COLONIAL PRIZE FIRING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 59, 8 March 1873, Page 2

COLONIAL PRIZE FIRING.

Y .Yesterday. ' , The excitement consequent upon the firing for the Cbampionship had scarcely subsided when the names of the twenty competitors whose total aggregate f scores entitled them to take part in the North an&iSoqth • match, :"wer.e:c,called over, and lunch having been disposed, the firing coimnienced at the 500 y ajds range, tljis #rafagem(!n£ tieing made for purpose of secunngJthS stfongest light at the7 lorigaßt ra^ when the match commenced— -and to avoid

two shiftings of the targets, as one leaf had to be|removed for the firing at tbe short ; range.||The total &ggregate v ficg|6 ofk ; the; ten Nortber^representatives 8 §p77,l ; that of tte? 540, an>fij|psi.f deririg thatWifch one exception, namely, the seventh match, which was won by Ross of Westland, all the first prizes hadbeen secured by^ Auckland, naep^Jt was generally? thought 1 that the would have to submit to another defeat. ~> The men were told off into ..five squads, eajch consisting of two men' from each Island, so that it was difficult to follow the score while the shooting was' taking place, but ere three or four rounds had been fired; it began to be whispered, /that A the ' men were not. to have it all their, own; way;', and when the seven rounds ait 7 this>7i;ange was completed it was found thattheSouth had headed their rivals by 11 'points;' It was amusiDg now to watch T th'e excitement" among those of the volunteers who were not taking part in the match. They wete constantly on the move from one squad to another, ascertaining t how < the. score was ! getting on, and as round: after round increased the lead taken by the South, smiles were to be seen on faces that hitherto had looked far from pleased as they watched one prize after another credited tor Auckland. Hoskin and Stone,, whose firing in the final event for the Championship had been so excellent, appeared' to have expended all their strength in that contest, and the former, throughout the ; whole bf the match only contrived to drop, on to the bull's eye three times, while Stone, but of his 21 shots, scored six outers and made five misses. On leaving the 600^ , yards' raDge the South was 26 ahead; and at the 200 yards the Northerners only reduced., this majority by one, thus losing the match by 25 points. The. following „ aref the scores : — Nokth anb Sooth Island Match. ; Ten representatives of each Island who. jinake. the highest aggregate scores in the foregoing five [Infantry] matches. Ranges, 200, 500, and 600 yards, seven shots at each range, any position., The North and South Island Challenge Cup, )j,nd' ten new Snider Rifles to be presented. to. thewinning team! Ihe Cup td v be held- by- the highest scorer in the winning team until next competition. If; the Cup is won two iyeara in succession, or three-years at intervals, it becomes the absolute property of such winner. The highest scorer of each team to receive £5. South.

v -, : Nobth. ' ' "■ Y''Y" ■''■

Grundy ... 3434434 3443323 3443323 (j 69 Blake ... 3322344 4434243 3342223' '64 Gray ... 2332342 4402334 3234342 60 Hoskin ... 3333334 3343233 ? 340223 59 Murray ..v' 3343322"' 4233333 3332303 58 Thompson... 3332344' 4043330 .3.232323 56 Oates ... 3343233 0333202 3340344 55 Renouf ... 4324333 : 2304332 '3233040 54 Matthews ... 3443333 0430230 3224043 v 53 Stone ... 2323233 3223004 4420002 44

200yds. '500yds. -600yds. Tis. Bichardson... 2443433 : 444434'3.' 3304433- -"69 Clode ... 4433333 .3304433 2443423 65 Henderson... 3332434 3324333 3434044 65 Ross ... 3243332 4424233 4424033, . 62 Buchanan, D. 2233333 3343333 ; 2424223 } 60 Pell ... .... 3333333 2334442 3322430 ; 60 Adam... ... 4223334 3433334 '3330302 i v [ 58 Douglas, D. 3242433 2342340 0333042; !,^4 Wilson. ... 3324342 ' 2233202 -233*423.0 * ''52 Sband ... 3422433 4323033 ' 2430022 ~'' : 52