THE VOLUNTEERS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1067, 6 October 1883, Page 2

THE VOLUNTEERS.

The New Zealand Rifle Association.

The sixth prize meeting of the New Zealand Rifle Association will be held at commencing on. Thursday, the 28th February next. Special free railway passes will be issued by: the Government to those Volunteer- members of the Association who may require to travel to and from Auckland. These passes will

be issued by the officers commauding the several districts to those Volunteers only

who actually intend to take part in the contest, but such Volunteers must send in to the Secretary of the Association at Wellington not later than the 10th February an intimation of their intention to compete, as without notice no free passes will be issued under any circumstances. The passes, ‘moreover, will only be issued to enable to arrive at Auckland by Wednesday, the 27th February, and will be available for the return journey by the first op , portunity after the. completion of firing. The Union Company will convey members of the Association intending to com-: pate at single fares for return tickets. The programme comprises the following matches

Nelson Match, for rifle or carbine belt, 300 and 500 yards, seven shots at each distance ; fifteen prizes, representing L6O, made up as follows—one each of Ll2, HO, LB, L 6, L 6, two of L 4, three of L2, and five of LI. ‘

Canterbury Match, for rifle or carbine belt, 200 ydb, ten rounds. ' Twenty prizesi will be offered in this match, amounting to LSO, as. follbvra : —One'oach of LIO, LB, L 6 and L 4, and six of L2 and ten of 1.1. : *'■ ; ’ ' * ’ i

Otago Match, for rifle or carbine belt, 300yds, ten rounds. Twenty prizes, amounting to LSO, as follows :—One ea<fh of Lit), LB, L 6 and L 4, six of L2, and ten of LI.

Auckland MaToh, for rifle bait, 200yds, 500yds and 600yds, seven rounds at eachdistance. Twenty-five prizes, representing L7O, as follows:—One each of Ll2, LlQ,’ LB, L 6 and L 5, two of L 4, three of L2, and fifteen of LI.

Wellington Match, for* carbine belt,* 200 yd a, 300yds and 600yds, seven rounds at each distance. . Twenty prizes, representing LSO, as follows One each of LlO, ;L8 and L 4, six otL2, and ten at LI. :

Marlborough Match, for rifle belt, 500 and 609yds, ten shots at each distance, twenty prizes, representing LSO, made up as in the case l of the Wellington match. Union Match, for carbine belt, 300 and 500yds, ten' shots at each distance, fourteen prizes, representing L4O, made up as follows—One each of 110, L 6, and JU4, two of 12, and eight of 1. '£ho National iiiflj Association silver medal will be awarded to the 1 highest aggregate scorer in the seven foregoing matches. Ihe twenty highest aggregate scorers, who must bo volunteers on the active list in Nelson, Canterbury, Otago, Auckland and Marlborough matches, armed with rifles, who will be represented with, suitable badges, will then- fire a second stage match of ten shots etrOOOyds, the scores of which will be added to the aggregates made in .the previous matches, when the highest grand aggregate score will be the rifle champion of New Zealand for 1883-4, and entitled to hold the rifle champion belt for twelve months. In the event of there being a tie for places among the highest twenty, it will be decided by firing shot for shot at about 600yda. In case of there being a tie for the grand aggregate prizes, the twenty highest a<gregate scorers arniad with car-, bines will fire a second stage match of tea shots at 500yds for the carbine championship of New Zealand for 1883. If either of the champion bolts is won two years in succession (or three years at! intervals) by the same person, it will become the absolute property of such winner, former -winners under the Government prize regulations being allowed to count.

The following is a list of the aggregate, prize* for the rifles :—lst prize, Rifle; Champion Belt of New Zealand, Rifle Association's Gold Star, and U 2 5; 2nd, New Zealand Rifle Association's Silver Star and Ll2 10s ; 3rd, New Zealand Rifle Association’s Silver Star and 18 ; 4th, L 5 ; sth, L 3. For carbines—lst, Carbine Champion Belc pf; New Zealand, Rifle Gold Star and L2O ; 2nd, New” Zealand Rifle ' Association's Silver Star, and X. 6 ; 4th, L 4. i here will also be a civilians’ match to be fired.at 200 and 500 yards, seven show at each distance, for which six prizes,; amounting to Ll 3, will be offered. The Union Company’s Cup will be fired

for by the twenty highest scorers in the Nelson, Canterbury, Auckland, and Wellington matches, ten shots at 500 yards. Four prizes are offered in the Rifle Company’s Challenge match, and a similar number in the Carbine Company's Challenge match.