THE INTERCOLONIAL RIFLE MATCH

Evening Star, Issue 3323, 14 October 1873, Page 3

THE INTERCOLONIAL RIFLE MATCH

To the Editor. Sik,—“ln a multitude of councillors there is wisdom,” says the old proverb ; but I regret to say that the truth of this old saw has not been exemplified by the action taken by the council of the Otago Rifle Association in their deliberations regarding the selection of representatives on Friday evening last. 1 he portion of their proceedings to which 1 would especially reier, is their selection, without competition, of Captain Goldie and Yol. Taylor. Now, sir. I contend that this proceeding implies a direct insalt to the remainder of the gentlemen nominated from the various companies, and kiv< s the two before mentioned candidates an unjust and, I think, unwarranted advantage. I freely confess that these gentlemen are very good and steady shots. Mr Taylor, especially, I have little to say against as a representative, but what, sir, I would ask, are the special quali ficatiotis possessed by the other ? Is it that he once was the Mew Zealand champion ; and if so, what was the class of shooting at the period when that was obtained ? and in what position would a similar number of scores as then made have placed a man at the 1873 competition? and, also, I would ask, what has been the nature of the candi date’s subsequent shooting ? Has he qualified as a representative for the last two years Colonial firing ? and have his exploits in his own company’s competitions been such as to justify the overwhelming superiority over the others, which the mover of the resolution in favor of his selection without competii ion, is reported to have attributed to him ? and if the previous services rendered by these two candidates have had such weight with the Council, why. may 1 ask, have the similar services of many of the others been ignored? Has Richard spn (who ran the competition so close for the championship of New Zealand this year when nearly all the other Otago men were so low on the list) no claim for consideration, nor have the numerous times that Reid and Adam hare qualified themselves for representatives at the Colonial fi ring and the honorable position pecupied by them there been forgotten ? and are the many equally creditable performances pf the other candidates not worth mentipping ? Apd I ajp also, Sir, of opinion that if the pbove-ropntioued favorites we placed upon the sapae footing as the others, one, at least, would not Jose bis place by either a “ fluke or a side wind." I think, also, Mr Editor, that in a macter like the above, in which the public are asked to contribute funds, that even the faintest suspicion of partiality should be removed, and I contend that the action of the Council has not done so. Apologising for trespassing so much on your space*, 1 am, &c., Enfield, Dunedin, October 14.