THAMES SCOTTISH PRIZE FIRING.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 2199, 15 November 1875, Page 3

THAMES SCOTTISH PRIZE FIRING.

The first match with the Sniders took plaoe on Saturday at the Maori range, Parawai, kindly lent on the occasion by Captain Taipari, The rifles were issued by lot on Friday evening, and each competitor came on the ground new to'the range and to his rifle. No alteration was made in the pull of triggers, and as these were in most cases double the authorised weight fine shooting could not. be made. The match altogether was one more of sighting shots, in order to get elevation, &c. The ranges were: 300,400, and 500 yards; five shots, and no trial shot. The Sniders supplied to the Thames are second-hand weapons, and have, seen a good deal of service and hard usage j but although no high scores wore made by the Scottish on Saturday, ami several of the old shots were unable to compete, yet the general opinion 1 of the 37 men who contested is favourable to tho weapon, and they have no doubt when more accustomed to the sighting and breach loading the shooting will be muoh improved. Excepting in four cases,-the'backsights of the rifles had all to be put higher than the Government mark, showing either defective construction in the sighting marks or very, inferior and weak, powder. One competitor fired at 400 yards, with the sight up to at 500 yards, and made 16 points, while Volunteer Fenton took the range prize at 500, with a good score of 17, and had his rifle sighted at 550 yards. The day was.fine, but with a stiff puffy, wind across tho range from the - right. The comfort in using the breech-loader was shown more than once during the firing, on Saturday. In the morning squad 12 men fired, and in the afternoon 26. Two targets were used for the latter, and opposite each target wero two competitors, who fired their number of rounds alternately before giving place to others. The ease in loading and the rapidity in again delivering fire enabled the whole'squad of 26 men to finish the three ranges in about two hours. There were six aggregate and three range prizes. The top Bcore of the day was made by Vol. H, Kendal, 43 points, closely pressed by Vol. W. Wilson, 42; Gale, 41; Murray, .41; Craighead, 40. There were two Kendals competing, and their position and : style of firing' were much admired, and; if we are not mistaken both are likely to make their mark in this season's shooting. The scores for the range prizes were very good indeed,. and over centres in each case, The following are the prize winners :— 300 400 600 ~ ■ yards yards yards Tl, Vol. H. Kendall ■ 14 17 12-43 Vol. W.Wilson - 17. 13 12-42 MC.W.GiIe - 14 12 15-41 Vol. Craighead - 14 ,14 12-40 Vol, Graham •' - 18 10 11-39 Corpl. McLeod- -.11 15 12-38 The winners of range prizes were-at 300 yards, Vol. Graham, 18 points; 400 yards* Vol. H. Kendal, 17 points; 500 yards, Vol. T. Fenton, 17 points. The squad arrangements and firing were under Staff-Sergt. Clery. Two Native Volunteers, of Taipari's .'Company, acted as markers, and gave general satisfaction, being careful, yet quick and accurate in signalling thelhits. . The Government have made the representative'qualification almost as high as under the muzzle loader, and yet only about one-third of our local marksmen are armed. With the qualification coming off in January, it will be necessary in all fairness to extend the time or lower the number of points required in qualifying for colonial representatives. As to the important question of the. shooting capabilities of the Snider over tho Enfield, the Wimbleton competitors, since 1871, have given the Snider excellent opportunities for trial, and the home marksmen, with few exceptions, have decided in favour of the Snider as a superior, weapon to the obsolete muzzle-loader. Of course a new infield will shoot better than an old /Snider, but given both weapons now the decision is in favour of the breech-loader. It must, however, be borne in mind that tho Sniders issued to our Thames men are second-hand weapons, many of - them having been in use by the constabulary for years. One of the Wimbledon cracks says that the Snider at first was pronounced at the outset by experienced shots an inferior weapon to the Enfield, but after some years' practice.and use, the balance of evidence was decidedly in favour of the Snider. The same gentleman say further that additional confidence is given to the shooter, as he is not bothered about waste of powder in loading, or bullet not home on tho powder, &c. A competitor can also go to -the firing point with a knowledge that his barrel is quite clean, as he can see for himself; and he is thus enabled to concentrate all his thoughts on the target and surrounding elements, for the latter must at all times be well studied ere the true road to the bull'sreye be found. The ..only difficulty with the Snider is an uncertainty about the .ammunition. The marksman referred to says, on this point, that out of the thousands of ronnds fired at nearly every competition in Great Britian he has no hesitation in asserting that many of the Cartridges were short iu the measure of powder. Amongst other instances of the disastrous results of a bad cartridge in a close competition, he instanced the case of: Corporal Poole, of Somerset, when shooting'for the Queen's prize in 1871. He had 65, and' a shot to go. A centre would have given him the £250, but he had a slow shot, probably a .short cart-

ridge, for no man could have fired steadier and won nothing. The irregularity of the cartridges is owing to their being filled by women and children., The strength of powder also varies considerably. Now if these things are found in connection with ammunition supplied by the British Government, how much more likely is .our New Zealand ammunition to be defective, which-is'generally supplied by private and often irresponsible contractors. : : '-