WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1225, 6 September 1911, Page 5

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

THE "DAILY MAIL" CUP, A PECULIAR LETTER. In May last (lie Suburbs Riflo Club, of Wellington, participated in (ho animal rille match for Hie "Daily Mail" Empiro Day dip, and made top score for New Zealand. The scores wore only sent Hume, and it was subsequently announced that the Wellington Club had .scooped the premier honours in competition with the riflemen of (!ie Empire/and w<n (lie cup. Sineu then nothing was hoard of the trophy till the i>l her day, when (ho following letter, sddressisl to the secretary of the Wellington Suburbs Defence lfifin Club (Mr. W. G. Fellingham), and dated July 28. caino to hand from (ho organising secretary of the "Daily Mail" Empire Day liiflo Contest, Carmelite House, London:--Dear Sirs,—With reference to the splendid score of (he Wellington Suburbs Club ,-fml this year's "Daily Mail" Empire Day Cup Contest, we hiivo received one or two important communications in connection with this mailer, and before finally forwarding (lie cup μ-o arc- replying (o (ho individuals who have written to us. So far our organising committee funis no fault with the manner in which your score has been attested. I\e are communicating with (he Minister for Defence, a,ud on hearing from him, will write von arain. fours "faithfully, E. WKJiXCIT. Tho receipt of this letter has given rise to a feeling of keen dissatisfaction among tho members of (he club, who havo come to (ho conclusion that (he delay in forwarding the cup is Hie result of some allegations which have !>ecn made by f-omo person or persons unknown. Discussing the matter with a representative of Uhk Dominion yesterday, Mr. Fellingham said that tile conduct of tlio match, which was tired at I'olhill Gully, ought to be nbovo suspicion, as the targets were duly, examined and certified to'by t-ho range ollieers who supervised (he shooting on (hat day. 'Phcsp officers were Captain Aubrey Mod and Lieutenant C. W. Miliar, of the Fifth Hogiment, and Captain Martin, of St. Anne's Cadets, who was in charge of. (he trcnulics, and all threo attested to their opinion (hat (he rules of (ho competition had been faithfully adhered to. The score made by the club was a remarkably good one, and was the subject of universal comment among shooting men, more especially among those who had an intimate knowledge of Iho vagaries of Tolhill Gully as a rifle range. Tho fact was that I'olhill Gully on that particular day presented climatic conditions which have rarely been experienced. The men themselves remarked that the Gully was as still and clear as a shooting gallery, and big scores were llio order of the day. In the opinion of tho club, the certified score sheets and iliev attestation by tho supervising officers that the match was properly conducted ought to have been quite sufficient guarantee that the club had fully complied with all tho requirements, and that tho action of the "Daily Mail" in delaying (he award is a slight to the club. Tho circumstance that tl'c "Daily Mail" lias apparently acted on I lie rcoiwcntations of somo unauthorised persons regarding tho conduct ct' the match has occasioned extreme annoyance. "So far as I'm concerned," said Mr. Fellingliam, "if there is going to be any humbug about this business, tho 'Daily Mail' can keep tho cup."