FEDERAL RIFLE MEETING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10625, 21 March 1896, Page 6

FEDERAL RIFLE MEETING.

(Pek United Pkess Association.) Oamaku, March 20. Queen's weather was enjoyed to-day, and never has there been in the history of the association such lovely weather for the annual gathering. To-day the wind, which was from the left, remained steady throughout. Only 11 teams entered for the Companies' Teams Hatch, consequently the prize money was reduced from £150 to £50. Of the -25t competitors 181 have taken money, the mosey being distributed as follows: Otago and Southland (including £123 .by Oamaru), £268; Canterbury. £167 ; Wellington and Wairarapa, £154-; Quwnsland, £94-; ' Victoria, £50; Hawke's Bay, £56; Auckland, £43 ; Wangjinui and Taranaki, £29 ; New South Wales, £27 ; South Australia, £9 ; Nelbou, £6 ;—total, £903. This doss not include the Bronza Medal, District Representative, Companies' Teams, or Volley Firing matches, and is exclusive of trophies. Those winning over £10 are :—Rule (Osmara), £tl; Wskelin (Christchurch), £38; M'Gregor (o*nwu), £2+; Howe (Wellington), £20; Ross (Victoria), Wuyte (Oamaru), Shelton (Bluff), £15 each ; WilUie (Upper Hutt), Kirk (Petone), £1* each; Moodie (Queensland), Todd (Victoria), £13' each; Bradley (Queensland), Stead man (Whanjjarei), £12 eaca; Doughty (Auckland), Jack (Duoedin), Jackson (Chrintcharch). Kempuhall (Dunedin), Scott (Christchurch), Wilrnott (Qaeenetowu), Winterford (Queensland), £11 each; Parsons (Kaikoura), Holland (Petone), £10 eaoli. The members of the Reserve Corps team, Christchurch, who won the Champion Teams' Match, fired off to-d»y to decide the winner of the binoculars presented by the Governor. Volunteer Banks won with 33 out of 35. The other scores were.—M'Kay 30, Wakelin 26, Scott 24, M'Farlane 21. The amount received for lighting shots exceeds that of last meeting by £40. The Companies' Teams Match was the one which created most interest, and there was some w.onderfnl shooting in it. From the first excellent shooting was made by every member of the Woodville team, and going ahead by "leaps and bounds" they fairly distanced all other teams. Ingpen put on the fine score of 101 out of & possible 105, and tha team totalled 484-, which is a world's record for five men at three distances. The winners finished 12 points abend of the Petone team, and their ncore is 36 ' above that with which the las'-meulioned olub won the match last year. The all-absorbing topic this aftsrnoon was the wonderful shooting, rikl the team were heartily congratulated on all sides. Not only to-day, but since the arrival of ammunition of Victorian imke on Tuesday night, there has been a great j improvement in the shooting, and it is admitted both by Australians and New Zealandere that had this ammunition been en issue at the opening a record would have been put up. All ' to-day the shooting has been of a very high j standard, and possibles were very common ; but, I unfortunately for the men, an extra prize is not awarded in matches where coaching is allowed, as is the case in the Teams and District Matches. In tha Teams Match, Bradley (Queensland) and Doughty (Auckland) mads the major points at 200yds, and at 500yds Rule (o»maru) and Ingpen (Woodville) followed suit. In the District Representative Match at 500ydg there were eight possibles, namely—Hale (Wei- | lington), Raven (Wellington), Wilson (Wood- ! ville), Williams (Napier), G. Lovedsy (Wood- . ville), Robinson (Ohristchurch), M'Gregor (Oatoarn), and Rale (Oamarn), the latter j making his second po«sibl« at the same range to-day. At 600yds the shooting continued ixcallent, and Wiison CYVoodviile), getting on si, finished up with the fine ectire of 69 out of 70. Lieutenant Robinson (Christchurch) was only one point behind Wilson. The score of the winners is 31 points higher than the Wellington district team won the match with in Welling,ton last year. The following are the details of the ,

Companies' Teams Match (open to teams of five - men from any volunteer corps of New Zealand or any bona fide rifle club).—2oo, 500, j and 600 yardo; seven shots. Prizes, £29, | , £15, £10, and £5. .

j The detailed (tore made by B'Gtegur, of ! fcho Oamaru team, is worth recording. Here it i is :■— i M'Gwor.-2DO.yiH 5551554-33; 500yds, 3555555 —33; (105yds. 5455555-31;—total, 100. The members of the Woodville team- were heartily coegratulated oa their great aohieve- | ment, and the Queeoalir.ndera reodily admitted j that much of the shooting done since the Vic- | torian ammunition his been used would do ! credit to competitors at any rifla meeting in the i world. I The Bronza Madal Match was fired simulI tsneoußly with the Teams Match. The following are the prize-takers : — Bronzs Medal Match.—Open only to winners of the bronze medals of the New Zealand | Association. Ten shots at 200 and 500 yards. ' Manson, Port Victoria, £3 and silver medal... 96 W. Ballinger, Wellinßtou. £i ... .:. ... 91 G. Loveday, Woodville, £3 9:t Jack, Dunedin ... 93 i M'Farlane (Cbri«tc'aurch). Robinson (Upper ! Hutt) 92, and Armstrong (Dunedin), 91—£2 each ; Williams (Napier), 9!; White (Auckland), Scott (Christohm-ch), Parsons (Kaikoum), Tavlor (Auckland), Hyde (Pahiatua). Chapman (Wairoa) 90, Steadman (Whanßarei), SW-il each. Counted out: King lOiniaru). At 200yds Osigiß (Southland) i?ot eu 49, snd Scott ■ (Christckurcb) 4-8 at 500 yards. M'Farlsne (Christcku'c'j) and Mansoii (Little j Kiv«r) each 6cored 48. Jsick (Dunedin) scored ' six bull's-eyes and then \mi a. bull's-eye on the ! wrong target, winding up with three other j bull's-eyes. The mistake loat him first prize. ! The wind was steadj' from the left. j, After lunch tbosa who had tied for eighth, ' ninth, and tenth positions, and prizes of £5 each in the Championship Match on Wednesday were called upon to fire eff five shots at 700yds to de-side the ties, with the following result: —Corporal Simpson (Eaiapoi), 17 ; P. j WilkiH (Upper Hutt), 10; C.P.0.-Williams I (Weiliugton), 9 ; Lieutenant M'Pheraou ■ (Queecislandli 9. Williams and M'Pherson tied for tenth place and fired another shot, Willi.iais scoring 3 while M'Pherson failed to hit the target. Volunteer Todd (Victoria), . who had also tied, was absent, having to catch ; the northern train. ! Afc 3 o'clock the Volley Firing was disposed of. The Auckland and Wellington districts took no part, not having sufficient voluntcjra hers. The revolt was : — I Vollky Firing Match.—Open to 20 volunteers from each provincial volunteer district and j to the Permanent Force. Distance, 500yds ; J «even volley*. Prizes in this match given by tbe Horn the Defence Minister. ! Hits. Misses. Pts. Volleys. Tl. OUgo, £20 ... 109 31 3:i2 49 — 411 Canterbury, £10 106 34 357 45 — 402 Napior, Wanga- ! nui, and Taranaki, £5 ... 115 25 359 42 - 402 OUgo had five good and two bad volleya ; Canterbury, four good, one medium, and two bad ;, Wanganui, Napier, and Taranaki, four good,.one medium, and two bad. District Representative Match. — Twenty j men ; 500 and tiOO yards; seven shots. Exhibltion shield, Hobson's cup, and £20 to winning team. I

With the finish of the Dietrich Match, operations at the range were concluded and the majority of the competitors will leave for their homes to-morrow morning. The prizes were presented by Mrs Sumpter in the Theatre Royal this evening. There was a large attendance of the public and compef.itors, though a large number of prize-takers were ; absent. Major Sommerville thanked the people i for what they had doue for the association, and trusted it would not be the last meeting held here. He referred to the marvellous shooting on the range to-day, and said it was to be regretted that better naiatunition had not bnen available at the opening. Sergeant Wskelin received an ovation on stepping up to receive the Belt, as did the local men—Me»srs Rule and M'Grejjor,—who finished second and third respectively for the Championship. The Australians, too, were heartily cheered. A pretest, against S«ott (Chri»tchurch) receiving a £1 prize in the Bronze Medal Match on the ground that he fired late and otter the I others had onished one range was allowed, and King (Oamaru), who was counted out, therefore takea the last prize. The marking /throughout the meeting was excellent, and not a single " challenge " was gWen in favour of the riflemen.

. . 200 500 BOO ' yds. yds. yd-i. Tl. J. Chicken 33 29 32 - 91 G. Loveday 33 34 30-97 W. Loveday 34 31. • 83 - 38 F. lagan 33 -'iS T, -101 J. G. Wilson 33 31 27 - 9J Total - ... ... 484 PETONE RIFI.K CLUB. i W. H.-Ballinger 31 33 29 - 9G ! W. Randall 33 29 33 — 95 C.Hoilard ■•-...■■ 32 31 33-98 B. K. Bnnny 33 33 S!S - 94 . Captain Trevethick 3D j 31 2S - 89 1 Total 472 '■ A CO5IPANY (QUEENSLAND). ; Corpora) Bradley 35 34 20 — 9S Private Hamley 32 29 31 — 92 Corporal Winterford ... 31 32 30 - 93 Corporal Garget 34 30 27 - 91 : Sergeant Hoodie 32 28 32 - 92 | Total 466 t DUNKDIN CITY GUAUDS. f Volunteer Sonntsg 30 33 2S - 91 i Volunteer .Tones 33 31 31 — 95 Sergeant Clark 34 33 23 - DO Captain Smith 33 32 ») - 95 1 Lieutenant Jack 33 30 26 - 89 , Tolal ... .46O| OTHER TEAMS. Oarnara Rifle Club, No. 1... 162 1S9 133 -457 j ChristchurchlisserveCorps, | No. 1 ■ .-.. 154 157 142—453 , Bimedin Rifle Club 180 35S 13(1 -44S | j Wanganui Rifles 159 147 137 -443 i A Battery (Auckland) ...159 148 129 —13d Christchurch Reserves, No. 2 151 155 125 —431 , Oamaru. No. 2 150 150 119 -419 \ Detailed shots of this truly phonomsnal score oE the Woodvilla team are : — • 200 fiOO GDO Chicken 5455545 4535534 5:M5'i5 r > G. Loveday ... 5455455 55. r»5-I5 4353555 W. Loveday ... 5455555 5534554 55455J5 Inspen ... .„ 5555454 5555555 4545555 Witon" 5151555 4655555 4552434