TRENTHAM-1914.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1994, 27 February 1914, Page 9

TRENTHAM-1914.

OPENING DAY. WET AND WINDY WEATHER SERVICE MATCHES (From Our Special Reporter.) Once again the hills at. Trontham are resounding ■ to tho zip-zip. of bullets. Tho 1914 gathering of the Dominion Rifle Association hqs opened. . Tho first Bhot was fired just beforo 10 o'clock yesterday morning, in weathor that was anything but .propitious.. A .strong south wind sprung up in tho' night, accompanied, by heavy rain, and when the "Reveille" was sounded at 6' a.m. Trenthani presented a most dismal appearance. Quito a winter's snap was experienced, and the rain eamo down steadily till after breakfast. "Fall in"' had been set down for 8 o'clock, but at that hour firing was quite out of tho question, so tho executive wisely decided, to wait for a clearing up. Tho rain lifted just before 9'o'clock, aftd a weak sun momentarily' peeped through the scuddiug clouds.. Colonel Collins, Chief Exe'outiVo Officer of the D;R.A., seized the moment to declare.the meeting open.'

An Empire Cup Team. Appreciating the fact that the men would ■ not like standing ;about in the wet grass, Colonel Collins had very few remarks ■te make. He said he wa& very pleased to see that', the entries wore going up. They showed a considerable improvement on the 1913 figures, and it was evident that they would keep on advancing till, he hoped, .the'entry of 1911 was reaohed.- ■ The elements, said the Colonel, -had not been very kind to them, but that'was no reason why they should bo down-hearted.

After mentioning the order of shooting for tho day, Colonel Collins referred to the Empire Cup-Match. He said that it had been announced in the papers that .the Empire Match would take place in Australia, when the British team and team's from other parts of the Empire would meet together, to fire for the Empire Cup. He had: Bccured the sympathy of the General Officer Commanding (General Godlcy), ■who had placed a proposal before tho Government'that if tho match took place in Melbourne, New Zealand should do represented. (Applause.) He could not say definitely how the team would bo chosen, but from a conversation ho had had with the General ho could say that it would bo chosen on the results of the Trenthnm meeting; probably from the highest fifty before they fired for the Championship Belt. The first eight men, at least, would be chosen from the final fifty, and the balance, of two or four men, would be chosen by a comuiitteo appointed by the.Chief Officer. It was considered wise not to'chose the team after the championship had been fired, because ..many, in firing for the championship, felt a strain on them, owing to tho many-visitors looking on. There was some mention that tho Empire Cup would be fired for at Bisley, but if it took place'in Australia, Now Zealand would'be represented. ■ ;

The Service Matohes. ' After "trigger-testing" the men were marched away in two_secj>jons_to commence the service matches" in B se'rios, tho C]a^fieatibni' v; 'Pj'actice.> Jin ten, snap shooting,'arid rapid shooting being taken. Now rifleihen do riot'greatly favour service matches, ,but. as-the Classification Match is compulsory to all competition, the full quota, ot tiioso,present marched to the Collins rangeto get the 100 yards event.over.. The promise? of fine, weather 'after..the early, morning rain was not fulfilled', for a. treacherous wind kept banking up rain clouds, so there was a mixture of sunshine and shower right up till tho afternoon, when better conditions began to prevail. ~i

With-the wind tricky andfh'o-light bad, it.was hot to bo wondered that the marking disc travelled up to the top left-hand corner time after time. -In the snapshooting .match, .which , wnß first',completed, Rifloman Head, of the Akarana 8.C., was successful in annexing the first prize of £5, with 21 points, Sergt.-Major Montgomery,, staff officer, being the next man, with 20.

CAMP aOTTIMOS. / The total.entries came .t01.360, showing an appreciable increase over last year's figures of 307. Perhaps the most pleasing feature was.the.number of tyro shots entered, there beinc; 91 men under this heading. The'association has come to the conclusion that tyros are tho determining element in making for the success of future rifle meetings. It is safe to ,say that teo little encouragement in- the past has been given to 1 youngi shote. Tho executive evidontly realised this, for in tho programme for the present meeting special provision has been made for*tyros by the inclusion of D Series, comprising three matches, open only te those" who have never won a prize of over £1 at any Rifle Association meeting. Substantial prines -are given, inchding an aggregate prize. ' Tho rifle meetings somehow fail to attract Territorials, for at Trentham; out 1 of the total of 360 -entries, only 48 are classed as Territorials, and that num-, ber includes 13 officers. Something is certainly wrong in this direction, and some Tiflomcn/'of experience bold theopinion that the class-firing conditions laid down by the Defense authorities aro not in tho direction of fostering rifle shooting. Included in'the entries are: Permanent Force, 8;" Territorials, 48; Cadets, 8; Reserve. 3; unattached, 3| Riflemen, 292. The-tyros consist of 73 Riflemen, 4jCadets..lO Territorials, and i Permanent Force men. The officers "controlling the meeting are: Lieutenant-Colonel Hughes, V.D., Superintending Officer; LieutenantColonel Turner, Statistical Officer; Captain" A.'Grant, camp adjutant; Captain F. B". Mabin, camp quartermaster. . During the afternoon His Excellency the Governor (tho Earl of Liverpool), the patron of the Dominion Rifle Asso-' ciation, accompanied by Major-General Gndley." C.K, the president, paid a visit to Trentham, . ;

They were met by Colonel Collins, and taken .over the range. This was Lord Liverpool's first visit to a D.R.A. meeting, and ho expressed himself as beting highly pleased with tho range. His Excellency was also shown over the, camp and tho dining-rooms, and hp commented favourably on the arrangements.

The high wind prevailing during the morning ha.d tho effect of doing some damago to tho tents, and succeeded in upsetting the executive's large meeting tents.

The serious shooting becins to-day with the "C" series matches, two of which will he taken, the. Auckland match alone counting for tho Championehii) Belt. /s •

Tlid Minister of Defence (tho Hon. James Alien) sent the following tologram to Colonel Collins:—-"I am sorry I cannot bo present at tho opening of tho meeting; to-day, hut hope you will have propitious weather, and a very mieccssfnl gathering, and that tho results may be to tho benefit of rifleshooting in tho Dominion."

THE PRIZE LIST

Snap-shooting, 300 yards, five rounds, no sighting shots. Second-class figure target. Conditions: targets exposed for i seconds, oho shot being fired at rach exposure. About 30 seconds elapse after

all the signalling is completed before the next exposure Results:— £i Rflnin. H. T. Head,' Akarana B.C. 21 £i Sergt.-Major Montgomery,- Staff .. 20 £3 Rflnin. I. Anstice, Nelson K.C. ... 20 £i Kilmn. H. V. Croxton, KaToriK.C. 20 £2 Rflmn. A..Caldwell, Karori R.C. .. 20 £2 Rflinn. C. S. Fisher, Suburbs R.C. 20 .£1 prizes i-Sergt. T. W. Narbey, 11th Regiment, 20 j Rflmn. I. Stcenson, Oamaru R.C; lifimn. W. 6. Lane, Akarana R.C.;, Cbrpl. L. Loveday, 9th Regiment; Private 1 T. K Lee, 16th Regiment; Rflmn. A. Halmshaw, Veterans' 8.C.; Lieut. H. Simmonds, Railway Corps; Rllmn. J. W. Milroy, Nelson R.C; Private H. R. Kecno, 15th Regiment; Lieut. A. J. Green, No. 8 Co., G.A.; Ifflmn. S. Marenzi, Kaitawa R.C; Rflmn. A. J. Melville, Akarana 8.C., each 19; Capt. R, H. Irvine, 12th Regiment; Rllmn. Johnstone, Gisborno 8.C.; Rflmn. 1. Hutchinson, Kaneiri 8.C.; Bflmn; b. Wallace, Te AroHa R.C; bergt.-Major A. Amos, Sth Regiment, M.R.; Rflmn. Y\v K. Boya, Timaru R.C; Rflmn. N. J. Smith, Opaki 8.C.; Rflmn. C. Craw, Chorlton R.C; Rilnm. L. S. Barrel!, le Arnha 8.C., each 18., 10s. Prizes.—Ataior J. Potter, Reserve; Rflmn. R. R. Cox, Karori R.C, each 18; Rflnm. J. C. Yeo, Auckland City R.C; Rflmn.'L'. Belk,'-Feilding R.C.; Rflmn. R,. Barrer, Te Wharau R.C; Rflmn. J. Hunt, Dnncdin R.C;,- Rflmn. H. J.-Hyde;: Okawa R.C; Lieut. H. H. M'lntosh, P. and T. Corps; Private G. Devore, 3rd Regiment; Rflmn., E. -F. Sandford,. Christohurch R.C; Rflinn. E. Wells,, Sounds R.C; Rflmn. W. H. Moselcn, Kaeo R.C; Captain VF. Drummond, Senior Cadets, Dannevirke; Lieut. J. F. Atkinson, 37 Auckland S.C; Rflmn. H. Cuthbertson, Tuamarina R.C; Rflmn. W. N. Masefield, Sounds R.C; Rflmn. F. E. Seacole, Pahiatua R.C; Rflmn. A. Bntt, Lincoln R.C; Eflmn. : C E. Morris, Petone R.C.; Rflmn. A.' L. Alackie, Akarana R,C, each 17.

" ; RAPID SHOOTING. 500 yards; seven rounds; 30 secends for first shot, and 45 seconds for remaining 6 shots, in which time competitor to spot' his sighter and get off his six shots. Results:—

£5 Pte. G. Devore, 3rd Kegiment 34 £3 10s. Dep.-Pres. J. Tinibrell, Veterans' E.C: 32 ,£3105. Rflmn. E. J. King, Opaki'B.C. 32 £310s. Eflmh. F. H. James, Okawa, B.C. ••» ••• 31

£210s. Rflmn. W. Brown-Lee, Auck- ... land'R.C .' '..> • 31 £i „:'„. Rflmn.' J. Cox, Karori .R.C. 30 £1 3s. 4d. Rflnin. R. Ching, "tt'aimea. R.C. ' .- •■ 30 £13*.4 d. Sergt. T. W. Narbey, ,11th , • Regiment —•„ •• 30 &\ 3s. 4d. Lieut. J. Hubbard, 6th H»u"raki.Rest. 30 £13s. id. Dep.-Pres. A. J. Lcatham, Akarana B.C. 30 XI3S..W. Mmni F. J. Cansley, Thames R.C '.. 30 £\ Prize*:—President J. P. 'White, Auckland .City R.C; P. J. H. Carrinirtpn, Akarana R.C; Rflmn. J. Kyle, Linton R.C.; Rflmn. TV. N. Waldin, Tvaitawa R.C; Rflmn. .T. Drennan. Oamaru R.C; President T. Jrnfrritl"e. Rnap"Kn R.C.; Rflmn. J. Brvden, Knianoi R.C, each 29; Den.-Pre*i(!ent W. M.'lver, Te A wain nfcu R.C; Mm. A.-France. Old Nnvnlej R.flmn. C. B. Morris, Petone R.C; Rflmn. H. Panps, Nelson 8.C.; Rflmn. T. Baxter. BlOia-n R.C; Rflmn. C J. Smith, Aknro.P*. R.C; Rflmn. A. Lanjr, WftinKin<rnroa 8.C.; Lieut' G. W. Horn, *th W.-iiknfo M.R.: Sergt.-lfajor O. A. Bend, Staff, cnoli -2S.

10s. Prizes.—Rflmn. .T. PieVerin?. Lin. hnlC; I<;»/-CornnraI A. G. B*H. 9th -Pe»imenr.: Rflmn. W. E. Bovs, Tin nru 8.C.; Rflmn.-' W. Rvder. Okawa 8.C.; Rflmn. A. Betrhnm, Opaki R-.C; Presi-dent-H.' MnrsM'. Kar'or R.C; C6r<<V K W. Chin*, R.N.Z.A.: Dflmn. H. T. Fead, Aknrana PC; Bflmn. A. B. Harrison, Kanon»a R.C: Rflmn. F7 CntnTWarinn. R.C, »neh 57. 7<i 6d. Prizes—Rflmn. C. B. Fnrman. NTe'son 8.C.: Rflmn. C. Bntt. TV'We R C.: fWt.-Moim- B.' P»U. RHW. .0. Pmwti-0m.0.n.-.ld P. 0.; Rflmn. P.- ,T. lifinton. Onoki R.C: Rflmn. W. A. Ltimp.W B.inoiHk»i P.C; Tflmn. 7). >f, M'Tn'-'xsli, p™ki 3 8, C.; .Pre=V»nh V. W. P ■TTintnunV), jV^;mfi9«.''''To,, i ß:'C,;,..R.flj;:n.: F M ;, R Linf-MCRIC- Rflmn.-.T 'L. Tnr'n.»«. -Pnbn-T*, R.C: Pint".. P.,W" - fem«n. ' p .C;. T:' t.-. T en ir-th Wiiiknto' Pe»imen : f' ; "'Rflmh.' C :T. o„vi, r _>« R<"\ ; Rflmn. A. Hyde, Okawa 8.C., >adli. 28.' ;

CTiASSTTTCATTON PT! .\CTTHV,. .Grouping-, s'roitnds nl 100 van's: snapnTiootinir.'s'TOurds at 200.yards: raw'd-fire. 10 rounds nt 200 vard«: ■ annlication, 5 rounds at W0 vards. Results:— £5 TV; ' Drmnmond, • SeniorRelets, Dannevi'ke " : , H9 n Pnnvn. .T. fix. Karori R.C 111 ,ffl F.flmn T. SWncon. Oamari' "R-C 108 £3 Pflmn! F,. IT, Sandford, Christ- • rUivah p.c : w

■m Tflmn. P, .T. K>". Onaki P.C ... 1"7 £2 Rflmn. A. Lnna. W„i, ll an<'arcaß,C 106 ' j>] pr! W5 O. A. .Bonn. ' Pf.-'ff, W:' Rflmn. H." TUc'rson, Linton Uf!,. Tflriiii. A. T. Mol'-i'le, Mcar.in<i PC- Pr*«iflW F. W. TV Tmupr. *I"'<niricevi]i« 8.C.. ("»* Rfl m n- -T. Bronn,n. ,n,-, r „ "R.C.; M."f. ff. vWv. tlth Peyinifit. "icr- ■""•: Plffl". ,T T Avol-b'nrl CiW p. O : f'or-1. f. Lived"-. * 9th P""i'-".ent; P"m" P. oivrni. G-lensvrr F..C: Ser-rt.-Maior »IW<7omi-"-v. Staff: T ; »nt. V Sim~on<H p'ailwov Corps, each W: Pflmn. 0. \. I> W . T« AwwTirtT C: Cnl.-P-r-rt. V rj. "w; Pflp-n. T>. M'T»tosh. On-M 8.C.; ftflmr.. .T. T. G-il'nn. nnnedin P. 0., e»oh ino. pflmn. A. Titr'V. Ai" , V'"nfl C'hr P.C.; President TV. N. Mafefield. Pounds R.C; Pflmn. F. J. Causlcy. Thames R.C; Private K. P. Kinrr." path ,m«nt; Bflmn. C Hyde. Opaki P.C.; Plmn. C. -T. Fisher, Suburb* - 8.C.; Pflmn. S.' Elliott, Akarana P.C.: Rflmn. W. Powell. Knnan 8.C., each 101: Cant. .Rretschmer, ISCh Senior Cadet=: Rflmn. H Y. Croxton. Karori R.C: Pflmn. TV. Brownlec, Auckland City B.C. each 100; Pflmn. ,T. W. Milroy, Nelson 8.C.; Cant. P. M. Irvine. 12th Regiment, each 99; 'Rflmn. P. Indey, Greytown H.C.; Eflmn. I. Bryden; Kainnoi 8.C., each-93.

10s. Prizes.—Eflmn. TV. G. Lane, Akarana 8.C.; Eflmn. R.H. Cos, Karori 8.C.; Rflmn. J. Hunt, Dnnedin 8.C.;. President J. P." TVhite, Auckland City. 8.C.; President Marshall, Karori 8.C., each 98; Rflmn. TV. Cox, Auckland Citv 8.C.; Rflmn. TV. A'. Ball, Linton E.C.; Eflmn. EI. T. Head, Akarana 8.C.; Lieut. W. Duncan, 13th Regiment; P.flmn. J. Cheese'man,. TnamarinaE.C; Private R. TV. !Black, P. Midi. Corps; Eflmn. F. Sunnes, Sounds 8.C.; Eflmn. D. ATLeay, Opaki R.C., each 97; Gunner T. A. Otton, Staff; Vice-president TV. J. Masson, Dannerirke 8.C.;. Bflmn. A. Halmshaw, Veterans' 8.C.; Eflmn. A. France, Old Navals; Eflmn. TV, H. AValdin, Kaitawa •8.C.; Dep.-President I. Anstico, Nelson :R.C; Captain Hastings, 6th. Mounted ReKimcnt,, each 96; Bflmn. S. Jfayhow, Feilding 8.C.; Bflmn. Trons;on, Taradale R.C.; Sergt. A. C. Swinard, 10th Regiment; Lieut. F. Hartnell. lll'h, Pediment, each 95; Eflmn. E. Wilson, Whangamomona R.C.;' Rflmn. H. Cnthoertson, Tuamarina 8.C.: Private W. J: Morgan, 3rd Begiment M.R.; Bflmn. A. Caldwell, Karori 8.C.; Private E. Tavender, ■Ist Canterbury Eeidment; Bflmn. L. P. White, Christchureh 8.C.; Pflmn. P, A. Wilton. Manriccville E.C:;' Scrat.-Maior iT. H, Bell. Staff; Pflmn. A. B. Harrifon, KnpongaP.C; Private G. Devore, 3rd Regiment; Lieut. J. W. Peake. lGth Waikato Regiment; Eflmn. Griffiths, TVamranui R.C; Rflmn. TV. Bandell. Linton R.C; Pflmn. A. M'Murray. T<> Awamutu R.C; Rflmn. B. Ukin?. Blenheim R.C; President TV. H. Moselov, Kaeo P.C.; Rflmn. H. C .Tones, Onaki R.C ■• Rflmn. F. .T. H. Carrinrton, Akarana R.C. eneh m-. Pflmn. A. V. Swonson, Onaki R.C; 'Iflmn. C. Enststron. Opaki R.C; Rflmn. P. C Barkle, Suhnrbs P. 0.: Pflmn. W. E. Boys. Timaru R.C: Pflmn. C. Manlcy, Oam.irn R.C; Contain J. F. Barltrnp, 7th Regiment: Pflmn. J. Fanlkiner. Gislyirn" P.C; Pflmn. G. H. Tavl flr , t„„i„. wood R.C: Private F. S. ' Kin'-'. 7th ReMmont; Corpl. F. W. Chin? 8.N.Z.A., eneh 9.1.

Fourteen wove counted out. TO-DAY'S PROCRAMME. Tho programme for to-day is as follows:—

No. 1, ononing match (not counting for the Belt). No. 3, Auckland match. .