NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 500, 17 March 1880, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

CLOSING DAY. (From the Nelson JIull.) The Camp having broken upon Tuesday, and the men having come into town by the afternoon and evening trains, the moeiing was brought to a close yesterday by tlie Cavalry Tournament at Richmond, which took place in Mr Canning’s paddock, which that gentleman with his usual kindness 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 he accounted for by flic fact of yesterday not being a public holiday, and a number of the men being unable to got away in consequence. The weather being all that could be desired, a great number of people wore on the ground, and by the lime the trains from town had deposited their living freights there must have been at least 1,000 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 wore 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 strung posts and rails interlaced with furze. The horsemanshipdisplayed during the various contests was greatly admired, especially that shown in the second contestin' the first squ id (Messrs Aitken, Howie, and -I. Thurston), who throughout the entire length of the course, and over all fences, kept together in thorough cavalry stylo. Daring 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 Ids horse and galloped in and began firing gained for him a considerable amount of applause and admiration. Fortunately in neither ease were the men hurt. The contests which seemed to excite the greatest interest were the “ Head and Post Practices" and 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 heads and thrust off the rings from the posts on either side of the narrow lane whilst going at such a smart pace. The winner- I —Laird—deserves special notice lor his m-at performance in this. In the Pursuing Practice the sword exercise, which the various squads went through as they pursued an imaginary enemy was capitally clone, 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 CON'ffiST. This consisted of riding a certain distance and firing as many shots as possible, at a target in a given lime. First prize, £ls, 2nd £lO, 3rd £5. Cen Out Tls M'Lean & Walkinton, Wairoa 15 10 ’9O Howie &J. Thurston, Wairoa 15 9 87 Johnston & Aiken, Wairoa ... 2 24 80 The other scores were—Smith and D. Thurston, Alexandra, 14 centres and 3 outers; total, 65. Somerville and Laird, Alexandra, 1 centre and IS 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 £2O, 2nd £ls, 3rd £lO, Cen Out Tls Johnston ) Walkinton V Wairoa ... 36 14 186 .VLLe.m j D. Thurston ) Mnssen > Alexandra.. 36 10 174 Smith J Somerville ) Higgie > Alexandra.. 33 13 171 Laird J The other scores were—Howie, Aiken, and J. Thurston, Wairoa, 30 centres and 13 outers ; total, 159.

THIRD CONTEST. Heads and Posts Practice. First prize £lO, 2nd £B, 3rd £5. Laird —7 heads, 6 rings 13 points Mnssen —G heads, 7 rings ... 13 points J. Thurston, 4 heads, 8 rings... 12 points The other scores were—Higgle, 7 heads and 4 rings, 11 points; Aiken, 7 heads and 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 £B, 2nd £6 ; 3rd £4/ J. Thurston 1 Howie > Wairoa ... 13 points Aiken J Somerville ) Higgie > Alexandra ... 12 points Laird J D. Thurston I Mnssen > Alexandra ... 9 points Smith j Walkinton, Johnston, and M‘Lean, of iho Wairoa Troop, scored fourth place, with 8 points.

Immediately after the last event the Volunteers and Representatives having (alien in ami formed a hollow square in front of a small platform, the prizes won at the meeting were presented by Mrs A. J. Richmond, The smaller prizes ami Cups having been presented, Obey, ihe Rifle Champion, was called up, and Mrs it ichmomJ, in buckling on the Dell, said :—Sergeant Okey,—i have very great pleasure in presenting yon with ill is Belt, The splendid shooting yon have made in the late contest, combined with the high position yon secured in the competition last year, convinces me that, in the name of 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 Carbine Champion was presented with the Carbine B.dt, in the following words :—Gunner Thomas. L have very great pleasure in presenting yon 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 Baillie culled for three cheers for Mrs Richmond, and it is needless to say that the invitation was heartily responded to.

Colonel Paeku then addressed the Representatives, and said:—l mentioned last, year at the dose of the meeting that there Were one or two mutters in which improvements might he effected, and this 1 think 1 may say has been done, for everything has gone off smoothly 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 Bdt has, I think, richly deserved it. Three, years ago ho was in my squad at Hokitiki and I then noticed how well he was shooting, and since then he has been steadily improving until this year he was able to diaw ahead from the first, and to keep the lead throughout. For his sake, and for that of my old Iriend Major Stapp who was in command of his district, L am very pleased that he lias won the Championship. With regard to the Carbine Bdt, I see that Capt. Wiluman, who hist year came down with his men from the Thames, ami looked after and shepherded them until he saw the Bdt placed on Leint. Gordon s shoulders, has this year done the same thing, and again it goes to the Thames. Captain Wildman has simply taken it off the shoulders of one of his men and transferred it to another, and 1 tell yon what it is, yon carbine men, yon 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 lor the interest they have displayed in our proceedings, as shown by their attendance here to-day, and Mr Canning, on whose ground we now ar°, for his invitation to ns to meer. here. I really don’t know what there is he would not have done for ns if we wanted it, for his words to me were, “ Just go on to the place and do' whatever you like, cut dorm the

fences, or put up fences, Jo what yoii please with the ground, and then come to my house to lunch.” I regret very much that he was unable to be present himself to-day, but 1 hope that he will hoar of the thanks which I now, on your behalf, offer to him. I also deisre to thank the people of Nelson, for their kind hospitality to us, and for them, coupled with the name of Mr Canning, I ask yon to give three hearty cheers. This was done with a will, and Capt. Bnmn T then said how pleased the Volunteers were to welcome so many pleasant comrades from other parts of the colony, and called lor three cheers for Colonel Packe and Staff’. This having been done, Major Bailiie returned 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 tci be present, and he felt sure that he might say the same for the whole of the Staff.

Three cheers were then for Her Majesty the Queen, tin* played the National Anthem, and thus was brought to a conclusion the Rifle Association’s meeting of 1880.