NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION MEETING.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2681, 9 November 1882, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION MEETING.

[press association telegram.] DUNEDIN, November 8. To-day was the most important one of the meeting, as it was known that the championship would be decided during the afternoon. The weather was extremely cold, and showers passed over the range. Very few spectators wore present, in fact, there has not been a large attendance of the public at any time during the whole meeting. The firing to-day was very slow. The Eiflo Company’s Challenge Match, which started early in the morning, only finishing at 4.30 p.m. The proceedings to-day were opened with the last range of the Carbine Challenge Match, the Thames Navals winning the match rather easily. In the Eifle Challenge Match the following were the winning teams : —Clutha Eifles, 359 ; Wellington,City Eifles, 338 ; Dunedin City Guards, 333; Waikari Eifles, 329. Fourteen other teams competed, and their scores ranged down to 275. At the conclusion of this match the twenty highest aggregate scorers for the Carbine Belt then took up their positions for the last match, ten shots at 500 yards. The greatest interest was shown in the result, as Gordon, Allan, Weir and Gill were within a point or two of each other. Allan started with a miss, and this appeared to dishearten him, and he finished with a poor score. The others however made fair shooting, and Turner, of the Wellington Artillery, scored 43 out of a possible 50, beating all the twenty at this range by seven points. At 5.10 p.m. the last shot for the carbine championship was fired, and Colonel Staveley, amid great enthusiasm, declared Lieut. Gordon, of the Thames Naval Brigade, to be the winner, and as he won it last year he retains it as his own property. Seaman Gill, of the Thames Navals, and Bombardier Turner, of the Wellington Artillery, tied for the second place ; but in firing off the latter scored a miss, and Gill, making a bull’s eye, secured second position. Seaman Weir, of the Thames, is fourth, and F. France, of the Wellington Navals, is fifth.

The following are the full scores of the twenty ; Lieut. Gordon, Thames Navals, 312; Seaman Gill, Thames Navals, 305 ; Bombardier Turner, tVellington Artillery, 305 ; Seaman Weir, Thames .Navals, 304; Jf. O. F. France, Wellington Navals. 303; Trooper Perry, Alexandra Cavalry, 302 ; Gunner W. Williams,Wellington Artillery, 302 ; Bandsman Howe, Wellington Navals, 301 ; Sergeant Allan, Dunedin Artillery, 300 ; P. O. Thomas, Thames Navals, .£300; Sergt. Webb, Wellington Artillery, 298 ; Seaman Floyd, Thames Navals, 294 ; Lieutenant McCredie, Wellington Artillery, 293 ; Captain Somerville, Alexandra Cavalry, 293; Corporal Holmes, Wellington Artillery, 290 ; Beaman W. Harris, Wellington Navals, 288; Lieut. Boss, Napier Artillery, 287 ; Seaman Stitt, Wanganui Navals, 286 ; Gunner Jack, Dunedin Navals, 283 ; Gunner McKenzie, Wellington Artillery, 280.

Gordon, along with the holt, takes th N.Z.R.A. gold star and .£SO; Gill, the N.Z.R.A. silver star and £25 ; Turner, the N.Z.R.A. silver star and £SO ; Weir, £7 10s,. and F. Prance, £5. Turner being highest scorer at this range will be the recipient of the cup presented to the Association by a Dunedin citizen. At the conclusion of the match Gordon was carried shoulder high up to the pavilion. The final stage of the rifle championship was then proceeded with, and at 6.15 Sergt. Kennedy, of the South Dunedin Rifles, was declared the winner with a score of 316.

Volunteer Coventry, Dunedin Guards, 3XI, second ; Volunteer Harding, Oamaru, 311, third; Sergt. Hogg, Clutha, 305, fourth. J. aud tV. Willocks tied for fifth place, but in the firing off the latter scored a bull’s-eye to bis brother’s 3, and took tbo fifth prize. Harding and Coventry also tied for the second position, and, in firing off, the latter made a hull’s-eye to Harding’s 3. There was not so much interest taken in the Rifle Belt, as it was a foregone conclusion that an Otago man would win. Lieut. Crossman, of Nelson, who was well up for the Belt, made an unfortunate mistake at the last range which completely threw him out of the contest. When at 500 yards ho, by some means, put his first five shots on the wrong target, and, of course, were counted as misses. Kennedy was loudly cheered on hia victory, and he also was carried shoulder high up the range. The following are the scores of the twenty highest for the Rifle Belt: — Sergeant Kennedy, South Dunedin Rifles, 316 ; Volunteer Coventry, Dunedin Guards, 311; Volunteer Harding, Oamaru Rifles, 311 ; Sergeant Hogg, Clutha Rifles, 305; Volunteer W. Willocks, Clutha Rifles, 301; Volunteer J. Willocks, Clutha Rifles, 301; Sergeant McClathio, Bruce Rifles, 298; Corporal Webster, Dunedin Guards, 296; Sergeant E. Mossman, Wanganui Rifles, 295; Lieutenant Reid, Bruce Rifles, 291; Volunteer Horne, Clutha Rifles, 292; Corporal Sutton, Spring Creek Rifles, 290 ; Volunteer A. Mooseman, Wanganui Rifles, 289; Corporal D. Mills, South Dunedin Rifles, 288; Volunteer Miller, South Dunedin Rifles, 287; Volunteer Brookes, North Dunedin Rifles, 287; Volunteer Foster, Wanganui Rifles, 280; Lieutenant Crossman, Nelson Rifles, 285 ; Lieutenant Purnell, Wanganui Rifles, 233; Sergeant Johnston, North Dunedin Rifles, 278. Kennedy, in addition to the belt, takes a gold star and £SO ; Coventry, a silver star and £25 ; Harding, a silver star and £ls ; Hogg, £7 10s ; Willocks, £5. The extra match for the cup presented by Mr Fergus, M.H.R., was completed this afternoon. The conditions of tho match were ten shots at 200 yards, standing position. McCarthy, of the Portobello, won the first prize with a score of 30. The other principal scores were Parslow, Auckland, and Mills, Dunedin, 29; Nutsford, Patea, 26 ; Harding, Oamaru, 25. This was the last match of the day. In the last range for the rifle belt Harding, of Oamaui, was the highest scorer, and takes a cup presented to the association. Tho Union Steamship Company’s trophy match and staff match will be fired to-morrow morning, 1 after which the review will be held on the ground chosen for the range. The last match on programme, Otago Ladies’ Shield 1 Match will be fired on Friday morning. ■ Volunteer W. Willocks, Clutha rifles, and P. O. Server, Wellington Naval Brigade, have fired through the meeting with- • out missing the target, and will fire off shot for shot at the 500 yards for the Rifle ■ Association’s silver medal awarded to the ’ competitor who made the greatest number ’ of hits.