SHOOTING NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8797, 26 April 1907, Page 3

SHOOTING NOTES.

By " Spotter." In order to attain anything approaching proficiency with the rifle, ■an immense amount of target practice is necessary. Many of the most successful performers made very poor attempts when they first started shooting, and it is only by assiduous practico that they have reached the front rank among Jmarksmen. Some timo ago the Minister for Defence expressed a hope that in the near j future rifle would he made quite as popular a pastime as football and cricket. As far as can be ascertained no steps have been taken so far to bring about this result. It is generally recognised that the greatest drawback to the popularity of rifle shooting is the expense; especially to members of rifle clubs The paltry grant of 100 rounds of ammunition each year is about the only material assistance that Government extends. If this grant was made ten times greater, or the price of ammunition reduced to half its present cost, men who are now debarred by reason of expense would find it within their means to indulge in rifle shooting. When rifle shooting is simply.in-

dulged in for pastime it is quite right that members should pay for their pleasure, and not bo entitled to any assistance from the general taxpayer. On the other hand, seeing that Defence Rifle Clnbs come within Government regulations, and are recognised as an important auxiliary line of defence more assistance should be given to enable young men to afford to practice. The time has arrived when combined representations should be made from defence rifle clubs and an effort made to induce the authorities to increase the capitation and make a substantial reduction in ammunition -as |is the practice in the Australian States. Quite a number of shooting trophies are on view in Mr G. Avery's window atM,arton. Prominent amongst these is the sterling silver cup presented for competition by Mr Edward Newman. The trophy presents a striking appearance; the engraved bowl resting ' upon three crossed rifles standing on a black ebony base, the blocked lid being surmounted by the flguro of a rifleman in uniform. The mounting and general appearance make it a fine specimen ol the silversmith's art. Other trophies are a double set of carvers and a silver teapot presented to the Marton Rifle Club by ! Oapt. Sntcliffe, which have been won by Messrs E. B. Signal and G. Frederick respectively. There are also a silver hot water jug presented by Mr W. Morrison and a gold medal by Mr J. Robson. The competition for the hot water jug will be commenced next Wednesday. Mr Robson's trophy is for the best aggregate score of the season. The cup presented to the Rangitikei Rifle Olub by Mr L. McKelvie was won by Capt. Nicholson with an average of 88 points in his three winning competitions. The Himatangi team are anxious to have the final match with Marton for the Newman Cup, fired off at once. The Marton Club wishes to delay the match till June 3rd, that day being a public holiday, as at present they are unable to get a representative team away on account of the members being engaged in threshing operations. The southern team consider that this is too long to wait, and they will be glad if an earlier date can be arranged.

The 32nd half yearly competition of the Hunterville Rifle Club takes placo on Saturday week and I am informed that arrangements are being completed that will ensure a good day's outing. I would suggest that the committee should try to have the evening train delayed half an hour, to enable competitors to complete their shooting in time to get to the station without having to hurry at the last range. In a matcli between the representatives of the Wellington Defen.ce Rifle Clubs and 20 volunteers of Wellington Infantry Battalion at Trentham Rifleman A. Ballinger, the champion shot of the colony, scored 34 at 200 yards, 32 at 500 and the possible at 600 —101 out of a possible. 105.

A team of ten men of Clutha Mounted Rifles put up what is claimed to be a New Zealand record in a company competition recently. The ranges were 200, 500 and 600 yards, 7 shots at each,, and the total scores were 324, 31G, 283—923. Waikouaiti Branch of the Farmers' Union have decided that their annual picnic in May shall take the form of a rifle competition among members,. At a meeting of Royal Rifles last evening it was decided to practice every Wednesday afternoon in view of the forthcoming Battalion Shield competition at Wanganui. The following team lias been selected to practice :—Capt. Batten, Col. -Sergt. Bell, Sergts. Stewart, Russell and Bertram. Corpls. Wing and Hunt, and Privates Slight, A. E. F. Signal, S. C. L. Marr, Fowler, John Frederick, Henrv Frederick, W. Mclndoe and D. F. Whale. Ten men are required for the team. Any other members of the corps who wish to participate in the practices may do so. Captain Batten will coach the team.

The following scores were made at Himataugi on Saturday for Mr \ McDonald’s Trophy. The darkness j was responsible for several unfinished scores at GOO yards

r PUKEOKAHU RIFLE CLUB. On Saturday last members of the r above club fired for Captain Collin’s Trophy (Gold Medal). Appended are ‘ fhn sp.otps :

Mr Gardner s' Trophy will be fired for on Saturday, April 27fch, 1907.

200 500 COO t‘l 0. Governlock 33 29 34 95 F. 0. Baikes 82 31 29 92 0. Oonlan 33 28 39 90 s. J. Hartley 80 80 29 89 E. Governlock 31 33 2C 89 G. Hunter 37 33 26 86 H. Hartley 30 28 24 82 E. Christensen 20 31 23 80 E. Oonlan 81 33 rtd 63 W Moffatt 30 30 rtd 60

ttio scores: — 200 500 600 h’p t’l Rifleman J. AdamsSl 28 26 8 93 J. Gardner 30 30 37 10 93 ,, J. Law 37 24 17 25 93 Captain J. Collins 29 33 30 scr 92 Rifleman O. Ross 83 29 24 ’ 7 93 ,, N. Small 31 31 24 3 89 T. Torrey 37 80 23 10 89 ,, A. Fowler 30 38 20 4 88 ,, S. Fowler 29 28 20 5 88 ,, H. JaggardSl 38 28 scr 87 J. Smith 23 16 14 33 76