NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Colonist, Volume XXXI, Issue 5168, 22 March 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

THE PRIZE FIRING. RESULTS OF THE CHAMPIONSHIPS, [Per United Presß ABBOcifttion.'j . Oamabc, February 27. The New Zealand Rifle Association's annual meeting commenced to-day.' J in the Wellington Match, the highest score made was's9 points,' as against, 56 last year, which speaks for itself as to the'superiority of the- ammunition now being- used..The following are the prize takers in the' Wellington Match, 200 and 500 yards, 10 shots ateaoh distance:—

The following.received £1 each:—Private M'Laren, Pvt. Miller, Pvt Aamodt each o4; Pvt Ransome, Pvt Duncan, Pvt King, Lieut. Oakden, Pvt Simson, Gunr Jollett, each s<s; Sergt. Hodgkinson 52. Maddock, Guy, and Thorburn were counted out. February 28. The weather is again fine, but warm. In the morning; the wind blew right down the range, but it has not chopped aorose. Sk's Bat Match (for both Belts), 200 and 500 yards; ten shots at each.

The following take- £1 prizes :-~lnglea> Thames; Jones, Waikari; Johnston, Olutha■, Fairs, Auckland; DalzieU Waikari; Robertsod, Peninsula; Clare, Thames; MoKenzie, Blenheim; and Volunteer Hutchison. Dunedin. McTaviab, Gokslji Cox, and MoDonald with-76 were counted out. ,",','. , The Auckland Matoh was concluded about sißo this evening. The weather all day was goodand-the light capital. AuokuhdMatoh; 200,300, and 500 yards:

The following each take £1 (all 77):— Sergt Handley. Auckland ; Sergt Jones, Waikari; Sergtr Kelly, Oamaru;; Corpl .Love, Wanganui; Private Langham, Napier; Gunr MoCorkingdale, Invercargill; Pvt Johnston, Clutha; Captain Little, Auckland; Sergt Frederick, Dunedin; and Sergt Williams, F Battery. February 29. Very satisfactory progress is being made with the shooting, and if the weather keeps fine the Association Meeting should be concluded this week, the championships being decided on Friday afternoon, and the team matches taken on Saturday afternoon. Capt. finllipft h'aa now assumed entire control Ot the meeting (Capt. Somemue oeing a counioutor;, and to MS untiring energy and Bpecial adaptability for the work, the, successful manner in which the affair is going off, is mainly due. A protest was this afternoon lodged against Volunteer Cox, of Auckland, on the grounds of wearing a pugaree to his cap, and there is some talk of protesting against Major Purnell, on the ground that he belongs to the Honorary Staff, audia not on the active list, but nothing is likely to come of either objection. Thia afternoon the North Otago Match'(open to all-comers, and to count for both Belts) and the West Coast Match (carbines only) were commenced, and will be completed to-morrow. It will be seen from the aggregate scores given below, that Gunner Lumsden has increased his lead for the Carbine Championship, and looks like carrying the Belt off. For the Rifle ChampionHhip the Otago men hold prominent positions, though Capts, White and Little are by no means out of the running. Marohl. Proceedings were resumed this morning with the first stage of the Wanganui Match, for rifles only. The weather was dull, with the wind from the right. The arrangements are generally admitted to be most satisfactory, though the competitors are not firing towards the south as was agreed on at Wanganui. The wind does not materially, interfere with the shooting,, andihe meeting is allowed to be one of the most successful held under the auspices of the'Aasooifttion. North Otago.Match, 200, 300, and 500 yds; seven shots at each range. Riohardson, Dunedin ~ .. 91 £15 Dickeon, Peninsula Rifles .t 81 12 Sergt Jones,. Waikari .. .. 84 10 Neil.. Peninsula Rifles .. .. 84 8 Barstow, Carterton • .. .. 83 6 Stewart, Waoganui .... 82 5 M. Begg, Peninsula Rifles .. 82 5 Climo, Thames Navals.. «. 81 4 Flyger, Wanganui .. .. 81 4 Clark, Otepopo.. ... .. 81 3 Maddo.sk, Blenheim .. .. 81 3 \ kvhe, Aua-Jsgnd^wftlfc ~ 80 3 \ Handley, Auckland „« .. °cX • M,. j, Hodgkinson, O Battery ~ 80 2*. Lieut Okey, Taranaki .. .. 80 2 West Coast Match, 300 and 500 yarda; ten shots at each distance; for carbines only. Sergt Chapmaii, Lyttelton^ .. 73 £8 Sergt Williams/Napier.. ..72 6 Sergb Chalmers, Dunedin ..71 5 Lieut Davey, Petone .. .. 71 4 Sergt Parßlow, Auckland .. 70 3 Gunner Bunting, Napjer r . .. 70 3 Gunner Driver, Port^h(ilmers 69 2 Captaiu Creagh, Oamaru.; ..69 2 The following with 68 take £1 eaoh :— Murison, Dunedin; Le Griffen, Auckland; Baist, Oamaru,; , Gray,' Wellington ; Thorburn, Thames." , ' Wangandi Matjh, 300 and. 600 yards j ten -' shots'at each range; for rifles only. Bugler Marshall; West Taieri.. 73 £8 Major Purnell, Wanganui .. 71 6 Private Johnston, Clutha ..69 5PrivateTaylor, Taranaki ..68 4 Captain White< Auokland .. 68 4 Sergt Crawford, Dunedin ....... 66 8 Pvt A. Ballinger, Wellington .. 66 3 Sergt McKinlay, Dunedin ..65 2 Col-Sergt Kaye, Oamaru ~65 2 Sergt Boyes, Caversham .. £4 2 The -following, take £1 each:—Hughes, Wanganuj; Clark, Thames; Smuill, Kaitangata; Okey, Taranaki; Jolly, Cromwell; Sandford, Christchurch; all 63; Maddook, Blenheim; and Robinson, Riverton; each 62. March 2. New Plymouth Mitch—2oo aad 300 yardß; to count for. both Belts. Sontag, Waikara .. .. 69 £10 M'Carthy, Dunedin .. ..68 8 Hay; Oamaru ..' .'. .. 67 6 Marohbauka, Dunedin ..67 5 Smith, Dunedin .. ..66 4 Souall, Auokland .. ..65 3 Salek, Ashburton .. ..65 S Watson, Port Chalmers ..65 3 Corporal Hutcheson, Duneclia 65 2 Lougham, Napier '.. .. 65 2 Small, Kaitangata .. ..64 2 Davey, Wellington ~ ..63 2 The following take £1 each :'— Churton (Wanganui), Mearah (Dunedin), Whits (Auckland), Okey (Taranaki), Dateeil (Dunedin), Humphries (Fielding), Everest (Hampden), Graham (Wanganui), Humphries (TemnkH), Morrison (Dunedinl, and Hodgkinson (Auokland). TJba twenty highest scorers in the Auckland, North Otago, and Otago Matches fired off; for the Union Company's Cup. Sergeant Joheg, of Dunedin, was top scorer with 269, and holds the Cup till next year.; Sergeant BwtiiUoßi ci Wingwai, mucli a«7; mi

Oaptain Smith, of Dunedio, 265. The annual meeting of members of the New Zealand Rifle Associa'ion waa held to-night. | Tha election of a new Council resulted in the return of moat of the old members. As an Otago representative, Major Burns defeated Captains M'Nab and Wilkinson, Private Biohardson and Capt. M Gredie were beaten i by Capt. Kohn of Wellington, and" Captain | Creagh of Oamaru was defeated by Oaptain j Cosgrove. The question of new weapon was i discussed at Jengtb, and the meeting resolved to adopt the Martini-Henri, only 12 voting for the Snick 1. As to the distribution of the , present belts Capt Somerville, stated that it , had been suggested that they, should be placed in the Colonial museum, and new ones obtained for the Martini's, but the past winners objected to this course, and eventually the question was left to the Counoirto decide. With regard to date, the Southerners favored Easter time, but nothing-definite waß decided. An attempt was made to get the Standing Match removed from the belt matches, but was withdrawn afterwards. Votes of £25 to Captain Collins and £50 to Captain Sommerville were passed. March 3. The eleventh annual prize firing meeting in connection with the New Ztaland Rifle As* sooiation was brought to a olose this evening. The Challenge team match occupied the greater part of the day, and resulted in a somewhat unexpected win for the West Taieri Rifles, with the Wanganui Rifles second. Twenty-nine teams competed, while! the Canterbury Scottish, who came on from L Timarubythe morning train, were too late to take part in the firing. The Carbine i Championship was next, decided, and an1 exciting finish resulted in the belt being won! by Lieutenant Ross, who haying now won it, three times claims it. as his property. Off course the strong lead held by Major Purnell! made the Rifle Championship a certainty for him. His win was a most popular one, and; he was oarried Off the range shoulder high.; Private Johnston finished splendidly, and took, second aggregate position (last year he was: third), while Captain White (ex-champion) was close on his heels. The following are the.results of the day's shooting :— ' Team Challenge Match—ranges 200, 300, 400, and 600 yards, seven shots at each; range; each team to consist of five members. : West Taieri Rifles .. .. 499' £50 '' Wanganuißiflea .. ..495 80 ; Thames Navala .. ..493' 25 1 Victoriaßifles .. ..493 20 Taranaki Rifles .. ..489 15 Blenheim Riflea .. ..487 10 There also fired—Masterton Rifles, 481; D. Battery, 480; Waikari Rifles, 477; Gordon; Rifles, 476; North Dunedin Rifles (No. 1), 473; Wanganui City, Rifles,. 471; Thames: Rangers, 470; Wellington ' Guards, 469.;, Dunedin City Guards (No. 1); 469; Oamaru Riflea, 468; Christchurch Reserves, 467;: Clutha Rifles, 466; A. Battery, 462; Pen-; insula Rifles, 462; Riverton Rifles, 460; B. Battery, 456; Port Chalmers Navala, 453; North Dunedin Rifles (No. 2), 451; Dunedin: City Guards (No. 1), 450; Eaitangata Rifles,: 445; Manchester Rifles, 432; Bangiora, Rifles, 422; Inveroargill Rifles, 413. Rifle Championship. Major Purnell (champion), Wanganui .. '.. 526 £40 Private Johnston, Clutha .. 507 20 Capt. White, Auckland .. 504 10 Sergt. Jones, Waikari .. 501 7 Private A. Ballinger ~ 496 5 M-Tavish, Peninsula .. 495 5 Falls (Auckland), 494; Handler (Auckland), 493: Clarke (Wanganui), 492; Hutchison (Dunedin), 492; Hale (Wellington), 490; Grey (Canterbury), 484; Okey (Taranaki), 482; Sontag (Waikari), 481; Marchbanks (Dunedin), 479; D'AuvergDe (Rangiora), 475 ; Foster (Wanganui), 473; Captain Little (Auckland), 470. Cakbine Championship. Lieutenant Ross (champion), Napier .. .... 512 £30 Gunner Moore, Queenstown 510 15 Gunner Lumsden, Auckland 508 10 Captain Proudfoot, Dunedin 508 5 Gunner Thorburn (Thames Navals), 508 5 st-;s'5 t-;s' 505; Parslow (Thames). 505; Davey, (Wellington) noi, waii»m 9 (Napiei), -501; Woolley (Auokland), 499; Cbapmun, 496 ; Kuchen (Wellington), 496; Oak ien (Dunedin), 492; Hodgkinson (Auckland), 491; Taylor (Wellington), 485 ; Greenfield (Camaruj, 485; Payne (Auckland)j del; Howe (Wellington), 483. The North and South Island match was won by the Northerners by 27 points. Sergt, Hale, of Wellington, as highest scorer in the winning team, received a Metford rifle, and holds the Hobson Cup: till next year. The Staff match had 15 competitors, Capt. Lomax (Rangiiikei Cavalry) winning the first prize of £2 10s, with Capt. Collins (Secretary to the Association) second.

Pvt. A'. Ballinger, Wellington 59 £io Pvt. Harding, Blenheim ....... . 59 7 Corpl. D'Auvergne, Rangiora. 5/ 6 Pvt.GeDtify, Peninsula' ,;.. 57 f Sergt. Macartby, Dunedin .. 57 & Serjt. Pai^low,' A Battery .. .57. 4 Gbrpl. Lyon, Riverton- ....... 57 * ! Capt.liucas, Thames/ ; ..„ 56 4 I Sergt. ; Fairs,'Auckland . .... 66. 4 , Ganr.Mpore, M Battery ;..,.. 56 i ' Capi Donald, Masterton .-. „ \ p.p. Harrahy,Port Navals... 55 2 : Capt. CoBgrove, Qtepopo .. &5 i Gunr. Greenfield > J. Battery.. 55 2 i Pvt. Clarke, Thames .,54 2

Lumsden, A Battery .. Eose, Auckland Riflea ... Corpl. Hutchison, Dunedin Foster, Wanganui Hughes, Wangauui .. Proudfoot, B Battery .. Major Burns, Dunedin.. MoDairmid, West Taieri Sonntag;.Waikari .. Hale, Wellington .. Small, Kaitangi .« Woolley, A Battery .k .. 82 £10 .. 81 8 .. 79 6 ..79 5 ..78 4 ..78 4 .. 78 3 .. 78 8 ♦ . 78 3 .. 78 3 ..77 2 ..77 2

seven shots sit each; Private Tukey; Thames .. 81 £.10 Private Tyler, Bangiora ..80 7 Raines, West Taieri .. .. 79 6 Lieut MoTavisb, Peninsula ..79 5 Major Purnell, Wanganui .. 78 5 Sergt Remington, Wanganui .. 78' 4 Corpl Maddock, Blenheim ..78 4 Private McCarthy, Dunedin .. 78 3 Captain Smith, Dunedin ..77 3 Private Acheson, Eaitangata .. 77 3 Private Stewart, Wanganui .. 77 2 Sergt Parslow, A Battery .. 77 2 Captain Hogg, Cliitha .. ..77 2