DEATH OF MR D. L. CHRISTIE, SADDLE HIBL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3249, 21 June 1916, Page 55

DEATH OF MR D. L. CHRISTIE, SADDLE HIBL.

<*, The passing away of Mr David Lyall Christie on the 11th inst has removed from | Saddle llill one of the early settlers of tho I Taieri district. He was born at Montrose, Forfarshire, in Scotland, on January 24, 1844. When a lad of about 10 years of ajro ho came to New Zealand with his parents—the late Mr and Mrs James Christie, of Saddle Hill—and the other members of their family in the ship Stately, in the year 1854. Not long after their arrival hero' the family settled at Saddle Hill, which has ever since been the home of more than one branch of the family. Like many other early settlers, he caught the gold fever in 1861, and went with his brothers to Gabriel's Gully in search of the precious metal. On his return to the Taieri he engaged in farming operations at Saddle Hill, and also lat Langloy. East Taieri, for some years. I The discovery of coal on the Saddle Hill i property in 1874 led to the opening up of | the first coal mine in the district, and the I establishment of the firm of Christie Bros. ! by Messrs James Christie, jun., William L. \ Christie, and David L. Christie for the ] purpose of working the mine. In tho sixties Mr Christie was an enthusiastic I volunteer, being an officer in the East : Taieri Volunteer Corps. He was well known : in those days as a crack rifle shot, and ho i carried off many trophies, including tho j New Zealand Championship' Belt. He took ' an active part in several branches of sport, I notably cricket and bowling. In his earlier days he was fond of a good hunter, and on Katerfelto was the first Otago owner to win tho New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase. He was a very good cricketer, but it -was on the bowling green that ho ! was best known, especially to the present ! generation. He and his brother William were amongst tho earliest members of tho Taieri Bowling Club, of which he was vicepresident at tho time of his death. During the existence of tho Taieri Horticultural Society he was one of its strongest supporter's, and at the society's annual exhibitions ho won scores of certificates for his excellent exhibits o? flowers, fruit, and vegetables. Although he did not take ao. active part in public life, he always toolß a keen and intelligent interest in the events of his day. lie was a consistent supporter of the church of his fathers. In 1893 ho was elected to the office of a deacon in the East Taieri Presbyterian congregation, and in 1904 to that of an older, which latter office he bold up to tho time of his death. His quiet, peaceable disposition, his unfaili ing courtesy and kindness and his sterling | qualities of character made for him a largo ! circle of friends, and earned the respect and ! esteem of all who came into close, touch j with him. He married a daughter of tho | late Mr Joseph Allan, of Holmes, East | Taieri, and ho leaves his widow and ono i son, Lawrence, who is on active service with | the' New Zealand Expeditionary Force in ! France.

A NOTABLE RIFLE MATCH. The late Mr D. L. Christie, of Saddle Kill, was a well-known rifle shot _ lit his day. In 1856, at the colonial prize-firing, ho won the Champion Belt and £IOO. On the 20th and 21st November, 1871, as the result of a challenge sent out, he fired a match against the Jate "Long-drive" Walker, of Auckland. The contest took placeon Forburv Park Racecourse. 'She match was for a stake of £l5O a-sido, and occupied two clays. The conditions were 10 shots each at 200 yards and every succeeding hundred up to"TC00 yards, any rifle and ammunition and any position. Captain M Tarlaud (artillery) acted as umpire for Christia and Mr Patorscn, of Paterson and M'Leod, kite captain of the City Guards, for Walker. Cantain Trcuton, of Sydney, was referee, and Sergeant Nightingale watched Walker's interests in the butts. The scoring was two for an outer, throe for a. centre, and four for a buli's-eyo. The rifles used were smallbercs. Christie used a Rigby and Walker a Whitworth, with a small spirit-level attached. Christie objected to using thai mounds, as they were not level or firm, but Walker stuck out that according to the rules they both must use the mounds. While this dispute was going on it was found thai Walker's backsight was not according to regulation. Eventually a compromise was made—namely, Walker to use the regulation backsight and Christie the mounds. On the first clay thero were only about 300 spectators, but on the second day there were about 600 or 700 people present. At the completion of 500 yards, the final shoot "for the first day, the scores wore: Walker 184, Christie 172. One possible was registered during the dav—Walker, at 400 yards, putting all his shots in the " bull." On the' second dav the firing commenced at 700 yards. Christie lost another point hero, but at 800 yards ho pulled up three points, and at 900 varus he pulled up eight points. After four shots had been tired at 10CO yards Christie was level with Walker, but ha missed his second last shot, and tho contest ended: Walker 310, Christie 305. After tho match Walker challenged Christie for another match, £IOOO a-sido, but the challenge was not accepted. The following were the range scores:—2ooyds—Christie 34, Walker 37; 300yds— Christio 33, Walker 33; 4OOvds—Christie 36. Walker 40: 500yds— Christio 37, Walker 33: 600yds—Christie 32, Walker 36; 700vds, Christio 35. Walker 37; 800yds—Christie" 34. Walker 31; 900yds— Christie 36, Walker 23; 1000yds— Christie 'i.7, Walker 30. The match was fired at iron targets. Tho competitors had not thesamo advantages as shooting have now —no spotters being shown. Christie was comparatively a stranger to the small-bore ride.

The board of the Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company has decided Upon a war allowance to its permanent staff of 10 per cent, for the current year, in recognition of the increased cost of living. Fho company also continues its patriotio eontribution of half-pay to those members Df its fftaff who are absent on soldiers' duty, and theso also will share tha additional war- aliowanoo.