N.Z. RIFLE ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL PRIZE FIRING.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3021, 2 March 1881, Page 3

N.Z. RIFLE ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL PRIZE FIRING.

(by telegbafh.) Nelson, March 2

At a meeting of the Executive Committee held on Monday in the camp it was resolved to recommend the Council of the Association to reduce tbe total prize money for carbine matches by about one-third, so that the total number of carbine competitors as the amount of the prize money for the rifle matches bears to the number ot competitors in that class. This decision was posted on the notice board yesterday and caused great dissatisfaction amongst the carbine men, who held a meeting and determined to protest against the alteration ot the published programme, on the strength of which they had entered, it being also understood that the association was in ample funds to carry out its promises. This protest was telegraphed to the Council, which met last night in Wellington.

In the first match which was completed yesterday. There were 73 competitors. The highest scores are— Griffiths and Crossman, each 74; Paynter, Weymess, Wilkinson, Hughes, and Ross, each 73 ; Dickson, A. Sampson, Adams, Ricketts, Smith, McKenzie, Rogers, Ballinger, Lieutenant Sommerville, and Parslow, each 72; Chadwick, Payne, Grey, Anderson, Wimsett, and Elliss, each 71.

No. 2 match, rifles, 10shots, 200 yards. The prize-takers were:—Howell and Hoskins (Taranaki), each 39; Fowler (Waimea), 38 ; Waddell (Nelson), 37 ; Remington (Wanganui), Loveridge (Taranaki), Beach (Stoke), Hunter (Waimea), Weir (Thames), Dingle (Taranaki), Louder (Taranaki), Paynter, (Stoke), each 36. Wilcocks, Tait, and Downie, also 36, but not prizetakers. Bannister, King, Sutton, A. Rogers, M'Kenzie, Cooper, Hall, Wemiss, Haslett, MTntosb, Griffiiths, Lieut. Smith, Smith, F. Thorburton, Hall, Oakey, F. Grey, Taylor, Lieut. Ballinger, Rogp, E. Brownlow, Harding, each 36; Nutford, Maddock, Best, Boddington, Randall, Sergeant Ballinger, Hay, Sharland, Sampson, Soper, R. M'Donald, Salinor, Sergeant Dodge, Kitching, each 84; Ellis, Rawlings, Ricketts, Turner, Richardson, Private Dodge, Wilan, Ballinger, A. Marshall Johnston, Burr, Coleman, Okey, E. Bazuit, Bioxsome, Hutchinson, Linsett, each 33. The others were below that number of points. No. 3 match, carbines, 10 shots, 200 yards. The following were the prizetakers, in the order given, the number of prizes being reduced from 12 to 7:— Cameron, (Thames), South (Nelson), Bennett (Wellington), H. Dixon (Wellington), each 37; Armstrong (Thames), Keller (Thames), Parslow (Thames), each 35. Thomas Ingle and M'Oredie also 35, but not prize-takers. Hood, Harris; Thompson, Clouster, M'Lean, M'Kenzie, Gordon, each 34 ; Sergeant Wirasell, Thurston, D. Taylor, Perrin, Littlewood, Lurasden, each 33. The remainder were 32 or under.

Match No. 5, for carbines, at 200, 400, and 500 yards, seven shots at each range. The following are the prize- takers in the order named : — Armstrong (Thames), France (Wellington), and Harris (Thames), each 73; Wisdom (Wanganui) and Parslow (Thames), each 72 ; Thompson (Dunedin) and Perry (Wanganui), each 71; Davy (Wellington), Payne (Auckland), A. Dixon (Wellington), McLean (Wanganui), Wilkinson (Dunedin), France (Wellington), Thompson (Port Chalmers), Tandy (Wellington), Thomas (Thames), and Cameon (Thames), all 70 ; Laird (Wanganui) and H. Dixon (Wellington), each 69.