THE TRENTHAM MEETING.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13051, 10 March 1911, Page 2

THE TRENTHAM MEETING.

THE KING'S PRIZE

NELSONIAXS' SPLENDID PER-

FORMANCE

[.United Press Association.]

Trentham, March i).

Proceedings opened to-day with the champion teams match, 200, 500, a.nd 600 yards, 7 shots. T'hwe wore 45 entries. The prize list was as follows:

_ Ohura Rifle Clv, 47.1 Ist, £20 and district challenge shield.

Blenheim Rifles, 4G(i, 2nd, £10. Napier Guards, 4G(5, 3rd, £7. Taradale Rille Club, 40(5, 4th, £5. Karori Rids Club, 465, Gtli, £5. Tuamarina Rifle Club, 46.3, 6th, £5

The prize, winners in the service aggregate match for the highest aggregrogate ill the six service matches were as follows: Given, Wellington City Rifles, 106, £5; Maselield, Sounds Rifle Club, 10(5, £4; Smith, CYraldino Rifles, 99, £3 ; Lakiug, Blenheim Rifles 95, £2; Molhuish. Kaikotira Mounto.l Rifles, 92, £2; Woolley, Auckland Highland Rifles, 91, £2; Williams, Ohura Rifle Club, 90, £1 ; Eden, Waimea Rifles, 87, 10s; Plimmer, D. Battery, 87, 10s.

The prize list in the Kind's Prize competition, 1000 yards, ten shots, was as follows:—

D. Roots (Kapo?iga) 448—35-—4SC. Ballinger Champion Bolt, ami gold medal presented by the Defence Minister, the gold badge- of- the Association, and £50.

Henderson (Sounds) 411—44—185, silvor star, D.lt.A. badge, and £'25. Frank (Nelson) 440— ;>9—185, silver star, D.R.A. badse, and £20 Sharland (Stoke) 4■•11—13—484, silver star, D.R.A. badge a.ud £12. The following received £5 each and the D.R.A. badge :— Cuthbortsoti (Tuamarina) 439—-40— 479. Facer (Dunedin) '139—37—47(5. ' Barltrop (Fejlding) 430—37—107. Ching (Lytteltonf 432— 35—1G7. .Morgan (AucklaJid) 434—33—467. Williams (Ohura) 43G—31—107. Necdham (Linton) 439—28—467. There were 13 prizes of £2 <*ncli, carrying the D.R.A. badge, and 25 of £2. The championship match v,as never iired in better weather than to-day, and there never was a more brilliant assemblage to witness the struggle for rifle supremacy in the Dominion. The Governor, Lady Islington, General Oodley, Mrs Godley, his Excellency's and the Ganeral's staffs were present, and a largo gathering of visitors of both sexes. When the firing opened Roots was the leader, and by a brilliant display of marksmanship he carried off the championship with its glory and emoluments. The light was a keen one between some of the leaders, and was watched with morn than ordinary interest. Henderson won the rifle cup for the highest score in the King's match. Colonial Ammunition Company's match (field firing), &U0 to 600 yard;-, disappearing target: Wellington City Rifles, 5; Owatu Rifles (Auckland) 3. Each had 16 hits. On tin* first shoot the teams tied, and on shooting off Wellington Rifles won. The winner:; take the Company's silver cup.

Sectional firing match, 450 and 600 yards, 5 shots : 2nd Battalion, Auck, la.nd, 32hits, £5; Linton Rifle Club, 27 hits. £3; Akaraua Rifle Club, 20 hits, £2.

Cover match, 200 yards, 10 shots: Napier Guards, 42 bits, £5; Wellington City Rifles, 29, hits, £.3; Awaki Rifles (two trams) 33 each, £1. Surprise service target match : Wnngnmii Rifles, ] Shits, .'Jo; Hounds Rifles 12 hits, £3; Opr.ki Rifle Club No 2, 17 hits, £2."

Tho united service match, 20 men aside, Itific Chilis v. Territorials, was started about 5 o'clock. It was deeid<'d to make tho match 10 shots at 500 and 600 .yards, instead of 7 shots al '200, GOO, a.u<! GOO yards. The match produced tlip most rcmarkab) shooting over soon, in Australasia, and possible in the world. Of tho 40 men taking part eight v ere "all huts," eight mad] possibles at 500 yards, and throe at 600 ynr<ls. On tho whole,t-lio shooting throughout tlie meeting has rarely boon excelled.

Chattie match, 200 yards: Napier Cxuirds, £5; o:>aki Rifle Club £;s ■ ChiisU'hiirch liiile Club £1.

United service match, 20 men aside 500 and 00!) yards, 10 shots, the Daw

so.il shield and a. cash prize <;f £20 to the winning team. The scores wer-.1 in the following order:— Hiiie Clubs 1889, Territorials 18Ho, Vr.tuh wii'N tliri Lee-iinneld rill.? as the highe-t scorer iti the match.

In tho teams championship the following piizcs were awarded to tinl teams making the highest aggregate scores in the various t:v.iiii<; matcher: Napier Guards, 54-!, £10; Opaki Rii|.. Club No 2, si(), £5; Opaki l?i(te Club No 1, 534, 4; Wellington City Rifles

532, £'3. The winning club secures the coffee* club cup.

Colonel Collins, addressing the gathering, dcitaibd the growth of the meeting from 1800 to 1878. It was run l)y ilio Government, who then relinquished it, but was run b\- the Rifle Association till .1891, who.ii it was handed over to the Government, since which (Into its success had boon most marked. This meeting was a record ono, there being no fewer than 505 competitors, while the scores put up spoke lor themselves. In 18.01 Uir, Dominion Rifle Association purchased tin; Trontham property, the only outside assistance towards the purchase being by the. Wellington citizens, who Kubsciibr,-] between £300 and £.100. Later the Government took the mattor up and since 1903 had spent ,£SOOO on the range, which was now the best south of the line. They had moved with the times, nix] M <jiv ruiiipelitions had been inaugurated. The advent of the new system must affect the meeting, but not so much an if thov had stuck entirely to tho fixed bullseye targets. He introduced Lord Islington, referring to the deep interest the Governor was showing in all matters for the benefit of tlio Empire. Lord Islington congratulated the Association and the officials on tho success of the meeting. Colonel Collins had taken over control of the range in 1903 ami could pride himself on the advance and development since then. There worn now 75 targets instead of 25 as then, and there- was accommodation for Girt! marksmen as against 250. The range presented an example* of what could and should bo done in al) large towns, as their share towards military effectiveness and national defence. His Excellency spoke of the desirability of carrying on the ranga on military school linos, and hoped the old hands would help the rifle shooting, which was now becoming military practice instead of, as previously, eivilia.n recreation. He spoke of certain respects in which Trenthain was in advance of I'isl'iy. especially as to tho use or uniform rifles throughout. All competitors should do their l:est in time of peace so as to be ready and capable to undertake a citizen's highest duty, and defend his country.

After the Governor bad presented tho prizes the Hon J. Carroll, ActingPremier, thanked him on behalf of all present, and spoke cjilogistically of the keen interest displayed by Lord "Islington in all matters tending to benefit the Empire.

Clio e.vs were giyciii for Lord Islington and Lady Islington, General and Mrs Godley, the Hon J. Carroll, and Colonels Hughes and Collins.

To-day'g wovk was very heavy and did not close until dusk. The whole of tho washing up was comnleted and the camp was practically deserted.