OTAGO RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Evening Star, Issue 4301, 8 December 1876, Page 2

OTAGO RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

FIRST DAY. The thirteenth annual meeting of the Otago Rifle Association was commenced yesterday in a paddock at Green Island, within about half-an-hour's walk ef the railway station. The weather was particularly fine, but the scores did not equal anticipations. Eighty-seven men fired in the first match as against sixtyfour last year. Contrary to expectation, none of the Christchurch Volunteers put in an appearance, the district prize-firing, which takes place next week, preventing them attending. The principal prizes in the first match were won by the South District Rangers, the range prize's being respectively carried off by Corp. Richardson, North Dunedin ; Sub-Lieut. Willocks, Clutha; and Vol. Tough, Bruce. The match was fired in two squads at 6 am. and at 9 a.m., the early detachment having the advantage as regards a clear sky. Four targets were used, and the marking appeared to give general satisfaction. The Association's regulations were strictly carried out, one of the competitors being fined for firing off his rifle on the range without pei mission. Only one civilian fired. The various corps represented were :—Dunedin Artillery, 2; Dunedin Naval Brigade, 4; City Guards, 14; Port Chalmers Naval Brigade, 1; Portobello, 9 ; South Dunedin Rifles, 9 ; North Dunedin Rifles, 10; East Taieri, 6; West Taieri, 6; Wakari, 5; Bruce, 7; Clutha No. 1, 7 ; Clutha No. 2, 5; Oamaru, 1; Otepopo, 1. Mr Sydney James, secretary to the 0.R.A., was, as usual, courteous in supplying our representative with any necessary information. Appended are the scores of those who made fifty points and over : First Match.—2oo. 500,600 yards; seven shots at each range; 200 yds standing, other ranges any position; Wimbledon (1878) targets and scoring.—First prize, presented by Mr J. Hislop, shield and vase, value LIQ 10s; second do, by Mr H. H. Haydon, cake basket, IA 4s; third do, by Messrs Oliver and Ulph, electro hotwater jug, L2los; fourth do, by Messrs Brown, Ewing, and Co., opera glass, L2 2s; fifth do, by Mr J, Walls, cruet, L2; Bixth do, by Messrs Burton Bros., twelve views, LI 10s.

tWinners of money prizes. *Winners ef ranee prizes of LI each. 6 The carbine representatives made but very indifferent shooting, a prominent shot of the D.N.B. scoring seven misses at the last range. The unwarrantable delay in firing off the matches was the subject of general comment. Though the morning squad for the first match were on the range at five o'clock sharp, it was fully an hour and a half later before the firing commenced. Again, the match was finished by eleven o'clock, yet the first shot in the second match was not fired till 2.30. The proceedings were formally opened at 2.30 p.m., the Mayoress firing the first shot in the second match. The Mayoress said : I have much pleasure in opening the thirteenth anniversary of the Otago Rifle Association, and I trust it will be as successful, if not more so, than any meeting which has taken place previously. Tbe Mayor added : I have to thank you for having asked my wife to fire the first shot of the Association matches this year, and you will permit me to say a word or two with regard to the Association itself. This is the thirteenth year of the annual meeting or anniversary of the Otago Rifle Association, and I believe that during the whole of that period the gentleman who now fills most creditably the position of president has been connected with it, and has for the last three years, at all events, been the moving spirit completely. I may say, gentlemen, that I think to his individual exertions to a very great extent the success of the Otago Rifle Association has been due—l mean Major Stavely.—(Cheers.) I hope that upon the present occasion the shoot'ng of the Otago Volunteers will prove that we have men who are crack shots, and though they may not come up to the exceedingly good shooting which was made in America at the Centennial Exhibition, I hope the shooting at this meeting will at all events compare favorably with that of any other Bitle Association. In conclusion, I ask you to give three hearty cheers for Major Stavely and the Coxincil of the Otago Rifle Association. These having been given, Captain Wales, in return, called for a like complement to the Mayor,

SECOND BAY. The firing was resumed at five o'clock this morning, the third match being taken. The mornine was beautifully fine, aud the scoring much above that of the previous day The rarges were 400, 600, and 600 yards, No 1 Clutha Rifles carrying off principal honors, vol. Anderson secures first prize, with 70 points out of a possible 84. At 400 yards Vol. Anderson carried off the range prize with the excellent score of 27. The prizewinners are:— Thibd Match.—4oo, 500, and 600 yards; ten* shots shots at each range; Wimbledon (1873) targets. First prize, presented by Messrs S. Kohn and Co., silver watch, value L 8 8b ; second do. by W. Philip, Shamrock Hotel, studs, LS ss; third do, by Mr J. Jones (Wain's Hotel), watch, L 4 4s; fourth do, by Messrs Matheson Bros, vases. L3los; fifth de, by Mr S. Jacobs, fleld-glass, L2los; sixth do, by Mr M. Mendershausen, meerschaum pipe, L2. 400 600 600

t Winners of money prizes. * Winners of range prizes of LI each. Those who scored over 60 and failed to secure a prize were—

SkcondMatch.—3oo,soo,6oo yards; seven shots at each range; Wimbledon (1873) targets: any position.—First prize, presented by his Worship the Mayor, cup, value L1010s: 2nd do. by Messrs G. and T. Young, clock, L6los: Brd do, by Mr T. Dodson, Empire Hotel, studs, 14 ss; 4th do, by Messrs H. Wise and Co., field-glass. L2l2s 6d; sth do, by Messrs Gunn and Boss fish-slice, L2 2s; 6th do, by Messrs A.andT. Burt, roller skates, L2.

t Winners of money prizes. * Winners of range prizes of LI each. In addition to the above, those who made 65 points and over were : 800 400 500

Range prizes in this match were won as follows :—At 300 yds: Sergt. Grant, W.T.. 24; 500 yds, Vol. iW No. 1, 24; 600 yds Sub-Lieut. Reid, Bruce, 24. Ties were decided in accordance with the Government regulations. At 300 yds the shots made by Corp. Grant, W.T., and Vol. Darling, Bruce, were the same—shot for shot. In firing off at 400 yds Grant waa declared the winner. The highest aggregates at the close of this match were:— Ist 2nd 3rd „ , T , _,.,. . match, match, match. Tl. Sub-Lt. Willocks, Clutha 63 63 61 -187 Sub-Lt. Wilson, No. 1, 63 55 67 The fourth match, which decides the Championship, was proceeding when our reporter left. At the first range Vol W Willocks, No. 1 Clutha, made the very fine score of 37 points out of a possible 40, made up as follows : 500 yards. 4444433344 ' Vol. M'Leod, E.T., made 35 at this range, and Sub-Lieuts. Wilson and Willocks 31 each. Vol. Anderson, who carried off the Mayors prize, failed to score, he making eleven consecutive misses, including his sighting-shot. t The Shield Competition commences at five oclock to-morrow morning; and the carbine match will be taken at its completion.

200 500 600. Vol. Mills, S D.E.f yds. 17 yds. 25 yds. Tl. 24 — 66 Sergt. M'Laren, S.D.E.f ... 20 25 21 — 66 Lieut. "Wilson, No. If 22 22 20 — 64 Sergt. Coxhead, No. 11 20 25 18 — 63 Vol. M'CIatchie. Bruce Eiflest 20 25 18 — 63 Vol. T. Hutchinson, N.D.B.t 23 22 18 — 63 Sub-Lieut. Willocks, Clutha * 23 26 14 — 63 Vol, Smaill, Clutha 20 28 19 — 62 Vol. M'Laren, Waikari 19 21 21 — 61 Lieut. Pell. N.D.E 20 20 21 61 Vol. M-lieod, East Taieri ... 21 19 21 — 61 Vol. Matheson, Bruee ... 23 19 19 — 6i Vol. Provo, No. 1 19 20 21 — 60 Lieut. Muir, Art. ... 19 21 20 — 60 Vol. Anderson, Clutha ... 20 23 17 — 60 Corp. M'Cartney, Portobello 22 24 14 — go Vol. Kohn, No. 1 15 23 21 — 59 Vol. Fraser, Wakari ... ... 23 19 17 — 59 Vol. Nutsford, Bruce 21 22 16 _ 59 Vol. SeatoD, Portobello ... 16 22 20 — 58 Corp. Treseder, No. 1 19 22 17 — 58 Vol. Anderson, Clutha 18 25 15 — 58 Prvt. Willocks, Clutha 22 23 13 58 Prvt. W. G. M'Cartney, Portobello 21 18 18 — 57 Sub-Lieut Keid, Bruce 23 22 12 — 57 Vol. Tough, Bruce* 11 20 25 56 Vol. Matheson, Wakari 20 19 17 — 56 Corp. Richardson, N.D.E.* ... 24 25 7 — 56 Vol. A. Crawford, S.D.E. ... 21 20 14 — 55 Mr Christie, E.T 19 21 15 — 55 Lieut. Henderson, Clutha ... 15 23 17 — 55 Co p. Smith, No. 1 23 18 13 — 54 Vol. Clarke. Bruce 19 16 19 54 Vol. Kennedy, S.D.E. 20 17 17 — 54 Corp. Darling, Clutha 19 20 15 — 54 Corp. J. M'Leod, W.T. 19 24 11 — 54 Vol. H. Millar, N.D. 17 19 18 — 54 Vol. Smail.W.T 19 23 11 — 53 Vol. Hogg, Clutha 17 20 16 — 53 Vol. Creagh, No. 1 17 25 10 — 52 Lieut. Small, Clutha 21 22 9 — 52 Lieut. Christie, E.T. 22 14 16 52 Vol. Gillies, Otepo o 19 10 23 — 52 Vol. M'Coll, S.D E 18 18 16 — 52 Capt. Iyeson, W.T. 21 21 10 — 52 Vol. Kerr, Portobello 13 20 19 52 Lieut. Marshall, Wakari 24 20 7 — 51 Vol. Blackie, Clutha 21 20 10 — 51 Vol. Stuart, No. 1 15 22 14 — 51 Lieut. Grant, D.N.B 21 23 6 50 Jaeut. Grant, W.T.* 17 18 15 50 Sergt. Buchanan, W.T. 19 21 10 — 50 Lieut. Blatch, W.T 18 20 12 — 50 Lieut. Seaton, Portobello ... 18 16 16 50 Vol. Webster, No. 1 21 20 9 — 50

Vol. Anderson, Cluthat* ... yds. 27 yds. 24 yds. 19Tl. -70 Vol. Blackie, Gluthat... « 25 23 20--68 Snb-Lieut. Wilson, No. If* ... 20 23 24--67 Vol. Christie, E.T.f ... 26 24 17- - 67 Vol. M'Laren, No. It. . 22 26 18- - 66 Vol. VV. Willocks. Chitha +* 23 26 17- - 66

400 590 600 Vol. Clarke, Bruce ... yds. 19 yds. 24 yds. 22 — Tl. > 65 Vol. A. Allan, N.D. ... 23 23 19 — 65 Vol. Nightingale, No. 1 23 18 28 — ■ 61 Tol. Kennedy, S.D.E. 22 22 20 — ■ 64 Vol. Hogg, No. 2 Clutha ... 2 6 22 16 — ■ 64 Vol. Gillies, Otepopo 23 18 22--63 Vol. Eraser, Wakari 23 18 22 — ■ 63 Sergt. Coxhead, No 1... 25 20 18- ■ C3 Vol. Mills, S.D.E. , 25 20 18 — ■ 63 Corp. Treseder, No. 1 24 21 18 — ■ 63 Sergt. Smeil, No. 1, Clutha . 26 24 13--63 Sergt. M'Laren.S.D.B. 24 23 16- • 63 Corp. M'Cartney, Portobello 22 22 18--62 Vol. Provo, No. 1 24 20 18•62 Sab-Lieut. Eeid, Bruce B. ... 25 20 17- . 62 Capt. M'Neil, No. 1 Clutha... 24 23 15- - 62 Vol. Kohn, No. 1 Dunedin ... 24 25 13--62 Sergt. M'Gregor, No. 1 Vol. Anderson, Clutha 22 21 18 - - 61 22 22 17 — - 61 Corp. Darling, Clutha !'.. 24 24 18- - 61 Sub.-Lt. Willocka, Clutha ... 26 24 11 - - 61 Lieut. Blateh, W.T 26 21 14 — - 61 Corp. Mann, S.D.B , 18 22 20- - 60 Lieut. Muir, Art. ... , 25 18 17 — . 60 Vol. Smaill, No. 1 Clutha . 22 22 16 - - 60 Lieut. Pell, N.D.R ... 24 22 14 - - 60 Vol. A. Seaton 24 23 13--60

300 400 500 yds. Sersft. Grant, W.T.f ... 21 yds. 23 yds. 21 - Tl. — 68 Vol. Stewart, No. If 21 24 22. -67 Sub Lieut. Willocks, Cluthaf 22 20 21--63 Vol. Naughtie, E.T.f ... 18 21 22- - 61 Vol. M'Cartney, Pcrtof ... 19 23 19- - 61 Sergfc. M'Qregort 19 23 19--61

Vol. Nutsford, Bruce yds. yds. 20 23 yds. Tl. 17 — go Vol. Provo., No. 1 16 2 16 17 _ 59 Vol. Smaill, Clutha, No. 1 ... 16 2 S2 20 — 58 Vol. Eraser, Wakari 23 i !1 13 — 57 Sub-Lt. Eeid, Brace 13 2 0 24—57 Lieut. Muir, Artillery 20 2 10 17 — 57 Corpl. Darling, Clutha No. 1., . 24 14 18 — 56 Vol. Treseder, No. 1 Sergt. M'Cartnev. Portohnlln. . 22 21 . -ID Ol 18—56 Sergt.H.SmaiU,CluthaNo.r 20 23 12 _ 55 Vol. Clarkes, Bruce . 19 S a. 15 — 55 Vol. Heggr, Clutha No. 2 ... 19 1 .6 20 — 55 Corpl. Smith, No. 1 20 1 8 17 — 66