LINE TRIGGER

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 693, 18 June 1903, Page 6

LINE TRIGGER

(By

" Gillie.”)

A giant skate caught in Riverton Bay (Southland) last week measured 4ft 6in across and 6ft 6in from tip of tail to snout. Its weight was over 2cwt.

Hawks are very numerous on the Waimate Plains, and are destroying fowls, hares, and game birds. It is suggested that the local bodies should offer a few pence for every hawk killed by settlers.

The Australian team for Bisley is now on the way home in the P. and O. liner Oriental.

Should the Australians manage to win the Palma trophy, which they will shoot for as well as the Kolapore Cup, England, America and Canada would have to send teams out to Australia if they wished to compete for it next year.

Some excellent shooting was done last week in the big competition promoted by the Ellerslie Gun Club. The day proved not altogether too favourable, being, rather showery, while the light was indifferent. Some photographs taken on the ground appear in this issue. Mr Fraser was in exceptionally good form, killing with the first barrel all ten birds with his No. 1 nomination, and nine out of ten with his No. 2 nomination. Mr Gorrick shot brilliantly with his second nomination, killing ten birds straight,, both these gentlemen being on the 33 yards mark. Messrs C. Chevannes (of Wanganui), “Hollis,” J. Williamson, G. R. Bloomfield, and A. Julian, all did great execution, and these gentlemen divided the stake.

The scoresi of the eeven competitors who tied for the prize, together with the order of their shooting—the figure 1 indicating the use of one barrel only, and the figure 2 both barrels—and handicaps, are as follows :— D. Fraser, 33yds 11111 Uli 1 (first nom.) 10 C. H. Gorri'ok, 33yds 1111111111 (second nom.) 10 C. Chevannes, 31yds 1111112121 (second nom.) 10 Hollis, 28ydq 1121112221 (second nom.) •••■; 10 J. Williamson, 28yds 1111111112 (second nom.) ~...’ 10 G. R. Bloomfield, 27yds 1111221111 (first nom.) 10 A. Julian, 25yds 1111121112 (second nom.) 10 The results obtained by other competitors were as follows : —H. Rowland (handicap 31yds), nine of ten birds in the first nomination, four of six in the second ; M. Roseingrave (30yds), two of four, and eight of ten ; F. Seccombe (30yds), five of seven, and four of six ; Webley (assumed name, 25yds), nine of ten, and three of five; G. Peach (24yds), one of three; J. Allen (24yds), one of three ; F. J. Storey (23yds), eight of ten, and five of seven; H. Schmeidel (23ydsi), one of three; W. H. Hazard (22yds), eight of ten.

During the Monte Carlo season, which recently closed, Donald M'TntosL, the Australian champion, won £846 in stakes, including second prize in the Grand Prix du Casino, and eleven other events. Most of the English shots who were at Monte Carlo went to the big annual shoot at Florence in May, where a Grand Prix, of £BOO was shot, but the result is not, to hand. During the present month a big shooting season opens at Aix le Bainsi, which lasts until'August 10. On the 20th and 21st inst. a Grand Prix Handicap, of £4OO, is to be shot. “ Mac ” may have a cut in at that.

The winner of the first prize in the King’s at Bisley this year may have the large sum of £5OO to receive. In addition to the £250 given by the National’ Rifle Association, a prominent firm, of gun makers in England has promised to give a similar sum should the prize be won with one of its rifles. Should one of the Australian team manage to win—and there are more unlikely things^—he would do more than pay his expenses this trip.