RIFLE SHOOTING.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 524, 25 May 1880, Page 2

RIFLE SHOOTING.

FORMATION OF COUNTY ASSO■V- -ICIATION. The Volunteers of Patea County had a gala-day at; Carlyle. A shooting tournament was held yesterday forenoon, and fortunately the rain held off until the men were about leaving the targets. A match between the Carlyle Rifles and. the,Wairoa Light Horse was the chief event. . The competitions for the Williams-Martini lifle and the Australasian cup also came off. It was agreed that the scores ’made in the match, Wairoa Light Horse v. Carlyle Rifles, should count as the competitive scores for the Williams rifle and the Australasian cup. Both these prizes were cleverly won by Sergeaut Batching, of Carlyle. About ten visitors from Normanby and Hawera took part in the competition. The conditions and scores were as follow:—2ooyds., 300 yds., and 400 yds ; five rounds at each distance ; targets 6ft. by 4ft., centre 2ft., bull’s-eye Bin. square ; any position ; entry, 2s Gd ; entrance money, after expenses, to be divided pro rata amongst the five highest scorers ; The following are the scores :

On the scores being taken, it was found that the Carlyle Rifles had beaten the Wairoa Light Horse by 22 points. LUNCHEON. After the firing, and just as the rain began to spoil the holiday weather, the Volunteers adjourned to the Albion Hotel for another kind of competition, where heavy wet was' not obligatory. The Wairoa cavaliers had been invited to a complimentary luncheon at the expense of the winning team ; and Mr Haywood had prepared for the party an interesting and substantial spread, which in all respects reflected credit on the house, “Good eatying deserveth good drynking,” and some special toasts followed the knife-and fork business, to grace the Queen’s ; Birthday and to honor the visitors. ■ Captain Trcgear said: Comrades of Patea, charge your glasses and drink a bumper worthy of the day. ’ The Wairoa Light Horse have done- us an honor.in visiting us to-day. They have been most favorably known as being about the most efficient corps in this part of the country; and it is an honor and a pleasure to have had a match with them to-day. T call on you to drink their health with musical honors: ■ ; “ For they are jolly good fellows ” —sung with lusty vigor; ■ ■ Captain Walkinton, in responding, said : It gives me much pleasure to rise to fulfil a duty, even one I feel unequal to cope with.' (No, no.) At the same time it would show but a poor feeling if we went away without expressing sincere thanks for the handsome manner in which the Waverely team has been received to-day. The Wairoa Light Horse have had a great name, I admit; but to-day we have suffered a defeat—not the first, cither, for we have been beaten before ; yet I must say that the circumstances of this dayihave rendered our defeat very pleasurable. It is a great pleasure to us to meet the Patea men, as we are met around this table ; and we only hope wo shall he able to return their hospitality on some early occasion. (Applause.) The trophies won in the day’s shooting were then handed to the winner, Sergeant Hitching. Captain Tregear presented to him the silver cup and the rifle, with appropriate complimentary remarks. Mr Hitching was entitled, he said, to the thanks of the Carlyle men for winning these trophies and keeping them in Patea; and his comrades would be still- more pleased if ho could win them again for this town next year. ' (Hear, hear.) After this ceremony the party was about to break up, when ! Captain Walkinton said : Before we go away, I.must ask you to again fill your glasses, and drink the health, with three times three, of the Patea Volunteers., They have beaten us to-day, and we accept our beating ; but we wish we may meet them on many future occasions to try fortune wi.h them ; and may we all be winners ! Now, Waverley men, give three cheers for the winning team. Cheers.were, then given by .the Waverley contingent,! and''this closed the pleasant reunion. A COUNTY RIFLE ASSOCIATION. A conversation ensued among a few members remaining at the table, as to the desirability of holding occasional meetings on a larger and more important scale, than has hitherto been practicable in' this district. It_ was suggested ■ that, a Patea County Rifle Association should be formed, with head-quarters at Carlyle as the most central place. This idea was favorably received, and after discussion a number of names were entered as the nucleus of the proposed association and Captain Walkinton, Captain Tregear, and Captain Black agreed to bring this important project under the notice of their several corps, and procure names of members willing to join. , . . Volunteers, past and present, at Hawera and Normanby will be invited to join the Carlyle and Waverlej men in, making a strong association ; and after the project has been fully considered at these several places, a central meeting will be called to complete the organisation of the associar tion. The main object of the association would be the holding of an animal meeting on a large scale, for competitive shooting; and this would be.assisted by the fact that a county association would be entitled to a bronze medal given by the New Zealand Rifle Association, to be competed for at the annual County-meeting. Patriotic civilians generally could join the Association, .either to compete in the matches, or to promote the movement by paying a. subscription, or to offer prizes for the matches. ,

200 300 400 yds. yds. yds Tl. J. Kitching, Patea - 16 17 13—46 A. King, Patea - - 17 15 13—45 J. Thomson, Patea - 16 14 14—44 —Irwin, Normanby - - 17 16 11—44 —McLean, Wairoa - - 14 16 13—43 W. Sutton, Normanby - 16 14 13—43 — McDonald, Wairoa - 16 14 13—43 A, C. Milne, Wairoa - - 17 16 10—43 J. Milne, Wairoa ■ 15 14 13—42 J. Smith, Patea - no 14 13—42 B. Dasent, Patea - 12 15 14—41 — Thurston, Wairoa - - 16 13 12—41 P. Dolan, Normanby - - 15 15 11—41 H. Chadwick, Patea - - 16 13 11—40 ]R. Prouse, Patea - 12 14 13—39 C. Dasent, Patea - 1)5 13 13—30 H. Gibson, Nonnanby - 14 14 11—39 M. Carey, sen, Patea - - ■ • 16 13 10—39 W. Dasent, Patea - 14 12 12—38 — Matheson, Patea - - 15 13 10—38 A. Aiken, Patea - 15 14 9—38 H. F. Mason, Patea - - 15 15 8—38 M. Carey, Jun., Patea - 17 15 6—38 W. Prouse, Patea - 15 13 9—37 C. Prouse, Patea, - 16 12 9—37 T. Kells, Patea - - 16 7 13—36 J. Walkinton, Patea - - 13 14 10- 36 F. Trcwcck, Patea - 11 14 9—34 — Siccly, Patea - 13 12 9—34 G. Harden. Patea - 14 15 7—34 J. Black, Patea- - 17 11 6—34 W. Howie, Patea - 13 10 10—33 E. Trcgcar, Patea ■ 14 11 8—33 D. Fraser, Patea - 13 12 7—32 G. Howie; Patea - 17 11 4—32 —Doherty, Patea - 12 11 8—31. —Aiken - - 16 9 4—29 11. Stroud, Patea - 13 9 2—24