NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 61, 11 March 1880, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

CLOSING DAY. The Camp having broken up on Tuesday and the men having come into town by the afternoon and evening trains, the meeting was brought to a close yesterday by the Cavalry Tournament at Richmond, which took place in Mr Canning's paddock, which that gentleman with his usual kiudness had placed at the disposal of the Association. The local Volunteers, having paraded in, town, proceeded to Richmond by the 9.45 train and we were sorry to see such a poor muster. However, it may be accounted by the tile fact of yesterday not being a public holiday, and a number of the men being unable to get away in consequence. The weather being all that could be desired, a great number of people were on the ground, and by the time the trains from town had deposited their liv- | ing freights there must have been at least 1000 present. The Tournament which began shortly after the arrival of the first train, and continued without intermission until after 4 o'clock, was in every way a decided success. Arriving on the ground it was at once seen that the arrangements | under Armourer Christie were in every way complete ; one glance being sufficient to show the men that unless their horses cleared the fences they would come to grief, they being composed of very strong posts and rails interlaced with furze. The horsemanship displayed during the various contests was greatly admired, especially that shown in the second contest by the the first squad (Messrß Aitken, Howie, and J. Thumon,) who throughout the entire length, of the course, and over all the fences, kept together in thorough cavalry style. During the day there were two nasty spills, McLean of the Wairoa Cavalry and his horse going over together, and Somerville of the Alexandra Cavalry getting a tremendous cropper over one of the fences, but the plucky manner in which the latter recaptured his horse and galloped in and began firing gained for him a considerable amount of applause and admiration. Fortunately in neither case were the men burt. The contests which seemed to excite the greatest interest were the " Head and Post Practices" aud the " Pursuing Practice." The former we explained the other evening, and from yesterday's performance it is plain that it requires most dexterous horsemanship to be able to sever the hea.d3 and thrust off the riugs from the posts on either side oil the narrow lane whilst going at such a smart pace. The winner — Laird — deserves special notice for his neat performance iv this. In the Pursuing Practice the sword exercise which the various squads went through as they pursued an imaginary enemy was capitally done, one or two of the squads being remarkably smart, and keeping well together throughout. The following are the various contests and the prize-takers : — First Contest. This consisted of riding a certain distance and firing as many shots as possible at a target in a given time, First prize .£ls, 2nd £10, 3rd £5. Cen. Out. Tls. M'Lean and Walkington, Wairoa 15 10 90 Howie and J. Thurston, Wairoa 15 9 87 Johnson and Aiken, Wairoa ... 2 24 80 The other scores were— Smith and D. Thurs • ton, Alexandria, 14 centres and 3 outers, total 65. Somerville and Laird, Alexandra; 1 centre and 13 outers; total 43. Centres scored four, and outers three. Second Contest. This was somewhat similar to the first contest, the distance being longer, and time allowed consequently greater. First prize £20, 2nd £15, 3rd £10. Cen. Out. Tls.

The other scores were — Howie, Aiken, and J. Thurston, Wairoa, 30 centres and 13 outers; total 159. Tiiird Contest. Heads and Posts Practice. First prize £10, 2nd £8, 3rd £5. Laird — 7 heads, 6 rings 13 points Mussen — 6 heads, 7 rings ... 13 points J. Thurston — 4 heads, 8 rings ... 12 points The other scores were — Higgie, 7 heads and 4 rings, 11 points; Aiken, 7 beads aud 4 rings, 11 points: Smith, 3 heads and 8 rings, 11 points; Howie, 4 heads and 4 rings, 8 points; D. Thurston, 2 heads and 3 rings, 5 points. Fourth Contest. Pursuing Practice for squads of three men. First prize £8, 2nd £6, 3rd £4.

Wajkington, Johnson, and M'Lean, of the Wairoa Troop, scored fourth place with 8 points. Immediately after the last event the Volunteers and Representatives having fallen in and formed a hollow square in front of a small platform, the prizes won at the meeting were presented by Mrs A. J. Richmond. Tne smaller prizes and Cups having been presented, Okey, the Rifle Champion, was called up, and Mrs Richmond, in buckling on the Belt, said :—•' Sergeant Okey, — I have very great pleasure in presenting you with this Belt. The splendid shooting you have nt'ide in the late contest, combined with the high position you secured in the competition ) last year, convinces me that, in the name of j the New Zealand Rifle Association, I am now \ conferring this much coveted honor on the right man." Okey having retired amidst enthusiastic cheering, Thomas, the Civ bine Champion, was presented with the Carbine Belt, in the following words: — "Gunner Thomas, — I have very great pleasure in presenting you with this Belt, and whilst congratulating you on winning it, I must also extend my congratulations to your Company, which, for the second time in succession, has sent the best carbine shot to the Association's annual meeting." Hearty cheers having been given for him, and Mrs

Richmond having placed the various medals on the winners, Major Baillfe called for three cheers for Mrs Eichraond, and it is needless to say that the invitation was heartily responded, to. Colonel Packe then addressed the Representatives, and said i— t mentioned last year at the close of the meeting that there were one or two matters in which improvements might be effected, and this I think I may say baa been done, for everything has gone off stu.othly and well. Not a minute has been wasted in the firing, the discipline has been perfect, and the shooting magnificent. Okey, to whom has fallen the honor of winning the Champion Belt has, I think, richly desetfred 3t. Three years ago he was in ray squad at Hokitika and I then noticed how well he was shooting, aud since then he has been steadily improving until this year he was rible to draw ahead from the first aud to keep the lead throughout, #or his sake, aud for that of my old friend Major Stack who was in command of his district, I am very pleased that he has won the Championship. With regard to the Carbine Belt, I see that Capt. Wildman, who last year came down with his men from the Thames, and looked after and shepherded them until he saw the Belt placed on Lieut. Gordon's shoulders, has this year done the same thing, and agaiu it goes to the Thames. Captain Wildraan has simply takenit off the shoulders of one of his men and transferred it to another, and I tell you what it is, you carbine men, you will have to look to your shooting, or he will repeat the performance again next year. I wish now to thank the ladies of Nelson for the interest they have displayed in our proceedings, as shown by their attendance here to-day, and Mr Canning, on whose ground we now are, for his invitation to us to meet here. I really don't know \yhat there is he would not have done for us if we wanted it, for his words to me were, " Just go on to the place and do whatever you like, cut down the fences, or put up fences, do what you please with the ground, aud then come to my house to lunch." I regret very much that he was unable to be present himself to-day, but I ' hope that he will hear of the thanks which I now, on your behalf, offer to him. I also desire to thank the people of Nelson for their kind hospitality to us, and for them, coupled with the name of Mr Canning, I ask you to give three hearty cheers. This was done with a will, and Capt. Bunny then said how pleased the Volunteers were to welcome so many pleasant comrades from other parts of the colony, and called for three cheers for Colonel Packe and the Staff. This having been done, Major Baillie retnrned thanks on behalf of the Staff, and said that this was the third prize firing meeting he had attended in Nelson, and each time it had afforded him greater pleasure to be present, and he felt sure that he might say the same for the whole of the Staff. Three cheers were then given for Her Majesty the Queen, the Band played the National Anthem, and thus was brought to a conclusion the Rifle Association's meeting of 1880, in closing our notice of which we desire to return our thanks to Captain Webb and Alborough for the readiness which they displayed at all times to afford to the representives of the press all the information that was required. C«pt. Webb found himself placed in a very difficult position, having at the last moment and without any warning the duties of Secretary thrust upon him. The manner in which he preformed those duties was such as to gain for him the respect and goodwill of every man in the Camp. We would also thank Mr Halliday of the Telegraph office and his staff for the way in which they facilitated the work of reportiug by their willingness to oblige in every way in their power.

J. Thurston ) Howie V Wairoa ... 13 points Aiken ) Somerrille i Higgie I Alexandra ... 12 points Laird ) D. Thuraton ) Mussen V Alexandra ... 9 points Smith I

Johnson 1 YValkington V Wairoa ... 36 14 186 M'Lean J D. Thurston \ Muasen > Alexandra.. 36 10 174 Smith ) Somerville j Higgie, V Alexandra.. 33 13 171 Laird J