RIFLE SHOOTING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1805, 3 April 1888, Page 3

RIFLE SHOOTING.

The ABhbarton Rifles fir^d yesterday at the range for a number of prizes kiudiy presented by tho trae!«sp?ople and others of Aahbartf.n Tho company fell mat 9 m.za, under *he command of Captain Dolman, M jor Douglas being also prolent. There was a very good muster, there belDg 38 competitors. The priz'B were divided into two classes, for " Kecruita" and "Trained Volnnteors," the men m the latter class being handicapped, the recraita firing for their separate prizes all from Bcratch. At the 3Ooyds the wind began to rise nntil it blew a regular gale when the men had reached the 500 yds, making it extremely difficult to get on the target at all at that range.

Following were the ranges and conditions : —

Trained Volunteers, rangeß 2CO, 300 and 500 yds, 5 shots. Priza list - Special prize, silver medal, presented by Mr Murray, for the best Wore made at the three ranges (aot including the points given for handicaps)— won b? Private Salek, with 40 points, Lieut. Miiller being second with 36 points.

Ra2*gb Phizes. — Highest scorer at 200yde ; new bat. Woq by Lieut Miiier with 18 pain Is. Hi^beafc scorer at 300 yds, new haf. — Corpl McDonald, 17 points. Highest ncorer at 6Qoyda, new hat, — Private Craighead, 17 points. T&b Match. hdop score Tl. Sergt-Major Hayes ... 12 33 45 cash SOj, and trophy value 10a. Private Salek scr 40 40 cash 10s, and trophy value 10s. Oorpl McDonald ... 8 32 40 clock and oigar caae. hdop ecore Tl goods value. Private W. Craighead 4 36 39 14s Private Bennetts ... 8 30 38 10a Lieut Miiller ... acr 36 36 10s Private A. McDonald acr 35 35 103 Major Douglas ... ecr 34 34 10j Private Ashton ... ecr 33 33 9j Private Male ... 10 '21 31 6» 61 Private Black ... 10 20 30 63 6d Captain Dolman ... scr 29 29 6a 61 Color-Sergt McDonald ucr 29 29 5j Lieut Fooks ... 12 12 2S 5a Private J. H Baker ecr 29 29 63 Private T. Leltch ... 8 18 26 5b Private H. Baker... 6 20 26 5a Bhcrcits«Match ; *5 ehots at 200 and 5 at 300yda. Private E. Hepworth ... 20 Ist prize 15b oaab, and goods valaa 63. Private Jno. MUller ]3 2nd prize, 5a cash and gooda value 8s 6d. Private Fawcett 10 3rd priz9, gooda value 93. Prlvate3 A Craifchead, Brophy, Cnrtla, Earfoot, and Dalley also took ptizea m the order named.

Tfce shooting waa not finished until nearly 6 o'clock. In the evening a smoke concert was held being well attended Captain DJman m tho coutee of some remarks said be waa pleased to see the Dumber that had turned up that day, and the interest that had been taken m the match. The proceedings had betn very successful and he hoped and thought it would be the means of causing several of those younger shots who had shot that day to continue to take an interesting m shooting acd become by practice what they had shown themselves capable of becoming by theft attempts th-u day, viv. , good ■hots. A hearty veto of thanka was passed to the Bbooting Committee, Sergeant Major Heyea said that that daya shooting wao'the outcome of the Committee they bad recently elected, and he thought for ■ preliminary effort waa highly satisfactory . A vote of thanks wt»a passed to the Secretary cf theCommitte (Priva'e Salek) who said the Committee wore determined now they had fands available, to prepare a programme for next season which would make It worth trying to become s good shot. Thry Intended making a handicap match, the first prize being, probably, about £10, which match would extend over several competitions held fortnightly, the handicaps being re-arranged after each competition bo as to give the poorest sluts » show by bringing them level with scratch men. Several songs and reoltations were., given, refreshment* being handed round In the intervals, the company dispersing about midnight, after passing votes of thanks to those townspeople who hai bo liberally-assisted tho Oompsny by giving prizes to fire for.