IN OTHER CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 66, 11 December 1907, Page 9

IN OTHER CENTRES.

(by telegiufh—special correspondents.) <h __— AUCKLAND.' 1 Decembor 10. The, Auckland Ladies' Benevolent Society, 'which does excellont work amongst tho poor of Auckland, -held a floral foto at Ellerslie oil Saturday,, with ,tho object of replenishing a totally exhausted exchequer." Tho function ■was, however,: utterly mined by rain,, and the takings ci;p. not expected to, cover cx.])onscs... As ft' result, general sympathy, has beon aroused; Not only aro subscriptions being sent in from all ■ quarters, but two benefit performances havo been organised. West's now showing here, aio to dovote tho proceeds of a matineo 011 Wednesday next to the Socioty, and tho lesseo of His Majosty's has'placed tho theatro and staff at tho disposal of tho Socioty for December 23, when an , ontortainment will eventuate'on a largo;, scale. The fete that was spoilt gave every promiso of boing a brilliant, carnival, arid, its failure created widespread disappointment.

The Recent Show.- ' « What, probably constitutes a record for Now was achieved at. the .recent Auckland ,show by a Lincoln ram owned by Mr. J. R. M'Elwuin, of Waiultu. Tho ram took first , prize in Class 172, which was for rams in ~ the' wool to, bo shorn boforo, tho judge.' Mr. M'Elwain's prize Lincoln, which is : under, eighteen months-old, established a record,-, .shoaring 33$ltj. of wool. Much interest was taken in this class by breeders, tho sheop competing ,having been, previously shown at tho Waikatoishow, and much differonco of opinion then pxisted tho likoly weights, of tho.respective fleeces.-

British Rifle Team, j Amongst tho arrivals by tlio Mokoia cn Sunday from Sydney woro Colonels Hopton and Cowan; anil Major, Gouldsmith, of tho British Riflo Team, whjclr-" reeontly toured' Australia and Canada. • "Soon by a " Star " representative 'this morning, Colonel Hopton, who was commandant of tho team, imparted some interesting impressions >of the tour. Tho team left England 'on August 9, and proceeded to Canada, lvhere tncy participated in tho Palma match at Qttawa against American and Canadian teams. Asked what, he thought of tho American .'i>' tory over tho British and Canadian riflemen in that match, Colonel'Hopton replied that their defeat was a very considerable 0110. Ho ascribed tho success of tho Americans to a combination of reasons, — tho men, rifles, barrels, sights, and ammunition all being perfect. i'ho . .winning team all used poop sights, which aro not recognised by tl.o British War Office. "What is .tho objection to tho peep sight?" tho "Star" represoritativo asked. "It is considered that they aro not quick enough," was the reply. "But that is hardily to bo credited, sinco the Africans claim that they are as offective in skirmishing as» they aro'in 'deliborate shooting." in tho Alma match they were certainly quick enough for anything. Crossing Canada and tho Pacific, tho team, on receiving an urgent ■ invitation from Queensland, decided to break their journey at Brisbaho and tako part' in tho Brisbano Riflo Meeting. Tho British riflemen then proceeded to Sydney for tho Empiro .match, which was tho primary object of tho expedition. On both'days of tho' match tho team was at a loss to cope with tho weather conditions, a high and perverso wind blowing from different quarters through-' out the meeting. ' In the big- match' the l Britishers were defeated by both tho Australian and New Zealand' teams. After leaving Sydney, tho team proceeded, to Tas-'-mania, and . there won-most of tho matches-. 1 At, tho Melbourne Meeting tho visitors also' did exceedingly well, defeating tho Victorianteam, and carrying off first and " second' prizes. In the King's competition at Adelaide the Britishers did best of all, and ip the teams match of teii'-a-sido they averaged over 100 per man at tho different ranges';' which constitutes a record.. Asked what ho thought of tho riflo shooting prowess of tlio averago colonial, Colonel Hopton replied at in Australia ho found a great many more men in comparison to-tho population'with a knowledge of rillo shooting than is tho case at Home. Tho colonel is also of the opinion: that tho averago colonial shots aro as good, if not better, than tho. Homo riflemen. Speaking of the New Zealand team's performance at tho -Empiro Meeting in Sydnev,. Colonel Hopton said ho regarded the display as highly creditable. He:.thought ;t- probable that tho New Zoalanders found tho weather conditions at Randwick as difficult to negoti-ators'tho-British did, and that it was by sheer and dodged -pertinacity, right up to tl.o last shot fired, that tho Now Zealand team ran into second place. Referring to Cutler tho winner of tho. King's' Prize, Colonel Hopton said ho thought tho Batlnirst man one of tho finest Viflo shots ho hns over Been. Sinco'his memorable performance at Randwick, Cutler has been very seriously ill in Sydney, and was n week or two ago operated on for < appendicitis. Colonel Hopton and his brotherofficers aro going to spend six wooks in touring the Dominion before returning to England, whither the rest of the British team has already proccoded. <■■