THE NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2672, 30 October 1882, Page 3

THE NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

The meeting of the New Zealand Rifle Association, which commences at Musselburgh on Friday next, says the Dunedin Star,” promises to be an unqualified success. The entries are upwards of 350, and nearly half of this number will be North Island representatives. It is now twelve years since a colonial prize meeting has been held in our midst—the last gathering having taken place at Northeast Valley on April 27th, 1870. There were then forty-one entries, competitors attending from Auckland, Wellington, Nelson, Canterbury, and Southland, On that occasion Dunedin was chosen as the locality purely in compliment to its marksmen, as having for years previously attained the premier position. Since then Christchurch, Napier, Wanganui, and Hokitika have been the selected districts, and from the formation of the present association in 1879 the meetings have been held at Nelson. Experience, however, had taught that a continuance of a permanent firing range would prove detrimental to the association, when a meeting of representatives was hold in 1881 and it was resolved almost unanimously that in future the mefetings should be moveable. Towards giving effect to this resolution nothing was done until February last, when Dunedin was selected for the next competition, and the matter was at once vigorously taken in hand by the Council of the association. Hitherto the meetings had invariably been held in the month of February, and when the local volunteers agreed to hold the shooting this year in November the Northern Volunteers almost to a man protested against the time as being unfavorable, and predicted a falling off in the attendance of North Island representatives. The entries, however, show a marked improvement on former years —a fact which speaks for itself as to the propriety of having moveable meetings. Auckland is already spoken of as the scene of next year’s operations. Now for a few words as to the range itself. The only objection that can bo urged to the locale is that in bygone days it was the Otago Association and local Volunteer range ; but as it has not been fired over for some years this objection ought not to bo persisted in. Since the arrival of Armorer Christie from Wellington, about a week ago, a quantity of excavation has been got through, mounds have been* erected, butts have been placed in position, and targets constructed. The targets to be used will be made of canvas, and as twenty-four will be kept going throughout the meeting, it is confidently expected that the firing will be got through within five (lays. The local secretary has made arrangements with Mr Froudfoot to meet extra traffic, and also to

put on early cars for th.e morning matches. A nominal charge for admission to the range will he made towards defraying the expenses, and with fine weather it is expected that 4000 people will he out to see the firing on Saturday afternoon. The championship matches will prohahly be brought to a close on Tuesday, the 7th prox., and we understand that the Mayor will he asked to declare a half-holiday on the occasion. After the meeting there will he & Volunteer review on the 9th, and a citizens* hall to the representatives the following evening. The firing will be under the supervision of the Hon. Major Baillie, who was to have left Picton yesterday afternoon.