NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7066, 19 January 1891, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

[PKB Pb_Bß ABBOCIATION.]

NAPIER, Jan. 18.

The arrangements in connection with the thirteenth annual meeting of the New Zealand Kifle Association, which openß on Tuesday, are now in a forward state, and all that is required to make tbe gathering a success is favourable weather. Very little doubt, however, is entertained on thiß score, for if one can judge by present appearances the weather during the coming week should be all in favour of "shootiats." To-day has been perfect — cloudless sky, with scarcely a breath of wind. The range is situated at Omaranui, on the banks of the Tutaekuri river, nearly ten miles from Napier, and in many respects Captain Sommerville says it is the best that has been obtained since the formation of the Association. It is not laid off due North and South, being more West -nor'-west, and on this account the light towards sunset will be rather puzzling ; but in order to escape this as much as possible, it is purposed to commence shooting rather earlier in the morning than has been the custom, and to finish about 5 or 5.30 p.m. This point will be settled at a meeting of the Council to-morrow night. TwentySeven targets have been erected, and the trench is one of the cleanest and easiest to work in that Captain Sommerville has met with. The work of excavating, however, has been very expensive, compared with previous undertakings, as the hills at the foot of which it runs are of limestone formation, and in parts are almost as hard to cut into as cement. The markers engaged for the meeting are experienced men, and will not be a source of annoyance as has been the case at some previous competitions.

The majority of the competitors will stay at the camp. Some half-dozen have elected to take up quarters at the hotel at Taradale, three miles distant ; while a few others will journey to and from Napier each day. The camp, which consists of about seventy tents, is pitched in columns (the Staff tents being in front, the Commandant's tent close to the flagstaff), and occupies the position of the old pah at Omaranui, where an engagement took place with a party of Hauhaus in 186 G. Close to the canteen are the graves of the Maoris who fell in the fight, and these have been fenced in by Captain Soinmerville, who took part in the engagement. A trench where the bodies of some fifteen Maoris were buried has been closed in by a picket fence, and four separate graves noar by have been marked off, and a notice posted requesting competitors and visitors not to trample over them.

At present it is not known how many competitors there will be, but Captain Sommerville does not expect more than 220. He says that even if the number does not exceed 200 the Association will be able to pay all prizes in full. There Ib no telegraph line to the camp, but a Morse instrument has been placed at the Puketapn telephone station, a mile and a half oif, where messages will be sent by a man on horseback, and tbis office will in all probability be kept open till about 7.30 p.m. Major Webb will be in command of the camp, he having been appointed by the Government at the request of Captain Sommerville. The staff will consist of Captains Lomax (New Zealand Volunteers), Borlaee (Wanganui Bifles), and Thain (unattached list). This is a small number, but Captain Sommerville explains that he has had some difficulty in getting officers who are willing to undertake the duties. It has not yet been decided who will perform the opening ceremony. Mrs Woods, wife of Maior Woods, commanding the district, was invited to fire the first shot, and the Major was asked if he would deliver an opening address, but a definite reply has not yet been received from him.

A start will be made with the Wellington match, not counting for the belt, which is the first on the list, about 11 a.m. on Tuesday; and the meeting will last till tho Monday or Tuesday in the following week. At this gathering a new departure will be made with regard to the championship. Hitherto the final range to decide the holder of the belt was fired a day or two before the conclusion of the meeting, but on this occasion the championship will not be fired for until every other event on the programme is finished, when the grand aggregate match is fired. The companies, team, distriot, representative and last try matches, which at other meetings came after the Cham*' pionsbip, will be got off, and then the meeting will be brought to a close by the fifty highest aggregate scorers in certain matches firing off at 700 yds, the winner being champion shot of the Colony. This alteration was made in order to keep the interest in the meeting up to the last moment. In making the arrangements for this meeting, Captain Sommerville has met with great difficulty, and at the next annual meeting of the Association the question of a permanent site and date for holding the competition will be fully considered, it being the opinion, Qf a number of members or tho Oouncll that the time has now arrived for fixing upon a permanent situation. Most of the competitors have now arrived, but another contingent of southerners is expected by to-morrow night's train. Lieutenant Eales, Third Battalion Victorian Rifles, and Messrs W. B. Cairns and W. Sloan, Tarr«iwonga Kiflo Club, are tbe only representatives from Australia.