THE LATE RIFLE MATCH.

Southland Times, Issue 1590, 11 June 1872, Page 2

THE LATE RIFLE MATCH.

Sib, — I write 'once more and for the last, thne in reference to the late rifle match, hoping jou will; find a space, although I believe I am imposing upony'our good nature. But' as there seems to be a misunderstanding, and also some' rery unfeeling remarks made against myself, I cinpot let it pasa. without haring another say in the "matter. In the first place I wa3 wrong ia stating that the l.R.Y.'e were 13 points ahead when

it was agreed to finish the tnatrh at 500 yards. I referred to my note-book, and find it should have been 5 points. How the mistake occurred ■was that some one called out at the time it was arranged that the T.K.V 's were 13 ahead, and as no one denied it, I took it for granted Hint it was covr9ct. In all other matters I adhere to what I have already stated in ray former letter. I did not intend to take any further notice of any letters that " Rifle" might puWiVi in the papers, for I have a great dislike to fictitious names r it seems to me like fighting in the dark, but finding I had made an error, I was in duty bound to admit my fault. I now come to Mr Ferguson's remarks. He says to his mind " Rifle" gave a more truthful account, of the match 'than I did. 1 believe his mind was very easily made up when all " Rifle" said was in favor of the Tnvercargi'lites. As regards the 3 points given bj nn, he Eays they were perfectly entitled to them, and refers to a neutral party. Now I blame Mr Ferguson for referring to a neutral party, especially when that party turns out to be a small boy. I believe there was no other on Ihe ground, and I think that M"r Ferguson is paying a poor compliment to the other scorer*, whone decision ought to be final. I might mention that tho said boy announced, when the firing was over, that the LR.V.'s had won by 9 points, upon vhich a lot more neutrals gave three cheers for the I.R.V.'s. Mr Ferguson also states tint a possible error might arise on account of my being scorer and competitor at the same time. He was scorer and marker, and was more liable to make an error, for this reason that he said he had been very ill while in the butts, and that is quite sufficient to keep one's attention engaged. In regard to the Tolunteer Regulations, I must give Mr Ferguson the preference, as I believe that he may know more about them than I do. Still it sounds strange to me that neither he nor I should have the power of authorising our teams to shoot, and yet ■when it was proposed by some one that the match should be fired out the next day, they very quickly availed themselves of the opportunity. One of our men told me that he said it ought to be proposed to the lot, and an Invercargill man said, " You have nothing to do with it ; it rests with us ;" and several of the I.E.V.'s admitted after the firing was over that it had nothing at all to , do with the match. I find, by looking again at the paper, that there are several remarks unanswered, but I have no more time to spare, and I think I haye already said enough to convince the public that we won the match. If so, it is a matter of indifference to me what the two individuals have written, or what they may write hereafter. Tn conclusion, I am requested to state that the Eiverton team are agreeable to fire the match over again, as " Rifle" states it is the wish of the Invevcargillites, at their respective ranges. Tt only remains for the Invercargillites to fix a time ; and I sincerely hope that everything will pass eff satisfactorily this time to both parties. — I am, &c, J. ScßorrDT, Ensign, X.X.V.