VOLUNTEER PRIZE FIRING.

Thames Advertiser, Volume IX, Issue 2469, 13 November 1876, Page 3

VOLUNTEER PRIZE FIRING.

The new rifle range situated on the point of land between the Kauwaeranga and Thames rivers, opposite Shortland, which has recently been finished, was formally opened on Saturday by a competitive sweepstake match, in which all the Volunteer had the privilege of compeling. The range itself is in most respects a suitable one, although it can only be reached by boating, but it has tho advantage of being for the most part on solid land, there being only 200 yards of staging at the end next the targets and mantlets, but it has the same disadvantage as the old rifle range in having no back ground, so that if a bullet misses the target the marksman has no chance of seeing what has become of it. The range is, however, the best available, and it has been laid out to the best advantage by Mr A. Aitken, engineer. The mounds constructed at the various firing points are largo wooden boxes filled with sand, similar to those used at the old range. As we have stated, the opening match was for a sweepstake, for which there were 63 entries, but the marksmen were especially unfortunate in the weather which prevailed. The morning squad especially had to fire amidst a downpour of rain such as is seldom experienced at the Thames, but, notwithstanding the weather, 60 of those who had entered competed, and it is creditable alike to their enthusiasm and skill that, taken all round, very fair] shooting was made, and that so few backed out. The best shooting was made by the morning squad, although frequent stoppages had to take place in consequence of the paint being washed off the targets and their becoming practically invisible during the heaviest of the downpour. The ranges were 300, 400, and 500 yards, five shots at each. In the morning squad the highest score, 49 points, was made by seaman J. A. Gordon, T.N.B. •, and the next highest by Volunteer Armstrong, No. 2 H.K.V., who scored 47 points. Up to the 600 yards range the chances were all in favour of Volunteer Armstrong taking highest position, for he shot splendidly, but he was unfortunate at the last range, missing a shot by having to firo when the target was invisible, and so he had to content himself with second position. The next highest was Volunteer McLean, T.S.V, with 43 points, and Volunteer Hohepatoi (of the Native Company) made a similar score. The highest score made in tho afternoon was by Volunteer 11. Long, T. K .It. Those'are, therefore, the winners of the five prizes into which the sweepslakes were divided. We may add that, for the morning squad, Sergeant-major Grant marked at the right target, and Sergeant Olery at the left. In the aftornoon Major Cooper .relieved Sergeantmajor Grant, who las himself a competitor. Tho following are the principal scores: P.O. Gordon, TNB, Ist prize, £2 Is 3i ... 49 Vol. Armstrong, No 2 MV, 2nd prize, £11454 d '17 Vol. McLean, TSV, 3rd prize, £17a Gd ... 43 Vol. Long, TEE, 4ih prize, £1 Os 4d ... 43 Vol. Hohcpi Toi, NV, sth prize, 13s lOd 43 Lient, Brownlew, No 2 lIRV 43 Vol. Hawk, TEE 43 Vol. Woods, TEE 42 Vol. Gate, IMV 42 VoI.CorbeM.TSV ... . ■ -41 Seaman Comer, TNB 41 Serge.-Major Grant, Staff 41 Vol. Wircmu Te Huia, NV 41 Vol. Clarke, TSV ... 40 Ctonl. Henderson, TNB ... - 40 Corpl. Hears, TEE 40 Vol. Heunelly, No. 2 HEV 40