Todd (Victoria), Volunteer Banks (Christchurch), 83 each; Atkinson (Hawera) Sergeant Wakelin (Christchureh, France (Karori), Corporal Larery (Christchuich), Creagh (Oamaru), Fo:syth (Biverton), Volnnteer M'Kay (Christchurch), 82 each; Watkins (Dunedin), Major Donald (Wairarapa), GL Buchanan (Auckland), 51 each ; Grace (Peierie), M'Ardle (Pahiatua), Gray (Matton); Lieutenant-commander Kirk (Petone), Lieutenant Dodds (Port Chalmers), Cameron (Oamaru), Captain Chalmers (Dunedin), G. Loveday (WoodviUo), 80each, £leach.' .' ■ ■ '