TRENTHAM-1912.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1374, 27 February 1912, Page 6

TRENTHAM-1912.

RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING. OPENS TO-MORROW. 6LUMP IN THE ENTRIES. To-morrow morning tho Now Zealand Rifle Championship Meeting will open at Trentliam. Tho Dominion Riflo Association is face to face this year v:itli a depressing slump in tho entry list, the number of competitors expected to be present —300—being almost exactly one-half of. tho total recorded last year. This sharp fall was not unexpected. Tho past year has been one of transition in the New Zealand military forces. Many of tho older hands have passed out of t'ho ranks. Tho new territorial army is an army of youths, practically speaking,. and in tho great majority of cases" these new bloods know not tho rifle—tho rifle of championship meetings. Again, the constitution and programme of the reconstructed Dominion Rifle Association—a reconstruction which was the inevitable consequence of the advent of a now school and new ideals of military training—hßS alienated the support of a number of tho old bull's-eye men, for this .year at all events. They appear to bo standing off this year to watch with a critical eye the progress of the D.R.A. meeting of 1912 under -its new management. Shooting men are conservative in their opinions, and it will bo a yoar or two yet before—if ever—their perspectives are adjusted to the new order of things.

The Opening Matches. Everything is now in readiness for tho opening day on Wednesday. The camp has bceu pitched by tho Permanent Force men, the range has been cleared up, and paths constructed along tho camp thoroughfares. The first events of the openin? day will be the teams' matches, which aro to bo got out of tho way bv Friday morning, when tho service matches commence. ' Three _ teams .have entered—from tho Karori Rifle Club, Suburbs Riflo Club, and tho Nelson Infantry Battalion. Men participating in theso" matches, which aro part of the requirements of tho military authorities, have no expenses as regards entry money or railway fares. ■ To stimulate interest, and at the same time give opportunities for useful practite, the chief executive oflicer (Colonel R. J. Collins, C.M.G.) has arranged for two long-range continuous matches at 800 and 900 yards, the 800 yards match to commence on Wednesday morning, and tho 900 yards event in tho afternoon. Theso will be extra matches, on the sweepstake basis, and tho entry will bo 2s. Gd. On tho following day u 1000 yards extra match will be put on, under the same conditions. Ammunition will be free for theso matches.

Formal Opening on Friday. Thero will be no formal opening till Friday morning, by which timo'all tho competitors will bo 011 tho ground, so the customary address by Colonel ,Collins on tho opening day will bo deferred till then. Tho eight service matches will bo completed by Saturday afternoon, and on Monday will bo commenced the contest for tho King's Prize and championship. Only two ranges will bo used, the Seddon and Sommervillo ranges, as thero are only 70 markers available this year, and tho number of competitors is much smaller. Tho General Officer Commanding tho Forces (Major-Genoral A. .T. Godlcy, C.8.) will bo present at the final match' for the King's Prize.

PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL,

Tho fortnightly meeting of the Petono Borough Council was held last evening. Tho Mayor (Mr. .T. W. M'Ewan) presided, and the following were also present:— Councillors List, Brofklobauk, Trueman, Wakeham, Cox, Loddcr, and Burridge. The following motion, moved by tho Mayor, was agreed to:—"That the sum of i£lsl IBs. 3d., standing''n't the I'crcdit of the Nelson Street Formation and Creeks Diversion Loan, be diverted mid placed to the credit of tho Eastern Drainage Loan, and such sum ho expended in connection, with tho • eastern drainago works."

Applications were made by the Petono Ladies' Hockey Club and the Pctone Association Football Club. for the' uso of a ground on tho Recreation Ground. The applications wero referred to the Reserves Committee.

Councillor Cox moved';—"Tliat all application forms regarding gas mm\jcc iu Nelson Street, together with the foreman gas-fitter's report to the engineer, making complaint Against Mr. J. Piper, be laid on tho table." After somo discussion, tho Mayor pnt tho motion to the meeting, and it was decided to lay tho 'forms on tho tabl©.

THE lIUTT BRIDGE,

A letter from the Town Clerk, Wellington, dated February 20, on tho subject of tho Ilutt Pipe Jiridgo was received. Tho letter read;—"l liavo regretfully to inform von that a reiorcnco to our files shows that tho cause of tho great delay which has taken place with regard to the whole business has been tile length of time taken by your borough in agreeing upon the ■ various matters in question between your borough and tho city. It will 1)e remembered that this corporation proceeded ■ with tho construction of the bridge over the Hutt River, Slid this was dono on tho urgent representation of your borough, in order to facilitate the use of tho Hutt Park by the Tetono residents. The plans aro ready for the construction of tho bridgo over tho Waiwetu, and arrangements have been made for the location of a road between the Hutt Bridgo and that over the Waiwotu. The Wellington Council has also arranged a deviation of tho line of water-mains, and has thus relieved Pctone of considerable expense in connection with such work. This also was dono at Petono s desire to have tho bridge constructed in lino with Jackson Street. Tho Wellington. Council have given evidence of their bona fides by tlio work which they havo undertaken. and that which has been fcompleted, and it has always been regretted that similar energy has not been evidenced by others concerned in tho construction. As a matter of fact, the warrant was applied for originally somo twelve months ago, aud was held over pending a settlement of the torms thereof. The present delay iu obtaining the warrant appears to bo due to the fact that the draft terms of the settlement agreed upon have not beeu ratified by your borough solicitor. The city solicitor advises me that the draft has been in the hands of the borough solicitor since February 8, and that ho has to-day been informed that it will bo returned to-morrow "