NEW ZEALAND BIFLE ASSOCIATION MEETING.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3568, 8 March 1886, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND BIFLE ASSOCIATION MEETING.

[By Telegraph.] Wanganui, March 7. Beautiful weather was experienced yesterday, and great interest was taken m the finish of the Otago match, the first two ranges of which had boon fired on Friday night, as it ■was the lost counting for tho Belts, and the final selection of twenty to fire for the Championship could bo made immediately tho Otago match was completed. Tho New Plymouth match, tho only one m which competition had to stand firing, being finished before lunch an adjournment was made until 2.30, at which hour it bad been decided to fire tho final stage for tho Carbine Championship. At the hour appointed there could not have been less than 700 or 800 of the Wanganui citizens present, of whom the greater number were ladies. This championship did not excito much interest, as it was considered a certainty for Lieut. Boss of Napier who had a strong lead of 19 points from Corporal Mackenzie, of Wellington. Tho result fully bore out public opinion as Boss wos declared champion with 4.85 points, Webster, of Auckland, who pulled twelve points on Eoss, being second with 475, and Kitchen, of Wellington third with 468. Tho following aro the aggregates of the twenty who fired for tho Carbine CharopionBhip : — Lieut. Boss, Napier Artillery, 485 ; Gunner Webster, Auckland Artillery, 475 ; fiergt. Kitchen, Wellington Artillery, 468 j P.O. Lloyd Wanganui Ji avals, 4fi7 ; Corporal Parslow Auckland Artillery, 467; Gunner Bunting Napier Artillery, 463 ; Corporal McKenme Wellington Artillery, 463 ; Sergeant Jerry Alexandra Cavalry, 462; P.O. Turner Wanganui Navals, 460 ; Bugler Gill Thames Navals, 458 ; Gunner Driver Port Chalmers Artillery, 453 ; Sergeant Webb Wellington Artillery 451 ; Sergeant Gray Wellington Artillery, 451 ; Seaman Floyd Thames Navals, 451 ; Seaman P. Weir Thames Navals, 450 ; Gunner Mooro Queenstown Artillery, 447 ; Gunner Williams Napier Artillery, 445 ; P.O. Stilt Wanganui Navals, 44-4; P.O. John 'Jbames Navals, 440; Gunner Barnes Thames Artillery, 439. liout. Boss, being the highest aggregate, takes tho Carbine Belt, tho N.Z.B.A. gold star, and £40 ; Gunner Webster, N.Z.B.A. silver star, and £20 ; Sorgt. Kuchen, N.Z.B.A. silver star, and £10 ; P.O. Lloyd, £7 10s, and Corpl. Parslow, £2 10s. JJieut. Bos 3 was heartily congratulated on his success, which is his second win of tho Belt, ho having won it at Auckland m 1884. Parslow and Lloyd, having tied for fourth place, had to fire off three shots, when tho latter scored 10 to Parslow's 9, and took the position. Kitchen and Floyd, 39 each, being (he highest scorers m tho final stage, had to fire off for the Carbiue Challenge Cup, Floyd scoring 12 to Kitchen's 11. After a few minutes' delay the Bide aggregates were paraded, and m this contest great interest was taken. Captain Acheson, of Biverton, had a lead of nine points, and it was thought as ho had fired most steadily throughout tho meeting, he would bo declared tho winner, though there wore many who held the opinion that Leo, Cooper, Foster, and Bomington who wero next m order named had a good outside bliow, and with a litllo luck ono of them would gain tho coveted prizo. Aclieson started well, but with his fourth got off the target and was registered a miss. Bis rejuaining shots he managed to keep on tho target, but they were poor hits, and Cooper also fell away. On tho other hand Bemington and Foster were shooting well, and when the former had finished, it was seen that lie lad tied Acheson with 413, having pulled lip elevon points m tho ten shots. Great enthusiasm was expressed when tho totals Vfero declared and tho excitement was intense when Foster was firing his shot, as ho only wanted a bulls-eyo to • bo with tho leadors. As ho iired tho target -was examined with great interest, but he only scored a centre, thus taking third placo with 442. Cooper and Downes had tied for fourth place with 434. .As Bomington and Acheson laid down to firo off three shuts for the championship the excitement was such that ■with difficulty the crowd could be kopt outside tho ropes. Bomington opened with a bull's eyo, which elicited applause from iis many admirers. Acheson did not score vtiih his first shot, whicli mis/ied to the right, Benjui£ton missed with his second, and Achesou scored a centre. — Bomington 6, Aclieson 4, and ono shot each to go. Bomington, who was firing very cooly, rogistcred a magpie (three), making his totals. Acheson, who appeared rather nervous, had still to firo, and n centre would put him, equal with Scniington, while a bull's-eye would win 3iim the belt. Immediately ho fired the black disc wm hoisted from tho butts showing Jiib hit to bo an outer, Bemington thus winning on tho ties by two points. Bemington was immediately rushed by the crowd, who carried him triumphantly to the canteen, whore he received many congratulations and lii 3 health was drunk ill bumpers. Bemington' being a local man his ym was very popular, and crowds flocked to his tent to congrntuUio him. Foster, who finished third, tilso being a locil man came m for hearty congratulations. Downie beat Cooper m firiDg off for fourth place by 9to 4, Captain Acheson admits he was noryoua when firing the final stage.

The following is tho result of the final oi the Rido Championship : — Sergt. Ri-mington Wanganui Rifles, 443 ; Capt. Achison, Itiverton Rifles, 4-13; Lieut. Jester, Wanganui Bifles, 4 IS ; Private Downie, Thames Rangers, 434; Lieut. Cooper, Victoria Riflos (Auckland), 434 ; Sergt. Lee, Victoria Rifles (Auckland), 430 j Private Taylor, Gordon Bides (Auckland), 424; Captain Lucas, Thninos Bangers, 422 j Sergt. Chuck, Blenheim Rifles, 421 ; Privalo Giblin, Stoko Rifles (Nelson), 431 ; Sergt. Hay, Auckland Guards, 418 ; Lieut. Griffiths, Blenheim Rifles, 418 ; Private Maddock, Blenheim Riiles, 41V ; Private Maun, South Dunedin Rifles, 415 ; Private Greer, Kaiwaira Rifles (Wellington), 412 ; Private McMeekan, Waikari Riiles (Otago), 411 ; Privato Matthews, Masterton Kiiles, 410 ; Sergt. Mooseman, Wnnganui City Rifles, 410; Private Ho well, Taranaki Rifles, 409; Corporal Frederick, North Dunedin Rifles, 402. Remington takes the Rifle Belt, N.Z.R.A. gold star and £40 ; Acheaon the N.Z.R.A. silver star and £20 ; Foster, tho N.Z.H.A. silver star and £10; Downie, £7 10s, and Cooper £2 10s. Downie being the highest scorer m tho final stages wins tho Rifle Challenge Cup. The following are the highest aggregates m matches No. 3, 6, and 9, who fire for the Union Company's Cup to-morrow morning : — Webster, Auckland, 244 ; Lieut. Ross, Napier, 243 ; Lieut. Smith, Wanganui, 239 ; Seaman Weir, Thames, 236 j P.O. Lloyd, Wanganui, 235 ; Sergeant Kuchen, Wellington, 232 ; Captain Somerville, Wanganui, 232 ; Gunner Mooro, Q.ueenßtown, 231 ; Lieut. Hoskins, Taranaki, 230 ; P.O. Sterling, Auckland, 229 ; Gunner Driver, Port Chalmers, 227 ; Seaman Hennesy, Thames, 227 ; Lieut. Griffiths, Blenheim, 226 ; Sergeant Chuck, Blenheim, 225 ; Sergeant Gray, Wellington, 225 ; Sergeant Jerry, Wanganui, 225 ; Remington, Wanganui, 225 ; Buckley, Auckland, Lovo, Wanganui, Foster, Wanganui, and Lee, Auckland, 224, fire off for tho ninntetmtb. and twentieth places. A civilian's match was tired oft yesterday afternoon, Mr Gross, of Wanganui, taking tho first prize of £4, and Mr F. Williams second of £3. Tho Staff match was won by Major Neill, Mr Wilkinson being second and Lieut. Collins third. About twenty teams have entered for tho teams match, which will bo fired to-morrow morning. The Auckland ammunition will bo tested to-morrow morning, and the prizes aro to be presented to-morrow afternoon. Tho following is the prize list of the matches finished yesterday morning : — Otago Match, for Rifle and Carbine Belts, 200, 300, and 500 yards, uoven shots. — Seaman Weir, Thames Navals,£lo, 83 ; Lieut. Okey, Taranaki Rifles, £7, 82 ; Seaman Henderson, Thames Navals, £6, 82 ; Private Lovo, , Wanganui City Rifles, £5, 82; Lt. Robinson, Biverton Rifles, £5, 81 ; Lieut. Ross, Napier Artillery, £4, 81 ; Trooper Craig, Alexandra Cavalry, £3, 81 ; Captain Somerville, Alexandra Cavalry, £3, 81 ; Lieut, noskings, Taranaki Rifles, £2, 80 ; Pollock, Wanganui Navals, £2, 80 ; Trooper McLean, Wairoa Light Horse, £2, 80 ; Sergeant Gray, Wellington Artillery, £2, 80 ; Gunner Webster, Auckland Artillery, £1 , 80 ; Gunner Doughty, Auckland Artillery, £1, 79 ; Seaman Moore, Auckland Navals, £1, 79; Private Ballingor, Wellington Guards, £1 79 ; Seaman Begg, Peninsula Navals, £1, 79 ; Lieut. Foster, Wanganui Rifles, £1, 79 ; Sergeant Bemington, Wanganui Rifles, £1, 79 ; Gunner Moore, Queenstown Artillery, £1, 79 ; Corporal McKay, Biverton Bifles, £], 78 ; Sergeant Chuck, Blenheim Bifles, £1, 78. New Plymouth Maicd, 10 shots 200 yards standing : — Trooper Lomas, Alexandra Cavalry, £8, 40 ; Color-Sergeant Asmod, Waneanui Rifles, £6, 39 ; Corporal Jones, Waikara Rifles, £5, 39 ; Lieut. Griffiths, £4, 39 ; Privato Soper, Blenheim, £3, £38 ; Privato Ferguson, Marlon Rifles, £3, 38-, Private Churton, Wanganui Rifles, £3, 38 ; Seaman Taylor, Wellington Navals, £3, 39 ; Sergeant Leo, Victoria Rifles, £2, 38 ; Privato Willocks, Clutha, £2, 38; P.O. Turner, Wanimnni Navals, £2, 38 ; Lieut. Richardson, Dunedin Rillcs, £1, 38 ; Sergeant Chuck, If lonheim Rifle 3, £1, 38 ; Corporal A. Thomns, Thames Rifles, £1, 38 ; Trooper McLean, Wairoa Light Horse, £1, 37 ; Lieut. Hoskins, Taranaki Rifles, £1, 37 ; P. O. Levers, Thames Kiflei, £1, 37; Trooper McKonzie, Aloiandra Cavalry, £1, 37 ; Capt. McCredie, Wellington Artillery, £1, 37 ; Private Hawk, Thames Bangers, £1, 37 ; Liout. Ferguson, Timaru, £1,37.