SHOOTING.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13845, 5 March 1909, Page 6

SHOOTING.

•.-.. FAMINE IN RIFLES. Prew AfflociatJon-By Telegraph-Copyright . :• SiDNEY, March 4. At a meeting of the Rifle Association, strong complaints were made with reference to the scarcity of rifles. It was stated that over twenty clubs recently .formed could not be supplied with rifles. Stocks, both of rifles and barrels,, were completely exhausted. MEETING. AT TRENTHAM. Per Press Association. i, TRENTHAM, March 4. Wednesday night in- camp was exceedingly .cold, Jjut the morning broke beautifully fine for the eighth annual meeting at Trentham. Shooting commenced at 9.30. The competitors were mustered at the iquadding post and briefly addressed by Colonel Collins who intimated that the Defence Council had decided to allow the use of orthoptics in all matches and adhere to the Bisley.rule, regarding ricochets, none to count unless the.bullet struck the. bank close to the target. He was confident that the entries would have been much larger, but for the slight.financial depression. Many old veteran riflenjen are in attendance. Another pleasant feature is the number of young marksmen who are present. The " gathering is thoroughly representative, competitors coming forward from almost every district between Auckland and the Bluff.

The light throughout' the greater part of the day was good, but became very thick late in. the afternoon, while ; the 800 yards' match was proceeding, ■ owing to bush fires in the vicinity. The wind was decidely catchy, and set many experienced marksmen a problem to solve, especially in two range, the scores ranging down to 10 and a great many were below .30. The ammunition was specially packed for the meeting "by the manufacturers, and has given great satisfaction. The arrangements are most complete, and- the catering is all-.that could be desired.

The shooting at three ranges in the Volunteer and Rifle Club matches (which were fired simultaneously at the 200, 600, and 800 yards ranges) was brilliant and at the last range a touch of sensation was given by Speck (Stratford) putting up the possible, following upon the possible at 200 yards and three short of the possible at 600 yards range. At the 200 yards stage the shooting began in calm and all biits were being piled on. with pleasant rapidity, but soon a smart right rear breeze told against the firing, which fell back a point and thirty threes took the place or all huts. Only three possibles were secured at this range, the marksmen being Burns of (Karori), Higgins (Timaru), and Speck (Stratford); 34's were made by the following competitors—Shaw (Ohinemuri), Duncan (Millerton), Sutherland (Geraldine), Wayte (Mataura), R. J. King (Opaki), Fletcher (Dunedin), Halliday (Karori, Nelson and Baker (Wellington), Boys (Newton), Fisher (Stoke), Gwindell (Napier), Mcintosh (Waitohi), Fenney ("Wellington), Atkinson and- Kempton (Auckland), Williams (Ohura), Purnell (Wanganui), Keel (Palmerston), Morley (Otaki). At the 600 yards range, the shooting continued to be considerably good and four possibles were put up, the marksmen being Mitchener, Milroy and Sharland (Nelson) and Edgecombe (Waikato); Kitchener (Upper Hutt) scored 34, and 30's to 33's were numerous.

At the 800 yards' stage, in the addition to Speck, possibles were registered by Plummer (Wellington), Mackey (Karori), Marenzi (Eketahuna), White (Frankland). Hyde (Hawke's Bay). Speck's performance won for him not only the match, but the Carbine Cup. It is somewhat remarkable that his final shot at the last range was not recorded, and therefore counted a miss. This he challenged, and inspection showed that he had scored a bullseye, and thus made the record for the" Dominion for these rangesl

Extra Match No. 1, seven shots at 500 yards.—The following take £1 with 35 each:—J. A. Franklin (Weber), J. McKenzie (Opaki), Craw (Chorlton), Lucas (Pahnerston North), Atkinson (Auckland), Jones (Dunedin). Extra No. 2, seven shots at 600 yards—2ss, M. Drnmmond (Denniston) 34; 20s, R. Lucas (Palmerston North) 34; 17s 6'd, A. Patrick (Victoria Rifles) 34. The remainder take 10s and 9s. VOLUNTEER MATCH. Hyde (Hawke's Bay), £5 98 Munro (Murniki), £4 98 Finney (Wellington), £3 98 Skelly (D Battery). £2 97 Sorenson (Auckland). £2 '.... 97 Paten (Dannevirks). £2 06 Maingav (Piako), £2 96 RIFLE"CLUB MATCH; 200, 600, and 800 vards. Speck (Stratford), £5 102 Dick (Riversdale), £4 97

Whiteman (Upper Hutt), £3 or Willoughby (Gladstone), £3 9 J Bulford (Karori), G. L. Lovc'da • (Ohura) 96, Henry (Opaki) £2 each. 95; twenty-seven take £1 each. SOUTH CANTERURY SHOTS. (Special.—By .Telegraph.). TRENTHAM, March 4. The Volunteer. Match was concluded to-day in ideal weather. The shootin c was very good, although tricky wind? spoilt many good scores, even at 600 yards. Higgins (Timaru) made one of the only two possibles at 200 yards. The following are the highest South Canterbury scores:— - Pearson .....;... 93 Moore .............................. 93 Higgins 92 Baird 89 Sauer ....'. 88 Lieut. Holdgate 88 Pvte. Holdgate .....87 Boys ......;...... 86 Dunnill 86 McElrea ; 85 Wain .....:. 85 Beckingham ....84 Wilson ....:..... ........ 84 Stevens . ...'........ 82 Sutherland 82 Webb ....:..........:.. 82 Stevenson " ... 81 Husband :.-.......... 79 Bennington 79 Gourdie ~ ........:....... 78 Campbell • ,- ••••• 78 Sauer and Boys each scored 34 out of 35 at the 500 yards' extra match, winning 10s each. S.C. RESERVE CORPS. A match was fired on Wednesday evening at 200 yards, for trophies presented by Mr P. Elworthy and Colonel Bailey, resulting as follows: — Private Donaldson 43 447 Sergeant Brown 42 2 —44 Private Malthus 41 3 —44 Private Aitken 35 7 42 Sergeant "Hunter 35 742 Private Chalmers 32 10 The next match will be fired this evening, at 500 yards, for prizes presented bv Major Lindsay and Mr W. H. Kircher, and it will be the final shoot for Lieutenant O'Callaghan's aggregate. TIMARU PORT GUARDS. The company fired a match last evening at the 300 yards range, for trophies presented by Mr G. Webb and the Operatic; Society. The winners were Private Burford and Corporal Fitzgerald. , On Saturday the next match will be fired at 000 yards. The following members scored 40 and over: Private Burford 43 245 Corporal Fitzgerald ... 35 10 —45 Private Toneycliffe ..... 39 544 Private Hill ...."42 1— 43 Private Smallridge 40 "3 Private Milne 37 542 Private Silverton .... 33 942 Priv. Tonevcliffe jun. . 32 10 —42 Sergeant Waugh 39 1— 40 Sergeant King ...' 32 8— 40 Private Thomas ...... 31 940