THE COLONIAL PRIZE-FIRING.

Evening Star, Issue 2850, 8 April 1872, Page 3

THE COLONIAL PRIZE-FIRING.

{From our own Reporter.) Christchurch, April 3. Believing that a no inconsiderable number of your readers are greatly interested in the contest now going on w th-s City, I am determined that no opportunity sha be ueelected by me of keeping them well posted up in the proceedings. I shall, theiefore, trice advantage of the overland mail dosing to-night to give you the full results of the firing up to its conclusion to-day When my last was written, the men had thus been drawn up for the Third Match. - Range 200 yards ; five shots ; position staudme ; targets (6 y 4), centre, 2 f- et square ; hull’s eve 8 inches square; no trial shot, firstprize, L 10; second, LG ; third, L 4 ; fourth, L 3 ; hfth, I *> 200 yds. Total. Prize M'La-en, S.D.E. • 34343 17 £lO Paton. Cant. * 34324 10 6 Cameron, Cant. • 42333 lo Christie, W.T. - 32433 « S Cowie, Scot/ ■ 24133 lo Taylor, Scot. ■ 33333 lo Brown, 15. T. - 34233 Jo Gulliver, Cant. • 33323 J4 Shepherd, Westland- 34232 14 - Chamberlain; do • 32333 14 Close, Napier - 33332 14 Skene, Westland - 23243 J4 Morrow, Auckland - 33232 13 Kelly, A. Const. - 23332 13 M‘Donaid, Auck. • 33232 13 Reid, Art. - - 32233 J3 Payne, Auck. - - 23332 13 ■— Greer, S., Well. - 34330 13 - Humphreys, Tar. - 32332 13 Sutton, Marl. • * 32233 13 Carter, Well. • • 32323 13 Hoskins, Ancle. • 23332 13 Phillpots, Marl. - 23323 13 Oates, Well. • • 23332 13 Muir, D. Art. - - 23323 13 Todd. A.C. - - 33232 13 Marshall, Waik. • 23233 13 M'Farland, Art. • 32332 13 The Otago men who scored below 13 were: — Blatch, W.T. - - 23432 12 Wales, No. 1 - ■ 23223 12 Key, Waik. - - 23222 11 Dixon, P.C.N.B. • 23420 11 Buchanan, W.T. • 23302 10 Henderson, Riverton 20222 8 Highest possible score. 20. The firing at this range was carried on under difficulties ; the wind blowing very strongly made it anything but an easy matter to bold the ritie steadily. The shooting, therefore, was on the whole very good. Considerable interest was taken in the firing off of the ties, of which there were five, four being Otago men. Cameron and Christie started with bull’s-eyes, but Cowie only securing a centre, retired with the fifth prize, the other men having only made outers. In again tiling off, Christie managed to shift his position at the moment "f firing, and went clear of the target, while Cameron, scoring a centre, took third prize Otago thus secured three prizes . It will be noticed that among those who occupy a poor position in tiiis match is Wales ; but a strong excuse can be pleaded for him, for he is suffering from a bad arm, which is giving him such pain that it is surprising he is doing as well as he is. The second day opened fine, but towards the close of the day’s firing slight showers of rain fell. When the first match started the weather was moderately fine, with a slight breeze from the S.E., but when the skirmishing match was in progress, the weather was all that a marksman could desire—neither sun nor wind. The first match of the day was the Fourth Match.— Range, 300 yards; five shots; any position ; no trial shots ; target (6f“. by 4ft.) centre. 2ffc. square ; bull’s eye. Sin. square. First prize, L 10; secoud. L 6 ; third, L 4 ; fourth, L 3 ; fifth, L2. 300 vc s. Total. Prize. Dixon, P.C.N.B. - 22444 16 £lO Brown, E.T. • • 43333 lb 6 Wales, No. 1 - - 34333 16 4 Blatch, W.T. - ■ 32433 15 3 Oates, Well. - • 32243 15 2 Coleman, Auck. • .33333 15 Fenton, ditto. - 23334 15 M‘Donald, Auck, • 42233 14 Cameron, Cant. • 23234 14 Christie, W.T. - 33332 14 Marshall, Waik. • 32333 14 Liddell, Well. : 43223 14 Buchanan, W.T. • 23342 14 Hoskin, Auck. - 32432 14 Wilson, Scot. - - 22333 14 Churton, Well. - 33223 13 M'Laren, S D.R, - 32332 13 Curtis, Tar. - - 33322 13 Phillpot, Marl.- - 23332 13 Muir, Art. - - 43222 13 Todd, A.C. - - 23233 13 Tnnes, Cant. - - 22432 13 M'Farland, Art. - 33232 13 Paton, Cant. - - 32224 13 The Otago men who scored below 13, were : Beid, Art. - - 32322 12 Key, Waik. - - 42222 12 Henderson. Riv. - 22323 12 Taylor, Scot. - - 22233 12 Lean, P.C.N.B. - 23222 11 In firing off the ties, Wales put himself out of the first prize by scoring an outer, while Dixon and Brown obtained centres a piece; and in firing oft’ a second time, 1 ixongot a centre to his opponents outer, thus taking the first prize. In firing off for fourth place, Blatch got a bull’s-eye to Fenton’s centre, the others only making outers. Pavitt, of Canterbury, would have stood a good chance had he not, by some unaccountable means, fired on to the wrong target, where he registered a centre. Dixon, so sq.m as he felt himself on the proper spot, Jcept the shots there, all his bull’s-eyes being well directed. FlfTii Match. —Ranges 400, 500, and 600 yards ; seven shots at each ; any position ; no trial shot ; target (Gft. by 6f .) centre, 4ft. ; bull’s eye, 2ft. square. First prize, 1,20 ; second prize, Ll6; third, Ll4; fourth, LI 2; fifth, 10; sixth, L 7 ; eighth, 1,5 ; ninth, L 5 ; tenth, L 5. Centres, Outers. Total, Hoskins, Auck,... 12 ;.7 7 ••• 69 Brown, E.T. ••• 13 »•• o ... b7