RIFLE SHOOTING.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1878, 11 October 1913, Page 14

RIFLE SHOOTING.

NEWB & NOTEB OP THE WEEK,

[By ApßiirtmE.]

Tho Opening Day. Riflemen were favoured by very fino weather for the first day's shooting of tho present season last Saturday, and the seventy enthusiasts who 1 made the journey to Trent-ham spent a, most enjoyablo afternoon. From a long experience of the vagaries of Trentham, it is safe to sav that few hotter days for shooting will bo experienced during the season. The prospects for to-day aro anything but bright, and it is a pity that the Parliamentary match, which was fixed for Saturday last, had to be postponed. The Parliamentary teams do not comprise many rifle experts, and the excellent conditions of last week would have suited them well. Notwithstanding that none of those on the range had fired a shot since last season, the opening day performances wero very' fino. Out of the eighteen riflemen who took part in the Karori Club's matoh, eleven got 80 or more out of tho possible 100. The Highlanders had seventeen men on the mounds, and nine of them made 60 or more out of the possible 70. The. most interesting feature of tho day's shooting was the match in which the Staff Rifle Club beat the officers of tho sth (Wellington) Infantry Regiment. Altogether the season had a most auspicious beginning, and there are ample signs of a successful year. There is any amount of enthusiasm at any rate. Tho rest lies with the clork of the weather. New Momboro. All tho clubs in and around Wellington have .received a good entry of new members. This is, of course, accounted for by tho fact that many old volunteers who were keen on their shooting havo no other opportunity of indulging in their favourite sport than by joining a olub. There is a very great deal to bo said in favour of our compulsory training system, but its most ardent admirers cannot claim for it that it gives tho samo opportunity for range-shoot-ing that the old velunteer companies did. What firing is carried out now is of tho soverely practical order, and there is little of the old sporting spirit which made company matches so enjoyable and so keenly contested as they wero in tho old days. But once a shot, always a shot—so tho clubs are profiting by a big influx of keen riflemen. The effect of the system is seen at the big Trentham meeting, where nowadays riflemen constitute at least eighty per cent, of the competitors. ■

A New Club. Riflemen will welcome the entrance •of a now olub—tho old Navals. The club already has a membership of 30, comprising some of tho best shots of the palmy days of the Wellington Navals. Tho founding of this club is another instance of tho keenness of the old volunteers, who, having been dropped out of service in the ranks, tftili wish to indulge in their favourite sport, and at the same time maintain their efficiency as defenders of the country—which is, after all, the main thing. The club has not done any shooting yet, but it has been vory active, anjl has secured a fine new range at Miramar, on which firing can bo carried out up to 800 yards. The members are very keen, and are determined to make themselves heard of before tho season is over.

To-day's Parliamentary Match. Tho Karori Club will hold its formal opening this afternoon at Trentham, a. specially interesting feature being a, two-range match between teams of members of tho House of Representatives, representing the North and South Islands respectively. This match was first instituted last year, when it was very successful. Tho teams are as follow:—North Island: Messrs. W. H. D. 801 l (Wellington Suburbs), J. H. Brndney (Auckland West), J. 6. Coates (ICaipara), A. E. Glover (Auckland Central), W. D. S. Macdonnld (Bav of Plenty), V. H. Heed (Bay of Islands), G. R. Sykes (Masterton), and A. J. Young (Waikato). Smith Island: Tlie Hon. Colonel James .Allen (Bruce), the Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel It. Heaton Rhodes (Ellesmere), Messrs. G. J. Anderson (Mataura), E. H. Clarke (Chalmers), AV. J. Dickie (Selwyn), L. M. Isitt (Christclnirch North), C. E. Statham (Dunodin Central), G. M. Thomson (Dunedin North), and F. H. Smith, (Vt'aiiaki).'The first shot will bo fired by Colonel Allen. A special train leaves Lambton station for the range at 1.40 p.m. At flic conclusion of tho match the club will entertain tho members at afternoon tea. The club members will firo a practice matoh at 300 and COO yards.