RIFLE SHOOTING

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15754, 28 February 1919, Page 7

RIFLE SHOOTING

No. 6 GROUP. MEETING AT PUTISI. To-day No. 6 Group (Manawatu) Rifle Meeting was commenced on Putiki rifle range under splendid weather conditions. The Group comprises the towns of Palmerston North, Levin, Peilding, Marten and Taihape, with intervening country districts and considerably over 200 competitors, from Taihape to Waikanae are in attendance. Captain Me Donnell, Group Commander is supervising operations and he is being assisted by Lieut. King, District Musketry Instructor and LieuF. Fisher of Feilding. Staff-Sergt-Major Bell is acting as range officer. The Defence Department has allotted ,£33 for the meeting and this amount has been subsidised by donations and trophies to the extent of about £SO, so it will be seen that the residents in the southern group are well alive to the necessity of educating our citizen soldiers ’in the most essential part of a soldiers education, marksmanship. Four matches were arranged for each, divided up into tlree sections, one each for Senior Cadets, Territorials and Rifle Clubs, so in reality twelve matches will be shot for. Senior Cadets were taken to-day, and it is expected their matches will be concluded to-day ; to-morrow Territorials, Rifle Clubs, and aSI-eomera will occupy the mounds. The authorities are disappointed at the very poor response made by Rifle ctubs, there only being about half a dozen entries. This disappointment, is even more keen because the promoters of the meeting, in their desire to encourage rifle shooting, had specially catered for Rifle Club men. The matches consisted of—(1) A practice match, application, at 300 yards; (2) Snap shooting at 200 yards at figure 3 < target. This match is fired under as near service conditions as possible. The targets represent the head and shoulders of an enemy about to fire ah the marksman. It is exposed for five seconds, and the shooter is expected to deliver his five bullets and obtain an effective hit in that short space of time. Men are required to he nippy in loading, aiming, and firing to be able to carry out the conditions. No 3 match is application at 500 yards, and No. 4 ' match is divided into two sections, one for Senior Cadets, snap shooting at 200 ; yards, and for Territorials and Rifle Clubs, application at 600 yards The catering arrangements were in the hands of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, who put on luncheon at a ' minimum price of Is, all profits to go to ' the funds of the Association, The. following is the result of the first match: Cadet. D. Johnston, No. 16 Co., 27, Jl. ' Cadet T. Simpson, No. 14 Co., 26, 12s6d , Cadet W. Smith, No. 28 Coy, 25, 7s 6d Cadet W. S. Niccolls, No. 55 Co., 25, 5s Cadet W. Y. Hunter, No. 59 Co., 24, 5s Sergt. J. Ashcroft, No. 48 Co., 24, ss. Cadet J. Young, No. 55 Co., 24, 5sSergt. R. Harrison, No. 16 Co., 24, 2s 6d Cadet K. Hodder, No. 16 Co., 24, 2s 6d C.-Sergt. J. D. Buckley, No. 43 Co., 23 2/6 Corp. G. Griffon, No 50 Co., 23, 2s 6d. Cadet C. Horley, No. 28 Co., 23, 2s 6d. Cadet J. W. Birch, No. 28 Co., 23, 2s 6d No. 16 Company was leading on the first match for the Goldingham Belt, valued at 10 guineas, for the teams’ match. . < GROUP 20 MEETING The greatest interest is evinced in the Group 20 Rifle Association meeting which will be held at the Putiki range on Saturday, March 22nd. 'Competition is open to Territorials, Senior Cadets, and members of Rifle Clubs, and valuable trophies and cash prizes are offered. The meeting should prove attractive to the public A band will be in attendance and light refreshments will 'be provided under the supervision of a committee of ladies. Entries for the meeting close with the secretary, Lieutenant R. N. R.Isherwood, Box 313, Wanganui, on .March 15. RETURNED SOLDIERS FORM A CLUB. A meeting was held at the Soldiers’ Club last night to revive the Returned Soldiers’ Rifle Club. There was a good attendance. Office-bearers were elected as follow: —President, Mr E. P. Pridham; secretary, Mr C. Stanley Brown; treasurer, Mr Paterson; committee, Messrs Boyd, Haar, Baillic, and Addenbrook. The annual subscription was fixed at ss. In view of the early date of the forthcoming Groupe Rifle Meet-, ing, it was agreed that an active canvass for members should he undertaken among the returned soldiers at once, so that members may be enrolled, ammunition drawn, and practices held on the range to enable a team to be selected for the contest. It was mentioned that Wanganyi was the first place in New Zealand, in which a Rifle Club had been organised among the returned soldiers, and the enthusiasm shown at last night’s meeting angurs well for good support being forthcoming in the ranks of the “Diggers.” Forma of enrolment may be obtained at the Returned Soldiers’ Club.