TRIANGULAR RIFLE MATCH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5268, 11 February 1878, Page 2

TRIANGULAR RIFLE MATCH.

Clir BULKS, KAEOBI RIFLES, AND KAIWAEEA . BIFLES. > ' The above match—one of the most popular :and interesting that. 1 has' ever taken place in .the district—came off oni Saturday; The con-' ditions were that the three teams should fire together on - their respective ■ ranges in. turn ; the match to be decided by'the highest aggregate number of points made in the; three matches,; each team.to consist of 9 men, but only the 8 highest scores to ■ ; count in. the! matches ; distances 400 and 500 yards, 7' shots' at each. ; The first and second matches took, place at the Karori and • Kaiwarra butts, some time ago. The last took place- : at : .the City Rifles range; Polhill Gully,'as above stated, oa Saturday afternoon, the teams being under the command of Captains Crowe, Monaghan; and Thompson respectively’. . The- weathor was favorable, and the scoring excellent. ■■' On returning to town the teams were'met by the City Rifles, headed by. their splendid band, and were marched to the Panama Hotel. Here the visiting teams were entertained by the City Company to a splendid banquet provided in. host Nicholls’ usual excellent style. Captain Crowe occupied the chair, with Captain Thompson on the'.right’ find Captain Monaghan on the left. Ample justice having been done to the good things provided, and the cloth having been removed, the usual loyal and patriotic toasts were disposed of. The Chairman then proposed'the toast of the evening, that of the visiting teams, coupled with the healths of their worthy captains. Captain Monaghan, in responding, alluded in complimentary terms to the liberal manner in which' they had been treated by their opponents, and also to the friendly way in which the firing was carried on during the matches. He hoped these matches would take place annually; and be conducted iu the same social and friendly spirit as this one had been. . Captain Thompson, in replying, also spoke in flattering terms of- the hospitality displayed towards him and bis team. He too hoped these matches would' take place again next season, as they were the means of giving a healthy stimulus to rifle shooting. Captain Thompson then proposed the winning team, coupled with the health of Captain Crowe. Captain Crowe briefly responded oh behalf of himself and team, and hoped he would be placed in the same position next year again. The rest of the evening was spent iu songs and sentiments, and was brought to a close by thecompany singing “ Auld Lang Syne ” and- “ God save the Queen.” The scores in the three matches, given below, show a majority for the City Rifles of 72 points over Karon and 168 over Kaiwarra. The reason of the low scores in the first match was owing to unfavorable weather.

City •, Karori Kaiwarra Rifles. Rifles. Rifles, First match .. .. 229 195 183 Second match .. 319 326 283 Third match .. .. 349 S04 2G3 ■ Grand totals - 897 . £25 729