RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6128, 15 March 1898, Page 1

RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

♦ [Per Press Association.] OAMARU, March 14. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Rifle Association was opened to-day under most favourable conditions both as regards weather and arrangements. The men left town at 8.30, and at 9.30 were sqxiadded. Very little time was lost in getting the competitors to the firing point, and at ten o'clock the first shot was got off by exchampion W. H. Ballinger, who registered an inner. The wind in the early part of the day was blowing fresh from the rear, but as the day wore on it gradually drew round to the east and came ncross the range from the left. As usual at these gatherings, the proceedings are not of interest; to ordinary spectators, consequently there were not many of the public on the ground during the day; but on Thursday, when the match for ladies will be decided, it is expected there will be a good attendance. One matter which caused a deal of interest was how the colonial ammunition would turn out. That of December-1897-manu-facture was used, and at the 200 yds range of the Nelson match, where the men had to kneel, there was not much grumbling, though several of the competitors admitted it was not of a class to be used in competitions of this character. The chief cause of complaint was that the cartridges missfired. Howevei*, as the men retired to the longer ranges there were continued complaints of the irregularity of the ammunition, and at the conclusion of the match the Council met to consider the advisability of continuing with the New Zealand manufactured ammunition, and it was unanimously decided to discard it, and use that of Victorian manufacture in the Belt matches. It was intended to proceed this afternoon with the Hawke's Bay match, the first counting for the Belt, but, as th« Victorian ainnninition was not on the range, the Ladies' Match was shot off, with colonial ammunition, and to-morrow a start will be made with the Belt matches. Major Sommerville received the following telegram from the Hon T. Thompson, Minister of Defence : — " Regret that departmental business of an important nature alone prevents me from being present at the opening to-day. Best wishes for good weather and successful meeting." During the afternoon Colonel Pole-Pen ton, commandant of the forces, who had just arrived from Christchurch, visited the range, and will be present during the remainder of the meeting. The Permanent Artillery are acting as markers, and to-day they carried out their duties most successfully, and almost every challenge was in their favour. The weather, which during the past two or three days has been threatening, appears to have settled, and a fine week is expected. In this case the shooting should easily finish by Saturday afternoon. In the Nelson Match the highest scores at the ranges wero as follows: — .200 yds (kneeling) — White (Oamaru), Barraclough (Oainaru), Rutherford (Kuitangata), M'Diarmid (Oainaru), Winslude (Thames), Kruse (Wangauu ), G. Fraser (Kauaugata), 32; 500ydB— .brew (Waugauui), Chalmer (Dunedin), Hastia (Oamaru), Purnell (Wanganui), Boyce (InvercarKill), Winslada (Thames), Rule (Oainuru), 33; 600yds— Simpson (K aiai,oi) 34, King (Oaniuru) 32, Montgomery (luveroartfili) and Jones (Oainuru) 31. The following is the prize list in THE NELSON MATCH, 200, 600 and 600 yds; seven shots. Match, not counting for the Jtteat. Hastie,. Oamaru, £7 92 Winslade, Thames, £6 92 Joues, Oamuru, £5 ... ' 90 A. Ballinger, Wellington, JE4 90 Drew, Wttuganui, £l 89 Speight, JJunedin, £3 88 Ailport, Nelson, £3 8S Williams, Napier. £2 88 J. Etfery, Oamaru, £2 83 King, Oamaru, £3 87 K. Kule, Oamaru, £2 ... ... 87 M'Gregor (Oamaru) 87, T. Fraser (Kaitangata) 87, Jove (Wellington) 87; Hale (Wellington) 86, Simpson (Kaiapoi) 85, Montgomery (Southland) 85, J. Ross (Napier) 85, Woollen; (Lmnedin) 85, Richardson (Dunedin) 86, Barraclough (Oamaru) 84, Handle (Petonei 84, Harding (Bienueim) 84, Chalmer (Dunedin) 84, Puruell (Wanganui) 84, W. H. Baliinger (Petone) 83, & wilmolt (Queenstown) 83, J. Harford (Marton) S3, A. J. diner on (Masterton) 83, Domigan (Gore) 83, Wilson (Petone) 83, F. Ingpen (Woodville) 82, Bentley (Christchurch) 82, Pearson (Timaru) 82, £1 each. Counted out, Irvine (Waimea). Last year A. Ballinger won this match with a score of 95. LADIES' MATCH, ten shots, kneeling, at 200 yds. Love, Wellington, £7 46 Grace, Petone, £6 45 Alport, Neison, £5 „ 44 timpson, Kaiapoi, £4 44 M'Farlane, Christchurch, £3 43 Randal), Petone, £2 43 Purnell, Wanaanui, £2 43 Lester, Christchurch, £2 42 Nel«on, Woodvillo, £2 42 Sommerville - (Wanganui) 42, M'Diarmid (Ouinaruj 42, Irvine (Waimea) 42, W. Ballinger iPetone) 41, Orr (Auckland) 41, J. Bairstow (Carterton) 41, Grundy (Thames) 41, Stephen (Timaru) 41, 'Jhorpa <(Wairoa) 41, W. Cmigie (Invercargill) 41, Harris (^hristchurch) 41, King (Oamaru) 40, Pearson (Timaru) 40, flodd (Port Chalmers) 40, J. Armstrong (Lmnediu) 40, Gates (Carttrton) 40, Trebilcoek (Christchurch) 40, C. Reynolds (Carterton) 40, Kruse (Wanguhui) 40, Ritchie (Chri-itchureh) 40, Hale (Wellington) 40, R. L. Rule (Oamaru) 40, Stewart (Dunedin) 40, M'Gregor (Oamaru) 40, £1 each. Counted out, thanks (Li ore).