OUR VOLUNTEERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1891, 17 February 1888, Page 22

OUR VOLUNTEERS.

THE NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION MEETING. Oamaru, February 15. Captain Sommerville has been busy to-day choosing a range for the next meeting of the New Zealand Rifle Association, which commences here on Monday week. After inspecting the proposed sites on Awamoa and Ardgowan estates, Captain Sommerville decided to fix on the racecourse, distant from town only two miles, with good road and telegraph wires running close past. Although the competitors will shoot from about east to west instead of from north to south, the range chosen is an open one, and therefore fair to all marksmen— resembling Arahomo range, near Wanganui, where the association held its meeting in 1886. There is plenty of room for 50 targets if necessary, and a grand background. The range will be almost as level as a bowling green. There are no gullies leading down to the targets, thus creating all

kinds of puzzling winds. The prevailing winds are north-east and south-west — that is from the right rear and left front. Should the amnmoj,' tion provided be of good quality, I predict high scoring; and competitors possessing good judL ment, combined with accuracy, will find theft way to the front. Champions White and M'Corkindale, ex-champions Parslow (Aucfe. land), Ross (Napier), Churton and Remington (Wanganui) will compete. It is expected the best shots in the South Island will muster strongly. Kynoch's ammunition of the best quality will be used, to prevent the dissatisfac. tion which prevailed at Christchurch last meeting. On Saturday afternoon S very interesting match came off on the Llornington range between teams of 10 men aside representing the above rifle clubs. Ranges 200 yds and 500ydsseven shots at each range. Both teams were equipped with the long Snider rifles and Ky. noch's ammunition, and a well-contested match resulted in favour of the Dunedin Club by 23 points. Several of the competitors in each team put on good scores considering the changeable light and strong wind across the range. At the conclusion of the match the teams partook of a light refreshment provided on the range, whe» Major M'Cartney, of tho Portobello Club, called for three cheers for the winning team, after which Mr Gow, vice-president, and the Duuedjn men warmly responded. The return match which was fixed for Good Friday, on the Portobello rauge, will no doubt be looked forward to with interest. Subjoined are tho scores made by the respective clubs :—

DUNEDIN BIFLE CI,UB. £00 500 Messrs J G Gow ... ... 29 ii) 53 Joseph Heatley ... 30 23 53 T Menzies ... ... 28 24 52 T A Wallace ... 23 23 51 KUntherfoid ... 25 21 4$ J Hardy ... ... 23 1(5 39 GLiddell ... ... 20 It ;u P V Wales ... ... 27 7 ;n Averago ior two meu absent ... c,^ Tofcftl .'... ... ... 459 POKTOUELLO Rlt'LE CLVII, 200 500 desßrs W Genry ... ... 26 26 52 WDiekson... ... 20 22 51 ADickson ... ... 29 20 .19 J P M'Cartncy ...21 13 n A Young ... ... 19 24 4\) J Lewis ... ... 24 17 .n ilajor M'Cartncy ... ... 3t Xi m dessrs P llya.ll ... ... 24 lli 40 A Diclcson ... ... 25 115 m WGM'Cnrtncy ... 25 12 37 Total ... ... ... 43j Mijority for Dunedln ltifle Club, 2J points.