NAPIER RIFLE COMPANY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3035, 18 March 1881, Page 2

NAPIER RIFLE COMPANY.

The handicap matches among the members of the above corps took place yesterday on the Tutaekuri range, the whole of the .ixteen competitors being present. Firing commenced shortly after 6 a.m., and the first match (200, 400, and 500 yards) was completed ia time for breakfast, for which an adjournment of half-an-hour was made. The scores made so far were very good indeed ; Private Beck's score of 58 out of a possible 60 has rarely been beaten ia the colony. During the second match the competitors were under the disadvantage of a strong but very variable wind, rendering it impossible to male high scores, but very fair scores were made by one or two of the competitor?, tbat of Sergeant RedwarJ, 44, being the highest, the ranges being 400, 500, ard 600 yards. After an adjournment for luncheon the deciding match at 200, 500, and 000 yards was commenced. By this time the wind had freshened considerably, but was steadier. The effect of so strong a wind was soon apparent, several of the best Bhots of the company making very low scores, but Sergt. W. Duncan, by very steady shooting, succeded with a score of 48 in placing himself well to the front. The arrangements for the match were very complete and satisfpctory, the unanimous opinion of tbe competitors, both losers and winners, being that a more successful match had never been fired on tbe range. Sergt. Red ward, by a very careful and steady firing all through the day, succeeded in winning the officer's cup, value £12 12s, on the tie, and the medal for the .highest aggregate score made on the target. There were five other prizes, and they were won by Private Newton, Sergt. Duncan, and Privates Novell, Beck, and C. Wilson respectively. Sergt. Nelson, drill instructor to the company, obligingly volunteered his services as marker, and most efficiently discharged his duty, there being during the whole match not one question as to the accuracy of the marking or scoring. The result of the firing was as follows:— Ist 2nd 3rd Match Match. Match, pta. Total Sergt. Redward 47 44 43 1 135 Priv. Newton... 45 41 36 13 135 Sergt. Duncan 42 34 48 9 133 Priv. Hovell ... 49 40 29 8 126 „ Beck ... 56 36 33 — 125 „ C. Wilson 40 28 29 21 118 Capt.Batham... 47 41 26 3 117 Sergt. King ... 42 36 29 10 117 „ Chicken 47 34 33 2 116 Priv. Gunn ... 44 29 29 13 115 Lieut. Duncan 44 23 30 17 114 Priv. Hansen.., 39 34 35 3 111 „ Cato ... 47 33 29 — 109 „ Luke ... 86 25 27 20 108 „ Hampton 30 28 21 19 98 „ Galbraith 33 retired. 17 —--■—__——i , i——---f-pa