RIFLE SHOOTING.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14234, 6 March 1914, Page 3

RIFLE SHOOTING.

TRENTHAM MEETING. MINIATURE MATCHES. (Per tlifted Pre:s Association.) TRENTHAM, March 4. Rm. Wilkinsin, of Akarana Rille Club, won the No, 1 miniature match, seven shots at 25 yards, witli a score of 70 (£l.) No. 2 match, ten shots, was won by Gunner E. Ballinger, of Wellington, 147, The following are the aggregates; Rm. Trimble (Veterans), 30s 312 Rm. Spencer (Highland Rifles), 15s ... 310 Km. W. H. Ballinger (Clarkson’s Team), las- 31(1 Rm. C. Morris (Clarkson’s Team), 10s 309 Hm. Smart (Suburbs!, Ills 309 THE BISLEY AGGREGATE. TRENTHAM, March 5. , The following are the principal prize'll' iuuers in the Bisley Aggregate; Rm. Masefield (Sounds), £4 266 Km. Soper (Tuamariua), £3 4s 254 Rm. H. Loveday (Ohura), £3 4s A 253 Rm. Given (Suburtjs), £2 8s 252 Pte. E. Bent (Auckland), £2 8s 251 Rm. T. King (Inglewood), £2 8s 251 Rm. Cheeseman (Tuamariua;, £1 12s 251 Rm. Brownlee (Auckland), £1 12s ... 250 Rm. G. Craw (Linton), £1 12s 248 The following won 10s; Rm. Henderson (Sounds), Armstrong i Whaugamomona), 248; Sergt. Sharland (12th Rcgt.), Hm. Gillen (Dunedin), Pte. King (U.R. 29th Regt). 247; Rm. Loveday (Ohura), Lane. (Akarana), Wallace iTe Aroha), Lumsdcn (Raugitikci), Jones (Akarana), Chirnsidc (Karon), 245; C aptain Ko s (Suburbs), Km. Causley (iliames), Rm. James (Ukawa), Carter (Nelson), 242; I-aing (Waimea), Eyies (Dauuevirke), Healey (Ohura), Caldwell (Karori), 241; Venuell (Tc Wharau), 240. THE KING'S PRIZE. EASY WIN FOR HM. MASEFIELD. MASEFIELD WINS CHAMPIONSHIP. TRENTHAM, .March 5. . The King’s Prize, ten shots at Ith>o Jf.'ards, as the final match for'the champion ■' ’(.elt is‘termed, was fired this afternoon at three o'clock. A fairly ftrong northwesterly (teat) wind was blowing, aud clouds obscured the sini. It was confidently expected that Ma-scfloid, the president of the Sounds Rifle Club, who had a commanding lead, would, win. aud this expectation was borne out. Opening with two for his sigh ter, Masefield started with a bull's-eye, and his full score was as follows : --54354544)5 ; total 4f: which brought his grand lota! up to 625 or lit points ahead of the .second man, Lieut. Simmonds, of the Railway Corps, Blenheim, who scored 40, giving him a total of 609. Rifleman H. Loveday, of Ohura, filled the third place. He added 34 points to his original score of 570, and took third position with 604. Rm. Milroy, 01 Nelson, finished up with a total of 603, having added to his score by 39. Oliver (Ohnra) was in fine shooting form, and wound up with a good score of 45, bringing his total to 598, and Given, of the Suburbs (Wellington) Club finished on the samo mark. Melvor (Te Awamutn) scored Daunevirke), who has performed very

consistently throughout the meeting, also added to his score by 42, and handed in a card of 592. Pte. Bent (Divisional Signalling Corps), and Rfm. Hendefsoft (Sounds) scored 591 each. Corpl. Loveday (Woodville) made the highest score in the match (4fi); and the individual scores dwindle down to 28. Owing to the weather conditions, the shooting in many cases was of an indifferent character and there was nothing approaching any excitement on tiie mounds. There was only a fair attendance of the public. The visitor.- included the Hjpn. R. H, Rhodes (Postmaster-General), General Godley, Cols. Heard, Johnstone, Cochrane and Robin. Lieut.-Colonel Newpll, Col. and Mrs Bailie, and Mr Luke (Mayor of Wclington). At the conclusion of the firing, the competitors grouped round the platform for the presentation of the prizes. CCL. COLLINS’ SPEECH. —Col. Collins, chairman of the executive, speaking from the dias, thanked the public for their presence, aud encouragement. He thanked the Government for the liberal treatment, of the Association, pointing out the assistance amounted to a grant of £750, ammunition valued at £SOO free railway passes estimated at £250, equipment and services of 25 members of the Permanent Force. He also mentioned the fact that as the services of the Permanent Artillery ment were not available as markers, they had been compelled to sefk the services of civilians, and this extra cost, amounting to £250, had also been borne by the Government Col. Collins proceeded to refer to tne service the Association had been since its establishment in 1879 to the Dominion as a means of encouraging rifle shooting. An effort, was being made to keep the Association up to date by the inclusion of Service matches in the programme. This was necessary to meet the military requirements, and had caused some criticism from those who pinned their faith to bull’s-eye shooting, but while Gen. Godlev insisted upon men shooting under Service conditions, he had no intention of banning the bull’s-eye. The future of the Association lay with the rifle clubs, which in turn must be fed from the Territorials. Good as the Territorial system was, it was not calculated to encourage keen shooting. It did not give sufficient encouragement to practice as a remedy for this weakness. ‘lie advocated a more liberal supply of animunito the younger branch of the Service Fliey were in the habit of hearing the range described as “tricky Trentham,” but he hoped that this view would not be unduly dwelt upon and so discourage the young marksmen from coming to the meetings. Good scores could he put on at Trentham, as on local ranges. He honed that next year every experienced marksman would bring a tyro with him. Colonel Collins read apologies from His ; Excellence the Governor, the Hons. Alassey and Allen, and Sir Joseph Ward. He ’■' "n called on the Hon. Mr Rhodes to address the gathering. SPEECH BY HON. A, E. RHODES. The Hon. A. E. Rhodes said he was there to convey to all concerned the congratulations of the Ministry upon the success of the meeting. . He had hoard fioin Colonel Collins that there hod been a slight decrease in the entries, hut he felt confident that time would reinedy

that. . It would take some years for the Territorial system to develop, and then the process of drafting men from that branch of the Service to rifle clubs would commence. The Government was sympathetic with the work of the Association, as were the military authorities. The appointment of the musketry instructors proved that, and their work would he watched with the greatest interest. Mrs Godley had shown her practical sympathy with shooting, by organising, a series of contest among cadets. Rifle Clubs were our second line of defence. He only hoped that the day would never come when they would be required, but they must not depend upon skill with the rifle alone. They, must learn the value of drill and discipline. As an unorganised force they could do nothing. Field practice was also a necessary adjunct to their usefulness, and in return for what assistance the Government gave them, they expected them to .enter heartily into the spirit of the Service matches. There was no desire to abolish the bull’s-eye practice, but they must recognise that thev were in a stage of transition. Change was taking place at Bisley, and it must come here also. ..He congratulated Efm. Masefield and Marlborough upon his wins, and ho was glad to see among them Lieut.-Col. Bajllie,. a veteran of our Indian bars, who represented Marlborough, and who would extend his congratulations to the winner. (Cheers.) Lieut.-Colonel Baillie then spoke a few felicitous words, and the crowd broke into a burst of lusty cheering as the champion bowed acknowledgments. The prizes were then presented to the winners by Mrs R. J. Collins; wife of Col. Collins', and amidst another round of applause for Rfra. Masefield, whose win was an exceed’dgly popular one, the championship meeting of 1914, came to an end. LEADING PRIZE WINNERS, Following are'" the leading prize winners:— Rm. Masefield (Sounds), belt and £2B 025 Lieut. Simmonds, £l6 (jpg Rm. H. Loveday (OhUra), £l2 oflo Rm. Milroy (Nelson), £9 12s ......... (;o,‘i Rm. Oliver/ (Olmra), £4 ... 593 Rm. Given (Suburbs), £4 593 Rm. Mclver (To AwamntuA £4 595 Rm. Eyies (Dahnevirke), £4, 59j 'dm Henderson (Sounds), £4 594 dm Bent (Div. Sig. Corps), £4 591 dm. Soper (Tuairiarina), £4 590 Rm. Mclntosh '(Opaki), £4 589 Colonial Ammunition Co.’a Cup, for teams with the highest aggregate over long ranges; Suburbs (Wellington), £2 12s 6d, 1231; Sounds, £1 12s 6d, 1140; Opaki No, 2, £1 10s, 1131. ‘ Champion Teams Match—Opaki No. 1, £8 and shield, 467; Christchurch. £0 458Olmra, £4, 449; Suburbs, £3, '449- Tua'marina, £3, 448; Auckland, £2, '146.' Sergt.-Maior Montgomery (Dunedin) takes the Kymoch Cup’ for the highest aggregate score in the Service Championship. 1