SEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION

Otago Witness, Issue 2454, 27 March 1901, Page 26

SEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION

THE ANNUAL PRIZE FIRING. (Peb United Press Association.) WANGANUI, March 21. •The annual meeting of the New Zealand Rifle Association was opened this morning under the most favourable auspices, the day Joeing fine and bright, with only a light front wind blowing. Afcer a few words of {welcome had been addressed to the commetitors by the Mayor, Mr Willis (member jfor the district) said he hoped that future gatherings of riflemen, which would be under (Government control, would be as successful as those which the association, under Colonel Bommerville' guidance, had carried on. About 225 men took part in to-day's shootSng, but the list is incomplete, fresh com•apetitora arriving during the day, while some Sieve entered for a match or two. Thirtyitwo of the competitors are using MartiniXETenri rifles, but to-day's shooting has proved Ahftt the .303 is the more effective weapon, -none of those using the former being projninent in the prize-list. Proceedings opened at 11.50, and some jfair shooting was done at the 200 yards' aang» of the Nelson Match, Cbarton, the - (BVanganui veteran, scoring within a point of the possible. At 500 yards, Sergeant lOkey (Taranaki), Marshall (Karori), Remingjtoa (Wanganui), Irvine (Waimea), and Cox lAucklahd) each gained the possible, and take •uOs each, the prize for the possible at this arange feeing Teduced from £1 to the sum framed. Marshall fired with a MartinijHenry, but, having made the standard score, ninder the handicapping system did not derive any benefit from his handicap. , F. Ingpen (Woodville), also with the Martinimade 34, and, being allowed one point, his total for the range was 35, but he does-* not receive a possible prize. Going %ack to tha final range, 600 yards, the following were the chief scorers: — Stephens <Timam), 65; M'Kay (Christchurch), 64; Marshall (Karori), 64; Crow (Petone), 64. A» the men took up their position at this range the light changed considerably, and from the bright glare of the early portion of the day the eky became overcast and dull, and it was feared that wet would set in. No rain fell, however, and there is -to-night every prospect of the weather remaining fine. At 600 yards the shooting was only medium. M'Farlane (of H.M. Re""eerre Corps. Chrwtchurch) being on top with 34. Bunting (of Palmerston) and Mooseman (Wai".ga.Eui) were one poinL away. •With the completion of this, match the shooting ceased for the day, but greater progress jß'fll have to be made with the other matches if the meeting is to be finished next week. The competitions for the mounted com■jpanies. which were set down for die 29th inst.. have been abandoned, owing to the refusal of the authorities to arant -free passes for horses and men. The Hastings men are here, having come at their -own exiJeii*e, but *he association will probably refund a portion of their expenses: ' The following ia the prize-li3t in the KELSON MATCH.— 200, 500, and 600 yards; '; *evea shoe's at each lange; k'neehng'at 200 > yards. G-. Loveday, WooaviHe, £7 . . ... .. .. 97 lieutenant Cox, Auckland, ~S& .. .? .. 97 Sergeant Stephens, Timartr, £5 98 Mooseman, Wanganui, fi „ 93 Feast, Wairarapa, £1 93 Sergeant Allport, Stoke, £3 93 Jf-Parlane, Christchurch, JB3, 92 Burns, Karori, £2 „ 93 Best, Kaitangata, £2 92 Henry, Tuapeka, £1 92 Lester, Christchurch, £2 . . .. 92 Maingay, Piako. £1 SI Sergeant Okey, Taranaki, £1 91 Head, WelliMgtor, £1 91 Churton, Waaganui, £1 91 Jones, Wellington, £1 91 Perkins, Christchurch, £1 91 M'Knight, Dunedin, £1 91 O»k'.ey, Nelson, £1 91 •M'Donald, Timar.i. £1 90 Ferguson, Eunterville, £1 90 "W. Ballinger, Wellington, £1 90 HoW)3, Hastings, £1 90 Wain. Studholme, £1 90 ■Winslade, Wanganui, £1 90 CM'Kay, Christchurch, £1 90 Henderson. Axicklaiici, £1 89 Smith. Kaitangata. £1 89 Adam.?, Patea, £1 89 Whilley, Kaiapoi, £1 ..' 39 Lester, Taranaki, £1 •• °» Love, Wanganui, £1 °9 Bo'.eyr. Charltoj. £1 " 89 Trevethick, Petor.e. £1 . . ... 89 • Counted out: Marshall (Karon), Domegan (Gore), Ching (Stoke). ' At the la«t meeting 95 won tliii maieh, trhile 84 was counted .out. Colonel Sommerville is in charge of the range, ,and is assisted as range officers by Colonel Francis (who recently returned from South Atrica), Lieutenants Harper and Redmond (of Wanganui). Twenty-five members of Ihe permanent force are here from Wellington and are acting as markers, but have an unenviable position, as the trench is very wet. . .„ Ti:e 1 andlcappinp: of the nfle3 will cause discontent, particularly to those using the Martini?. The council decided on the following handicaps and standards : —Seven shots^ Range 500 yards, handicap 1 point, standard 35 ; 600 yards, handicap 1, star-Jard 33 : 700 yatds, handicap 2, standard 32. Ten shots: Range 500 yards, handicap 1. standard 50; 600 yards, 'handicap 2. standard 48; 700 yards, handicap 3. standard 45. Even with i this handicap, the .303 weapons have all the best of it, as the ammunition for this gun is of English manufacture. Among the competitors are the present champion. King (of Oamaru), and ex-cham-pion? W. Ballinger (Wellington). Okey (Tantnaki), Remington (Wanganui), Williams (Wellington) . Kruse f Wanganui), A. Ballinger {Wellington), Smith (Dunedin). Wakelin |Chrißtchurcli). Should either of the Ballingers or King win the belt this year the trophy becomes his own property. Wellington are regarded as having a strong team, and on his performances at Woodvlile W. Balliuger is thought to have a great chance for the belt, but there he did not meet several excellent shots from the North. In the -field firing competition the men will |»o given something new, as range*, up to 'about 1500 yards will be used, and the compe£itor»' will have to judge the distance Colonel Soromerville adopted this idea after lus visit to the Transvaal, and believes that it will be of great value to the men should they at. any time have to take the field for active service. • Owing to the difficulty in securing men to fee in the volley and district matches last year, through representatives rushing away from the meeting, it has been decided to fire the championship on the last day of the meeting, and it is expected that the question as to who is to be the New Zealand champion for this year will be decided next Thursday afternoon.

It is generally understood that the Govern- I nient, when taking over the meeting next j year, will offer special inducements for marksmen to \i3lt Trentham, which is to be the permanent range. If so, they will have to remove the difficulty with respect to the class of weapon to be used, and give all and sundry who vri?h to compete an opportunity of securing weapons in bufficicnt time for practice. March 22. I Riflemen were again favoured with good weather for the second day's shooting. A light wind, though at no time during the day was it strong, changed in a most annoying manner. At first a light drift came from the right, and then it drew round to the front, and was a little puffy, but later in the day it came across from the left, falling to a calm as the men ceased firing. The Hawke's Bay Match, which was the first of 'the Belt matches, opened the proceedings, and at 500 yards Marshall, of Wellington, who -had made the possible at the range yesterday, rang up another range prize, and this, too, with the discarded Martini-Henry weapon. The shooting on the whole was far in advance of that at this range at last meeting, and among those who went back to 600 yards with good scores were : — • Wooilett (Dunedin), Watts (Christchurch), each with 49; Williams (KaTori), Wakelin (Christchurch), Hobbs (Hastings), Buntin (Christchurch), Boleyn (Charlton), Oakley (Nelson), Hawthorne (Wellington), Randall (Wellington), and Shanks (Gore), each of whom had 45 opposite their names. At 600 yards the usual bursting up began, and Marshall, who had a handicap of two points, was no exception, as his score here included three j outers, which completely extinguished his chance of securing the chief prize,, ' which looked possible at one time. Winslade, on the other hand, managed to hang on, and with another good score of 47 beat Nelson (of Woodville) on the tie, and took first money with the good score of 94. G. Loveday, of Woodville, who is shooting really well, was third, having made 46 and 47 at the respective langes. The following is the prize-list : — HAWKE'S BAY MATCH.— SOO and 600 yards; 10 shots at each. | Winslade, Wanganui, £7 .. .. ,„ .« „ 94 Kelson, Woodville, £6 au .. 94 G. Loveday, Woodville, £5 .. .. ,« .. 93 Kemp, Christchurch, £4 '.. 92 Hawthorne, Wellington, M 92 Marshall, Timaru, £3 92 Hughes, Wanganui, £3 91 A. Ballinger, Wellington, £2 .. 91 Wooilett, Dunedin, £2 91 Tyler, North Canterbury, £2 90 Stephen. Timaiu, £2 * „ 90 Purnell, Wougamu, £1 ». 90 Humphiies, Hastings, £1 , .. 90 Turner," Wellington, £1 00 Shanks, Gore, £1 t . 90 Wakelin, Christchurch, £1 90 F. Williams,w illiams, Woodville, £1 .. M . .. « 90 Watts, Ch:-i«tchurch, £1 .. XV .. i>j .. 'SO Pirie.Xnpipr.fi ..• .. *v .. 83 Whittuy, Kaiipoi, .21 „ .. 80 Williams Wellington, £1 .. .„ „ «. *„ 89 Boleyn. Charlton, £1 .. .„ .. .. A .. SO Randalf; Wellington, £1 .. „ .. M ;. 89 , Okey, lS T ew Plymouth, £1 .. „ y . «. .. 89 Gleaclow, Napier, £1 .. . ... I* .. .. 88 i Axraitage, Xew Plymouth, £1 .. **. •• •«. 88 I Gimclerson, Christchurcb, £1 •• /i «^ •• 88 Buntin, Christchurch, £1 '. .» .. SS Buchanan, £1 .««,,.., », 83 Mackay, Christchurch, £1 .„ .. .. «i S3 Wflsoa, • Woodville, £1 .. .* £, „ # 88 Manning, Christchurch, £1 . . .. •• mi 88 Kmnard, Palmerston North, £1 .. »« »r 88 Wilkie, Upper Hutt, £1 . . .. »„ «v .. 88 Last year 93 won this match and 79 was coun r ed out, which proves conclusively that the .303 is a better weapon than the MartiniBenry, and the fact will, it is believed, be more clearly demonstrated as the meeting progresses. After lunch the Marlborough Match was fired, and at its conclusion shooting ceased for the day, as there was not sufficient time to finish a further match without a risk of the men having to firp in a bad and difficult light. The fhooting in the match in question was. also an improvement on last year's, as the attached prize-list shows: — MAKLBOHOUGH MATCH.— Ten shots at 500 yards. Waugh. Timaru, £6 .. .. .. „.. „ „ 49 Feast, Waharapa, £6 49 Ingpen, Woodville, £6 .. .., , 49 Captain Okey, Taranaki, £4 .. „; .* „., 48 Oakley, Nelson, £3 .... .. ..< *. 48 Gair, Dunedin, £3 ........ «. 48 Buntin, Christchurch, £2 .. .. .. <,„ „ 48 Newall, Auckland, £2 . .. „„ .. .. .. 48 Turner, Wellington, £2 .. .. „ .. „ 48 Wain, Studholme, £1 . ....*. 48 Greenwood, Upper Hutt, £1 .. .. .. .. 48 Boleyn, Charlton, £1 , .. 48 ffen-in, Palmerston North, £1- .. .. ... -48 Domigan, Gore, £1 .. .. „ .. *. .. 48 Perkins, Christchurch, £1 .., ... .. .„ 47 Williams, Woodville, £1 . .. . y „ .. 47 W. Ballinger, Wellington, £1 „ »'* J. „ 47 Hawthorne. Wellington, £1 .„ .. „ i. 47 Hughes, Wanganui, £1 .. .. .*. »« .. 47 Whittley, Kaiapoi, £1 .. »., .. 47 MDonald, Timaru, £1 .... v .... 47 Turnbull, Gore, £1 s « .. *« 47 J. Wilson, Woodville, £1 .. ..- *. „ ». 47 Wickinss, Wellington, £1 ... „ T i, « : *. 47 Tobin, Auckland, £1 .. „ .. .. *.-. .. 47 J. iVjison, Petone, £1 .« 47 Kelson, Woodville, £1 4C Beckmghan, Timaru, £1 ... .. ,y, .-. „ 46 Churtou, Wanganui, £1 .., .. »■ .. .. 48 Harford, Feilding, £1 .. .., r . ,„ .„ .. 46 Trevethick. Petone, £1 „ «"» *v .., •". 46 Stevens, Tirnani, £1 .. .. „,, .. .r .. 46 Milne, Manaia, £1 .- .. .. 46 Counted out Gee (Linwood), A. Balhnger (Wellington), Douglas (Blenheim), Head (Wellington), Balfour (Napier), M'Kechie (Tuapeka). Last y/ear only one 49 was scored, while 43 was counted out. The council of the association having decided in the event of a competitor using a Martini-Henry rifle •tieing with the highest score the usual conditions in determining ties should be abandoned, and the prizes pooled, Waugh, Feast, and Ingpen divided the firbt three prizes, the latter having used the Martini and scored 48, to which has to be added his handicap of one point. The trio, however, fired off three shots to decide who should hold the Kynoch Cup, which goes to the highest scorer in this match. Waugh was returned the winner, having put on three bull'seyes, while each of the others plugged on 11. For the Wanganui Match £120 appears on the programme as prize money, but little or nothing having been subscribed locally, it is probable that the amount will be considerably curtailed. It is explained that the drain on the citizens here has been so extensive lately that the mayor scarcely feels himself justified in making a request for further contributions. Major Francis, who is acting as range officer, will probably compete in some of the matches later in the meeting. To-morrow the Ladies' Match, ten shots at 200 yards, kneeling, will be taken first, and then tho Oamaru Match, ten shots at 700 yards. Up to the present the following teams have entered for the Teams Match : —Victoria Rifle 3 (Auckland), Karori Rifle Club (Wellington), Reserve Corps (Christohurch^ Wood-

I ville Rifle Club, Canterbury Engineer-, l'otone Rifle Club (Wellington), Akarana Rifle Club (Auckland). Murch 23. There was fine weather again For tin 1 i-liont-ing, but a fresh wind was experienced (huiiiK • the greater portion of tho day, wlm h t .tuned the shooting to be below tho standard of tin' previous days. Sharp al 8 a.m. tin- nun paraded, and began with tho L.ulum' M.iW li, at which the shooting was jjood Tin 1 !"1 lowing are the prize-takei-, . - LADIES' MATCH.— 2OO yiu.ls, in shutScores not counting loi tin- licit. Hoffems, "Wairarapn, £1 4S Ching, Waimea, £6 4H Oakley, Nelson, £5 -17 Waiiigay, Piako, £i M Whitley, Kaiapoi, £3 .. 47 Trevethick, Petone, £-2 47 Skinner, Auckland, £2 .. .. 47 Manning, Christchnrch, £2 ... .. .. 47 Wooilett, Dunedin, £2 4<i Sonntag, Dunedin, £1 „ .. .. .. •• -to Tobin, Auckland, £1 4U Dnley, Ruahn.e, £1 .. .. .. .. . . 45 Turnbull, Gore, £1 , .. -• 45 Henry, Tuapeka, £1 45 Hughes, Wangamu, £1 .. .. .. •• 4f> Hewley, Christchurch, £1 .. 45 Messenger, Taranaki, £1 ,« 45 W. Ballinger, Petone, £1 , 43 A. Ballinger, Petone, £1 .. .. .. .. 45 Boleyn, Charlton, £1 45 Feaat, Wairarapa, £1 „ 45 Carey, Patea, £1 .., 4" Bunting, Petone, £1 45 Cos, Auckland, £1 .. .. 45 Williams, Woodville, £1 ........ 45 Williams, Karon, £1 .. 45 Hawthorne, Karon, £1 .. „ .. .. .. 45 Hollard, Petone, £1 .. 45 Kretschman, Auckland, £1 .. •• •• •• 45 Carlson, Auckland, £1 .. .. .". .. .. 45 Pearson, Tiinaru, £1 .. •• .. •• .• 45 Kemp, Canterbury, £1 45 Counted out: Sergeant Allport (Stoke). At the la?t meeting Turner won this match with 47, while 43 was counted out. The next match taken was the Oamaru Match, which is the third counting for the Belt. Those who were dovvn first had a good deal the worst of the conditions, as the vind was '.cry puffy, and there were numerous mis36S. Wakelin, ex-ch^mpion, missed several shots, vhile Harding (of Blenheim) faiied to find the target at all. Towards the end of the mrt'oh the wind was steady, and better shooting resulted. The following is the prise- 1 ist : — OAMAHCT MATCH. -Ten shots at 700 yaids. Balfour. Xapier, £7 <U Y/ilson, Woodville, £6 43 Allport, Stoke, £3 43 Wilkie, Hntt. £4 43 Glradow, Napier. £3 » .. 42 Bunting, Civristchurch, £i .. .. .• .. 42 Wain, Stuclholnie, £2 42 Mills, Dirnpchn, £2 •• •• 42 Hardford. Fending, £2 ~ 42 Domigan, Gore, £1 41 Diew, Wangamii, £1 41 Turnbull, Gore, £1 41 Guiidersou, Christchurch, £1 .. .. ..41 G. -Loveday, Woodville, £1 » 40 Kemp, Canterbury, £1 . • 40 Smith, Kaitangata, £1 •• •• 40 G. Frazer, Kaitangata, £1 .» ♦• .. »• 40 Webßter, Auckland, £1 .. .. 39 Ching, "Waiinea, £1.......•••1 .......••• 39 Purnell, Wangamii, £1 .. .. •► •• 38 Hyde, Hawke's Bay, £1 .. .. .r .. 38 Parkes, Palmerston, £1 38 Waldon, Wairarapa, £1 „ .. .. .• 38 Trevethiak, Petone, £1 .. ... .. .. 38 Taylor, Auckland, £1 .. .. •• •• •• 38 Bpllard, College Eifles, £1 , .. 38 Watts, Christchurch, £1 .. .. .. •• 38 Nelson, WoodVille, £1 .. .. 3S Thorpe, Waverley, £1 »■ •• •• 38 M'Miu-ray, Wanganui, £1 .. .. •• •• 33 Sergeant Okey, Taranaki, £1 .. «• •• 37 Hobbs, Ohmemuri, £1 37 Wooilett, Dunedin, £1 3 ? Courted out: M-Farlane (Christchnrch), Gee (Linwood), Manning (Christchurch, and King (Oamaru). After lunch the men were taken to the 600 yds to decide the Christchurch Match, which also counts for the Belt. The shooting here was three points behind that of yesterday morning, but one or two narrowly escaped gaining the possible — notably, Duley, who, after ringing on nine bull's-eyes, registered the dreaded outer. Begg, who is shooting with (he Martini, got on 45. and with his \ handicap tied the leaders. J. G. Wilson, | who was second in last match, tied with the I leaders, and on leaving this match was leadi ing for the Belt. The following is the prizei list: — 1 CHRISTCHURCH MATCH.— Ten shots at 600 yards. Pearson, Timaiu, £5 „ ... „ .* «.. 47 Begg, Duuedin, £5 ........... 17 Irvine, "Waimea-, £5 .. .. .. »« .. 47 Wilson, Woodville, £5 .. „« *» .. *• 47 Duley, Darmevirke, £5 «i ...... 47 W. Loveday, Woodville, £2 .. .. .. .. 46 Wakelin., Chnstehurch, £2 .r „, .. .. 46 Sonntag, Dunedin, £2 . . .«. •♦ •« 46 M'Cullongh, Waipawa, £2 ... *i ... .. 46 Perkins, Christchurch, £1 .«, •• ... •• 45 Bunting, Chriatchiirch, £1 .. «, i, •* 45 Feast, Wairatapa, £1 ...» «.• .. .. 45 G. Loveday, Woodville, £1 .. .• ..< «. 45 Webster, Auckland, £1 .... «. i.. .. 44 Nelson. Woodville, £1 . ... .»- .. .. 41 A. Balhnger, Wellington, £1 +. „ .. 44 Turner. Wellington, £1 .« A . v * ». 44 Sergeant Okey, £1 i\- #t i, 44 J. 'Wilaon, Petone, £1 .. „, .. .„ .. 44 Humphreys, Hastings, £1 .. .. *»-• i. 44 Best, Kaituna, £1 .... »• «• ». •• 44 Martin, Timaru, £1 . ., .> »„ #r %, 44 Kretschman, Auckland. £1 ,\ .«• rt, t. 44 M'Knight, Dunedin, £1 .«, ... <r .. 44 King, Oamaru, £1 .. ... .i< U .. 7.>7 .> .. 44 Kiernan, Ma-rton, £1 ..; .t. .. .V >> 43 Puriiell, Wanganui, £1 A «, mi •• 43 Stephen, Timaru, £1 .r J^ «.. .. .. 43 Grace, Petone, £1 t« »«i r» 43 W. Ballinger, Wellington, £1 .. ri %j 43 Wooilett, Dunedm, £1 .. .q A .. A 43 Hoffeins. Wairarapa, £1 »r /v •-• •• 43 Hariis, Wellington, £1 .. .. .. .. .. 43 Counted out: Adam 9 (Patea), Mills (Dunedin), Remington (Wanganui), Taylor (Auckland). At la.=t gathering Burford won this match with 48, and 39 was counted out. At the finish of this match the leading aggregates for the Belt were : — Wilson, Woodville .„ « ™ ■». 225 G. Loveday, WoodvilU „ ti- ~ «« .. 223 Bunting, Christchurch » r *• •• »■ •• 223 i Nelson, Woodville .. » .., ». w, .. 222 Donugan, Gore .. .'. *« .. *« »,. 216 A. Balhnger, Wellington «..«.. 216 March 24. A majority of the competitors are prepared to admit that the .303 weapon is more sensitive to a alight variation in the wind than the Martini-Henry, and from the erratic shooting at the 700 and 600 yards it would appear that the opinion is borne out by fact. Still, there are some who hold that the degrees to be allowed differ .only slightly. In the first range of the Wellington Match, 500 yards* neveu eliqt^. the .SO3 rifle was giving

c i\ decree-, and the Martini a shade under t'i\« ( oinpptiters using the former rung on pobiiblcH, while one Martini lepresentativc waM «• \on with thorn. It is hard to get a true < imip.n ison of the respective weapon?, a3 the Kcli'iiUedly Ii -<t t-hots in the colony pre using I lie .50.5, ami here they have the advantage i'l iimn? KiifrliHh ammunition. Further, the "'"il hoin the weapon in question '-> wry ulij'lil, therefore those using it lni\(i not Bud) a trying time .'Lh tlio-p shooting with the Martini, from v/huli t ho recoil is somewhere about 901b. "Miu-hli.-.I! (Wdlington), Ingpen (Woodville), iintl NoiuituK "'id Begg (Dunedin) arc shooting I lie hen! ol the 30 competitors uping the Martun, anil it would bo interesting to get some unfavourable weuther m a3 tho point as to vvlictlicr the Martini in bettor in the wind than llk> 60i i>oul(l bo settled, as none of the Wiaitot mentioned are novicei in the use of tli-" jiflc Up to the piopeiit the weather has liocn .-o f:i\muuhlp that the top-rangers for tti" Hi-It .in- till of a heap, and, to use a mi nit; parlance, "a sheet would cover the first tfii." After tho Cilii-iHtohun h Match, the first laiiKi- of Ll.c WolliiiKton Match. 500, 600, and 700 yiiulN, bi'vi'ii hliolh at each, was lak'»n. Tlio wind, which Imd boon anything from putty to liklil, now lPminni'd steady, and, with lh" dull li^ht, i-oiiio really fine shooting was miulp, Rovt'ii i umpc-litora urißiiiß- on the poi=t'il)le, uuil rorunux a prize of 10s each. Thefcc wciu (iri'inwood, ttunriall, untl (iratr*, of Wellington, t!ox and Jleniloi-Hoii. of Anckluiid, liimir-u, ot Woodvillo, and Lester, of ChriHlchuifh. The rtMiiiiimng ranges will be (iroil on Mondiiy marniii^. J. (t. Wilson (Woodvilip), who had up to thi-i lime been leading for the Belt, foored only 30, and though he had to resign first position ho ib a tie for second place. (ieori<c Loveday, of Woodville, got on 34-. and ho leads at present the rifle championship aggregates with 257, while his club mates Wilson (as mentioned above) and Neleon are a tie for second place, and only two points: away. The Woodville representatives have to far thot through the meeting with considerable conbistfcncy, and their team in the Champion Teaui: Match (whioh is decided by the aggrepatcs in the fir*t seven of the Belt matches), comprising- the Loveday brothers, Wilton, Nelson, and Ingpen, are loading for this match by about 70 point*. The Karori Rifle Club team led for a time, but the Canterbury Engineer? nre now in second place," though with very little chance of catching the men from ihe bu&h district. The prizes in this match are £15. £10. aud £5. The trio iD front for the Belt aro all well-known ai.d seasoned shots, and with the beautiful weather enjoyed for the mocting it is considered more than likely that one of them will secure the coveted trophy*. None of the ex-champions are shooting up to expect aiionp, A. Ballinger being about the best of them. There are. however, still 76 frhots to bo fired by each before the championship is won, so there may be a great shuffling of thp carda before Friday, on which day it is expected the championship will be fired, and the meeting closed. March 25. After a &pell of lovely weather a change came yesterday. Light shower^ fell during tho day, but- at night it poured heavily. 'Phis morning it was- blowing hard from the south, with a treacherous sky. Thr-ro bein? no communication- by wire with rhe range, th _• competitors went out as usual at 7.3Q, only to find that the conditions prevailing there were such that it was impossible to go on with the shooting for a time. The trench was inundated, and the force of the. wind too great to permit of large targets being- hung. Everything was put off till noon. When the shooting began in the afternoon there was a fierce front wind blowing- Only the short, range was fired. In the Otago Match, of 300 yards. 10 phots, Hewlett, of Christchurch won, and havinsr pwt on p, jjocd score in the Ladies' Match, Hewlett wine the Carbine Cud, with a score of 92. W. Ballinger (Wellington) was second with 80. The following is the prize list : — OTAGO MATCH.— Ten shots at 300 yards. Hewlett, Christchurch. £7 .. 47 King, Oamaru, £6 4C W. Ballinger, Wellington, £5 45 Welch, Wairarapa, £4 15 Gowden, Otago, £3 45 Lacey, Wellington", £2 .. 45 Fraser, Ir.vercargill, £-2 .. 45 Beckm^hain, Timaru, £2 , .< 45 Pini, Napier, £-2 . . . 43 M'Culloch (Waipawa), Bomigan (Goie), Wickanß (Wellington), Evans (Christchurch), Wills (Invercargill), Lyders, Williams (Wellington), W. Loveday (Woodville), Lister (Taranaki), Nelson (Woodville), each. 44; Trent (Christchurch), G. Frazer (Kaitangata), Wooilett (Dunedin), Stephen (Timaru), Barstow (Wairarapa), W. Willoughby (Wellington), Papp (Stoke), Kiernan (Stoke), Irvine (Waimea), Holland (Petone), Feast (Wairarapa), Armstrong (Waikari), Turner (Wellington), each 33. The following are the leading men for the Belt : — G. Loveday, Woodville .. .. .. „ .. 293 W. Neteon, Woodville „ 298 J. G. Wilson, Woodville .. .. 29i Busitin, Christchurch, .. .. „ „ .. 294 Domigan, Gore .. „ „ », .f .. .. 292 Purnell. Wangsmii „ „ A .. +. 291 Sergeant Okey, Taranaki.. ,\ r< .. .. 290 Wooilett, Dunedin . .. <t , 290 A. Ballinger, Wellington .. .» .. .t .. 268 Turner, Wellington .. «. ( . .. .. „ 288 Balfour, Napier „ „ „ .. 287 Manning, Christchurch .t. t «r . . *• 286 Winslade, Wanganui ,f, f .. i. „ «. 286 "Warn, SUidholme .. ,y ty .. „ «*. 285 Kemp, Christbhurch .. •♦ .'^ 285