LINE & TRIGGER

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 701, 13 August 1903, Page 11

LINE & TRIGGER

(By

“Gillie.”)

The report and balance-sheet of the New South Wales Gun Club shows that there are 141 membersi, being the largest on record. The credit balance was £5OO 8s lid. The prizes had been increased, and two open handicaps of £llO shot off. The sixth champion match, open to all the States, was won by Mr H. Baxter. Two New South Wales v. Victoria matches had been held, each State winning one. The club had purchased grounds for £lOOO, and when the improvements were carried out the council felt sure they would be second to none in the Southern Hemisphere.

Mr Arthur W. Eales is in excellent form, and is still willing to shoot against anyone in Australia at 100 birds from £IOO to £5OO a side, and a prominent trap shot offers to put up another £5OO that Eales beats his opponent. ; r

There was, a splendid attendance at the Pigeon Match at Botany, Sydney, on Friday, July 22, when two ladies’ trophies were on the card for competition. It was an ideal afternoon, and a good supply of first-class birds, with only a light wind to help them along. Mr Manch ee won the match. As a trap shot, Mr L. Manchee is last going up to the top. His brilliant performance, winning first prize with 36 kills, and his sequence of 41 (nine off the short mark, Federal ' State record of 50) 33 of which fell to the first barrel, stamps him a coming formidable rival at the traps. Mr Manchee used the Colonial Ammunition Company’s Bluerock cartridges, loaded with l£oz No. 6 shot and Amberite powder.

English makers claim that they build the lightest and strongest fly rods. These' are the eight-foot fly rods, which weigh 3oz. The butt joint is Jeronica cane, the grip is cork, and the tip is green-heart. Snake rings are used, and the rod is steel ribbed. American lightest rods are made of split bamboo, and generally in three joints, whereas the English rod is made in two. Vety light reels seem to be much liked in Great Britain in combination with these featherweight dry flycasting rods, and for such purposes the skeleton reels have made many friends. A rod which only weig-hs 3oz seems going to the extreme, and it is hard to realise that strength is not unduly sacrificed.

The New Zealand Gun Club Association’s championship was decided at Christchurch on Monday. The weather was fine, but there was a strong Wind was blowing across the ground which spoilt shooting, and the result, in consequence, were very poor. Twenty-eight competed, and “ Starlight ” killed his 21 birdsf H. Price and A. W. Barnard tied for second place with 19 kills each, and. E. H. Eccles and F.Redwood were equal for fourth with 18 kills.

Entries for the New Zealand Championship, which was decided on Monday, at Heathcote, included the following wellknown shots Cashmere, C. Craw, C. H. Chavannes, W. Barlow, A. W. A. Barnard, W. H. P. Woodroffe, W. Dean, F. W. Whittle, A. H. Kimber, J. McCarthy, L. H. Devine, T. M. Dean, Nelson*. J. Simpson, G. R. King, D. McMillan, A. Sharp, G. Rutherford, D. Fraser, Jas. Burgess, A. Crow, H. Price*, Blue Rock*, Starlight*, E. H Eccles, F. Redwood, D. Hope, D. Roberts, P. Rainey. The first prize was. a gold medal set with diamonds presented by Messrs Sandstein and Co., and the Christchurch Gun Club, together with 60 per cent, of the sweepstake.