THE INTERCOLONIAL RIFLE MATCH.

Evening Star, Issue 3291, 6 September 1873, Page 2

THE INTERCOLONIAL RIFLE MATCH.

The unanimity that characterised the meeting of the Otago Rifle Association yesterday augurs well for the success of the proposition that Otago should be worthily represented in the team which it has been decided to send to Melbourne to do honor for New Zealand in the Intercolonial Rifle Match, which is to take place therein November next. There were present Colunel Cargill, Major Atkinson, Captains Copeland and Goldie, Lieuts, Pell, M'Kenzie, and M uir, Sergt. Taylor, and V olnnteers M‘Gregor, Miller, and Buchanan. The Adjutant explained that there would be twenty competitors each from Victoria and New South Wales, and New Zealand could send a similar number. From the information he was then possessed of, he could state that the Thames would send four men; Wanganui, two ; Canterbury proposed to send four,, and if the Otago Rifle Association would send four, there would only be six places to be filled up. While in Wellington he had seen the Defence Minister on the subject, and a letter bad since been received from Mr M‘Lean to the effect that the Government declined to assist the movement pecuniarily; they considering it was purely a matter for the Rifle Associations in the Colony to take up. The Major bad also seen Colonel Moule, Commissioner of the Armed Constabulary, who had promised to lend the representatives new Snider and Enfield rifles to compete with. In the course of the conversation, a discussion which followed Major Atkinson s explanation, it was elicited that the probable expense per man would be L 25, though the Auckland men were all to get to Melbourne and back at single fare. Captain Copeland was for sending at least six men from Dunedin, and was of opinion that there would be no difficulty in raising the necessary funds ; but the opinion of the meeting was that £o sppd four men would be sufficient. Captain Copeland accordingly moved : “ That the Otago Rifle Association recognises the advisability of sending four representatives to the Intercolonial match, and that the choice el competitors be left to the Council of the Association, which was agreed to.”—Major Atkinson thereupon suggested that the outlying districts, suoh as Oamaru, Invercargill, and Tokomairiro would like to have an opportunity of taking part in the match; and if the country would contribute, Otago might send eight or nine men.—Colonel Cargill remarked that the Association was working principally for Dunedin and the suburbs; whereupon Major Atkinson explained that his wish simply was to make it a Provincial and not a Dunedin affair. Sergeant Taylor then moved “That Major Atkinson be requested to communicate with the commanding officers of Oamaru, Tokomairiro, and Invercargill districts, asking them whether they will be prepared to send any extra men besides the four chosen at Dunedin—the competitors’ names to be sent for approval to the Ass' elation, and their expenses to be paid by the district sending them,” which was carried. A committee, consisting of Colonel Cargill, Major Atkinson, Captains Copeland, Stayely, Wales, and

Jamieson* and Lieutenants Goldie and Pell were appointed to collect subscriptions, and the meeting terminated. We understand that the sttb committee will meet on M onday to arrange details. We would remind them that the Victorian and New South Walesmen are already in active nwation ; and our men, whoever they are e, must have all the practice they can get. Intending competitors should practice on two mornings and one evening every week, under the superintendence of the staff, till the end of next month ; and these competitions should be the guide of the committee in selecting the team. In th® matter of subscriptions, we think the Volunteers as a body should be asked to express their sympathy with a movement, and if each company gave the small sum of sixpence per man a very handsome amount would be collected by those means. They should remember that this intercolonial match is the greatest test our marksmen can have ; that if the present movement is successful, &ew Zealand will in all probability be the scene of next year’s competition, and that it is but the precursor of the Colonies being represented at the great Wimbledon meeting.