RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6127, 14 March 1898, Page 3

RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

♦ ■ [Pub Peeßs Association.! OAMARU, March 14. The weather is dull, but is clearing. No reduction in the prize-money in ordinary matches will be made, though in the District Match the money prize has been struck out ; but the Association undertakes certain financial responsibilities in connection with the shield in the Champion Match. The aggregate prize has been.reduced by .£22. The council has further decided that in the Champion Teams Match the prize-money shall be in accordance with the entrance money. It was resolved that no " possible " prize-money should be paid in single range matches. The meeting opened at ten o'clock with the 200yds range of the Nelson Match, seven shots, kneeling, not counting for the belt. The weather was fine, with a! puffy rear wind, and the light good. Ammunition of Auckland manufacture of December, 1897, is being used, and at this range there is very little complaint, though here and there a bad cartridge is- met with; but a better test will be at the longer ranges. The marking is rather slow, but this was not unexpected, as the men are unaccustomed to the work. At 11.15 the range was finished, the leading scores being Winslade (Thames), M'Diarmid (Oamaru), G. Fraser (Kaitangata), Kruse (Wanganui), Rutherford (Kaitanga) and Barraolough (Oamaru), 32 ; Hastie (Oamaru), Love (Wellington), Harding (Blenheim), Every (Oamaru), 31 ; Little (Ngapara), Domegan (Gore), A. Ballinger (Wellington), Jack (Danedin), W. Geary (Peninsula), Thawley (Wellington), O'Neill (Wanganui), Irvine (Waimea), Jones (Oamaru), Wakelin (Christchuroh) and Beadle (Dunedin), 30. Barraclough's score included an outer. There is every appearance of the wind freshening. At 600 yards the wind increased, and consequently the shooting was not up to anticipation, but some got on fair scores, the highest being Hastie, Winslade and Boyce (Invercargill), Chalmers (Dunedin), and Rule (Oamaru), 33 each; Trebilcock (Christchurch), Reynolds (Carterton), M'Gregor (Oamaru), T. Fraser (Kaitangata), J. Wilson (Petone), and Craigie (Southland), 32. , A the conclusion of this range the leading scores were Winslade, 65 ; Hastie, 64 ; Love (Wellington), 62 ; T. Fraser (Kaitangata), Boyce '(Invercargill), M'Dairmid (Oamaru), and A. Ballinger 61. The other range will be finished this afternoon.