RIFLE SHOOTING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 43, 15 February 1912, Page 5

RIFLE SHOOTING.

NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION MEETING. PEW ENTRIES RECEIVED. ! , V : (Per Press Association.) Wellington, February 14. Tito entries receive ! to date for the New Zealand Rifle Association meeting, to take place at Trentham on the 23th inst., number 225, but it is anticipated that they will reach about 250. The entries this year compared with last year are very small. Last year there were 580 competitors, and the officers controlling the meeting expected that a very large entry would no secured this year, as the programme drawn up is one of the besi that has been issued so far, and had been so compiled as to meet the approval, not only of the military authorities, hut also of those to whom bulls-eye shooting is very attractive. Several causes are assigned for the reduced number of entries. One reason given is that the defence system is in a state of transition. Members of the Territorial Fo/ee have not yet had a chance of obtaining target practice, whereas in previous years about 350 men in Wellington indulged in rifle shooting every Saturday. During the present season the number has hardly exceeded 30. These consist chiefly of rifle club men. Then, also, rifles have boon placed in store for examination, and have only recently been re-issued. Another factor is the difficulty the men experience in getting leave in addition to the week’s compulsory camp training. In previous years various corps took an interest in rifle shooting, and, as a rule, sent representative teams, the expenses being borne by the company's funds. No such assistance is being given this year. There was some talk of cancelling the meeting this year, but the executive o(lifer is prepared to go on with the reduced number, and is confident of making the meeting a success from a shooting point of view.

Amongst the '’many trophies is a handsome silver cup riresented by the Governor.