NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 40, 8 March 1884, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

(From the Auckland " Star.") February 28. Considering the fact that the weather yesterday was favourable to first-class markmanship—the light being good, and the slight breeze from the left far from puffyit is surprising that the scores in the Nelson I match wore so much below the average. With one or two exceptions, all the crack shots ot former meetings broke down badly, and made scores that certainly would not do them credit in a mere company competition. Okey, of Taranaki (the champion of 1S80), made a miserable 27 out of a possible 70 ; that famous shooting family of Wellington—the Ballingors— did not get within a cooey of prizes, and the same remarks will apply to the Barriballs of Waiuku — Lieutenant Barribail, an exchampion, making but 19 points, while A. G». Barriball's score was only 34. Webster, the winner of the N.R. A. medal at the ISB2 meeting, Webb, on whose shooting the Wellingtonians set great store, and a score of other brilliant marksmen, wero all in the same boat. With the excoption of Lieut Purnell, all the big prizes fell to men whose names are new to fame. There was a univer&al feeling of irritation amongst the competitors at the mannor in which the marking was conducted, and from personal observation we can unhesitatingly state that it was far from satisfactory. At one of the ranges, Par^low, who is a most reliable shot, got two bull's-eyes on, and then came an array of misses. As this crack ot the Auckland Artillery is noted for his steadiness, and for the bull-dog-like tenacity with which ho sMcks to the target once ho gets "on," a very large amount of faith is required to believe that the small total against his name really repiesents the value of his hits. Tsvo instances will suflice to show how utterly unreliable was some of the marking. An Auckland man, Woolley, v. c believe, after making some .shooting which he considered unaccountably poor, protested against the decision that one of his shoti was a miss. He deposited the half sovereign which must accompany every piolest, and on the target heinic examined by a member I of the ofh'cial staff, the shot, instead of a miss, was found to be a bull's-eye. At another target, after the firing of a shot, the "outer" disc went up, but immediately after it was replaced by the "magpie" signal. Captain Wildman proceeded to the mantlet and asked the marker what the last shot really was— an outer (2) or a magpie (3). The marker, quite unabashed by the keen sarcasm ot hie supeiior, replied, "Neither, sir, it was a bull's-eye. In the face of facts like these it is not a matter for surprise that complaints were frequent, though tew cared to risk 10s, protest fee, which would be confiscated should they fail to prove their suspicions ot incorrect marking to be well grounded. We trust that the inefficient markers will be at once weeded out and their places filled with reliable men. The brow n colourof thetargetswasfound by many to prejudice their chances, but it was decided last evening to remove that cause of complaint. The other arrangements were excellent, and Mr Stevens and the other members of the ollicial staff are deserving of the best thanks of the competitors for the busiiucss-like and effective manner in which they carried out the trusts imposed on them. The Nelson match was the only one completed yesterday. The prize-winners were as follow : — Sergeant Aamodt, £3 2 ; Brownlow, £10: Lieutenant Pumell, IS; McDonald, £6 ; Hogg. £o ; F. France, £5 ; W. H. Churton, £4 ; H. Williams, £4 ; W. Williams, £3 ; A. Thomas, £3 ; C. Uibbin, £2 ; J. Buchanan, J2 ; Henderson, £2 ; Hughes, £2 ; A. McKenzie, £2 ; A. Turner, £1 ; Ifi. Cooper, £1 ; Weir, £1 ; l\ 0. Stitt, Cl ; Wells, £1 ; W. Wallis, £1 ; Johnson, £1 ; Maddock, £1 : VVratt, £1. The following were the winning scores :—: — Nelson Match.— First fur rifle or carbine belt ; I'OO and 500 yards ; seven rounds at each distance. Open to all members of the Association. Entrance fee 9s, including ammunition. Hiidcr or muzzle loading Kniield rilies or carbines of Government pattern.

Seveial Auckland men made very good shooting, and one or two narrowly escaped carrying off <o. prize. We append the scores of the Auckland men :—: — D. Hay, 43 ; Lumsden, 42 ; T. Fairs, 42 ; T. Bell, 41 ; J. H. Haslett, 41 ; A. Payne, 41 ;R. McLeod, 41 ; G. A. Handley, 40 ; W. Osborne, 39; Jas. Lenge, 39; P. O. Smith, 38 ; Trayes, 37 ; J. W. Leigh, 37 ; Brannigan, 37 ; Hazard, 36 ; Haslett, 35 ; A. Woolley, 35; F. Okey, 34; C. Parslow, 34; A. G. Barriball (Waiuku), 34; Soall, 33; Perry (Alexandra), 33 ; Brownlee (Thamep), 33 ; Bloxsome, 32 ; G. Shaw, 32 ; B. Lukey (Thames), 31 ; May (Waiuku), 31 ; Mettam, 31 ; Little, 31 ; J. Brownlee (Thames), 30 ; J. Floyd (Thames), 30 ;H. Hose, 30 ; Newdick (Thames), 30 ; Gilpin (Thames), 30 ; Jennings, 30 ; Capt. Hamlin (Waiuku), 29 ; Currie (Waiuku), 29; J. Webster, 29; J. Trayes, 29 ; Moulden, 29 ; A. M. Barriball (Waiuku), 28; J. Clout (Thames), 28 ; B. White, 28 ; Harvey, 27 ; Clark (Thames), 27; Crawford (Waiuku), 27; J. McLeod (Whangarei), 25 ; Corporal Lee, 25 ; Climo (Thames), 24 ; W. Rose, 23 ; Sterling, 22 ; Cameron (Thames), 21 ; Savage, 19 ; W. Paterson (Thames), 18 ; Fenton, 16. Most of the men availed themselves of the privilege of taking sighting shots. These cost the competitors 6d each, and the number fired may be judged from the iact that yesterday's revenue from sighting shots was £24 12s.

February 29. The competitors were early on the ground tliis morning, prepared to commence firing at nine o'clock — the time appointed. Two hours' delay was, however, occasioned by the decision of the Council to whitewash the targets — such decision arising from the general dissatisfaction expressed yesterday at the dirty brown appearance presented by the unbleached canvas of the targets. Two incompetent markers were discharged, and their places filled with men of greater experience. A meeting of the Council was held in the council room at 9.30 to-day, at which it was decided to reduco the protest fee from 10s to ss, and refund to those who entered protests yesterday half their protest fees. Mr Soall, of the Reserve, addressed a communication to the Council, protesting against Reserve men being ex-

eluded from the Belt competitions. As, however, the Council had twice previously considered the matter, and decided then not to alter the rule respecting Reserve competitors, no action was taken on Mr SoalVs letter.

A Piece of Bad Luck. Fairs in the Canterbury match had a piece of bad luck. He made 39 in his iirst nine shots, and with the tenth ho made a bull'seye on the wrong target, which, of course, did not benefit him at all. The first match on the programme for today was the Canterbury Match.— Second for both rifle and cavbinq belts. Open to all members of the Association. Snider rifles or carbines Government pattern. 200 yards ; ten rounds. 1 prize of £10. 1 of £8, 1 of £0, 1 of £5, L of £1, 3of £3, Gof £2, and 11 of tl ; total amount of prize money, £(io

Grand Score by an Aucltlander. Lee, the winner, is a young shot in the Victoria Company. The score, 49, is phenomenally good, being only one point under the possible. He mado five consecutive bullseyes, then an inner, and finished with four more bullseyes. He was heartily cheered as he fired his last shot.

The Prize List. The following is the prize list in the Canterbury match : —

L 1 prizes were won by the following, in the ordev named : — Dixon, Holmes, Ross, l?ay liter, Milly, Wratt, Hooker, Camei'on. Harding, White (Auckland), Reynolds. Counted out with 40 : Hunter, Kuchen, Aamodt, Moulden, Griiiiths, McGonagle, Cox, and Foster.

The Otago Match. This match was finished at 4.43. The iollow ing being the prize-lift : — dun-ton, Wnnganui Rifles, 1&1, £10 1 1 AmocU, -nd, £8 37 0. Franco, 3rd, £(5 30 liuchanan, I, Aid . . 3l> A l'njnc, Auckland Artillery, .">, £1 .. . . 3o F. France. Wellington Naval, 6, £3 .. K. Davy, 7, £3 Xi Tpvey, 8, £3 . 35 Lioutonnant "Wymctt, 9, £2 . . 31 Downie, 10, £2 31 Rondell, 11, £2 ai Brannigan, 12, £2 . . . 31 .1. Rabe, Wellington Naval, 13, £2 . . . . 31 Wratt, 11. £2 33 T. Johns, 15, £1 33 McLeod, lti, £1 33 Taylor, 17, £1 33 Sontag, 18, £1 33 Woolley. 19, £1 33 Coutta, 20, £1 33 Matthews, 21, £1 33 R. Hunter, 22, £1 33 Climo, 23, £1 33 Floyd, 24, U 32 Parslow, 25, £1 32 Burns, McDonald, Hughes, Ha.slett, Mitchell, Scanlan, Coleman, Buckley, Okey, and Cooper, all counted out with 32. The day's proceedings were terminated by the carbines firing off the first range in the Wellington Mateh — the fourth for the Carbine Belt, and the first match in the meeting in which the carbines fire alone. Some fine shooting was made, Parslow heading the list with 32 out of a possible 35.

Extra Match. The Mayor and City Council of Auck land havo collected among them the sum of £20, which they have handed over to the Kille Association as prizes for an extra match. The date has not been iixed, but it is understood that the match will be open to all members of the Association. A* the entrance fee will be probably os, should all the members present at the ireeting enter, the total prize money of the match will be £60. March 1. The weather was again beautifully line this morning, and at 9 30 the carbine men were on the range, and made a start, Hring at the two last ranges of the Wellington match, the 2> 0 yards range of which was completed yesterday afternoon. By 2 o'clock the first two ranges in both the Wellington and Auckland matches 'vere completed. At 2.30 both carbines and rifles began to fire at the last range?.

A Narrow Escape. Mr Collins, one of the stall" officers, had a very narrow escape on Saturday afternoon. While proceeding along the trench connecting the targets, a bullet, passing through the mound of loose earth at the top of the trench, grazed his back, and buried itself on the uphill side of the t ench, quite close to him. He succeeded in discovering the bullet, and intends having it mounted as a memento of his nairow escape from death. The following are the principal .scores in the matches decided on Saturday :—: —

Wellington Match. Wellington Match.— Fourth for carbine belt. For carbine members. 200, 300, ami .500 yards; seven rounds. First prize. £10 ; second, £8 ; third, £G ; fourth, U ; iifth to tenth, £2 each ; eleventh to twentieth, £1 each. The prize-winners were :—

Several Auckland and Thames men were close up, including Weir, 66 ; Webster, 65 ; Lukey, 65 ; Moulden, 65 ; Parslow, 65 j Cameron, 63 ; Brannigan, 61 ; Capt. Hamlin, 61 ; Cartwright, 60.

Lieut. Oakey, Downie, and Jellyman countad out with 59 each. Amongst the Auckland men who wero close up were Allen, 57 ; C. Taylor, 56' ; Newdick, 55 ; .F. Leigh, 54 ; J. Thomas, 54, and Cooper, 54. March 3. Entries for the Citizens' Match are coming in very freely. The match is to be called the Auckland Councillors' and Citizens' Match, and it is open to all members of the Association. Ranges, 200 and 500 yards ; seven shots at each range ; two sighting shots at each range on presentation of ticket?. The entrance fee is ss, and ammunition is to be provided by competitor?. Entries to be made before noon today (Monday), on the range, or at Captain Payne's jeweller's shop, Queen-street. The prizes are : Ist prize, £6 and MrHaymond's cup ; 2nd prize, £5 and Messrs Porter and Co. 's cup, value t's ss; 3rd prize, i-4 and Messrs Kohn's inkstand and pencil-case, value £2 2s ; 4th prize, £3 and Mr Goodson's epergne, value t2 2s; sth prize, £3 and a trophy presented by Mr A. E. Price. There will be five prizes of L 2 10s each, and 18 of £1 ; making 28 prizes of £49. Marluouough Match —Fifth for riflo belt. For riflo members only. 500 and GOO yards ; ton shots. First prize. £10; second, £S; third, £C ; fourth, £i ; fifth to tenth, £2 each ; eleventh to twentieth, £1 each. The prize-winners in the Mavlborough match are: — White, Auckland, 69, 15t prize, L 10; Purnell, Wanganui, 66, 2, L8 ; McGonagle, Wanganui, 65, 3, L 6; Giblin, Nelson, 63, 4, L 4 ; Churton, Wanganui, 63, 1 5, L 3; Hay, Auckland, 59, 6, L 3; J. H. Haslett, Auckland, 58, 7, L 2; Soper, Blenheim, 58, 8, L 2: A. Thomas, Thames, 58, 9, L 2 ; Harding, 58, 10, L 2 ;J. W. Leigh, 57, 11, L 2 ; Hoskin, 57, 12, L 2 ; Downie, 56, I', L 2; Cooper, Auckland, sd, 14, L 2; Flyger, 55, 15, Ll ; Cox, Wanganui, 55, 10, Ll ; Mutsford, 54, 17, Ll ; Buchanan, Auckland, 54, 18, Ll ; Ballinger, A., 53, 19, Ll ; Wells, 53, 20, Ll ; Fairs, Anckland, 52, 21, Ll ; Kennedy, 52, 22, Ll ; Brook, 52; 23, Ll ; Hunter, 52, 24, Ll. J. Thomas counted out \\ ith 52.

Kifle Aggregate. The follow ing are the 20 highest aggregate to the end of the Maiiborough match. These will lire in the concluding match of 10 fchots for the Kifle Championship :—: — 1. Churton, "Wangamii . . . 270 v, Pui'nell, Wanganui 251 3. Harding, Blenheim . ... 238 I. A. Thomas, Thames 235 o. Hughes, Wanganui 2,13 (i. White, Auckland . . .233 7. Hay, Auckland 230 8. Cooper, Auckland 228 9. Higuen 227 10. Giblin, Stoke 227 11. JJownie, Thames 226 li. Kennedy 22(5 13. Foster 222 14. Wells, Taranaki 225 15. Paynter Nelson 223 16. McGonagle, Wanganui . 221 17. Amorlt . . . . ... 220 18. Buchanan 219 19. Wratt, Nelson . . . . . . . 219 20. J. H. Haslett ... ..218 J. W. Leigh 217 W. Ballinger 216 i Taylor, Auckland . . . 2U ] Fairs, Auckland . . . . . . 2U

Carbine Aggregates. The carbine aggregates are as follows :— Ross, Napier A rtill ery .. .. . . 283 Stitl, Wanganui Naval .. .. .278 Roll, Auckland Artillery 273 Webb, Well. . . 271 Parslow, Auckland . 271 Perry. Alexandra Cavalry 267 Williams, H., Napier Artillery .. . ..260 A. Payne, Auckland Artillery . . . 2G(i Dicksoti, Wellington Naval 2(55 W. Lumsden. Auckland Artillery . . 263 Traycs, Auckland Artillery .. ..263 F. France, Wellington 203 Gill, Thames 262 Lcevcrs, Wellington 262 Lukey, Thames Naval .. .. 2GI Weir, Thames Naval . . . . . 261 C. France. Wellington Naval . . . .201 Hunter, Thames Naval . . . . . 258 Williams, Wei Artillery 257 Barriball. Waiuku . 251

Prize-winners in the Union Match. Union Match.— Fifth for carbine belt. For carbine members only. 300 and 500 yards ; ten shots. First prize, £10; second, £8; third, £[>; fourth, £1; fifth and sixth, £2 each ; seventh to fourteenth, £1 each. The following are the prize-winners in this match : — Bell, Auckland, Ist prize. LlO, 79 ; Lukey, Thames, 2, LS, 75 ; Lumsden, Auckland, 3, L 6, 73 ; Parslow, Auckland, 4, L 4, 72 ; Dixon, Wellington, 5, L 2, 68 ; Brown lee, (ith, 12, 67 ; Ross>, Napiei, 7th, SI, G7 ; Webster, Bth, £1, 67 ; H. Williams, Napier, 9th £1, 6G : A. Payne, Auckland, 10th, £1, 65 ; Weir, Thames, 11, £1, 65 ; Henderson, Auckland, 12, £1, 63; Perry, 13, £1, 62; Stitt, 14, £1, 62; Webb, 61; Gill, 61: Floyd, 60; Woolley, 00. Firing-off for both belts just about commencing.

Corp. Loe, Auckland Vic- TI. toria Rifles Ist prizo 610 — 49 Lieut. Purncll.Wancanui 2nd do <W —11 Lieut. Flyge-r, Wangumu It. 3i cl do £6 —J3 Seaman itabe, Wellington.. Ith do £.3 — ii K. Cooper. Auckland.. . Jth do — i 2 J. Wells. Taranaki .. .. (ith ro i.'.i — 12 A. J. Barriball, Waiuku . . 7th do £3 —12 Stirling. Auckland . . . Bth do £ 3 —12 Johns, Thames 9lh do £2 —12 Ooleman, Wainica (Nelson) l()lh do £2—12 Had, (Hugo nth do i 2 —12 Church, Wanganui . ..12th do £2—12 l.McLcod, Whangarei . 13th do £2—ll tlughcs, Wanganui .. .. Uth do £2 —11

Sill, Ist . . 'erry, 2nd kVebb, 3rd VlcCredio, Ith. . W. S. Trayes, sth Ltandall, Cth .. Davy, 7th [loss, Bth Leavers, Oth . . Reynolds, 10th Lieut. Ross, 11th B\ France, 2th YteKonjsie, 13th A.. Rose, 11th Houston, lsth Howe, 16th . [-lolnies, 17th . . Floyd, 18th . . Barriball, 19th Woolley, 20th 200 yd Prize £ 10 8 (5 t 2 2 2 2 : 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 18. 3D 31 29 27 2(3 31 21 27 30 20 20 27 25) 29 23 25 28 2(5 28 20 23 OOyde 19 22 26 19 19 17 20 18 19 22 20 21 26 21 23 21 21 12 1G 22 c. o( flOyds. Tl. 26 — 76 2t — 75 21 — 75 27 — 72 22 — 72 30 — 71 21 - 71 23 - 71 25 — 70 22 - 70 22 — 69 19 - 69 U -69 21 — 6S 20 — 68 16- 68 18 — 68 27 — 67 25 - 67 22 — C 7

The Auckland match. Auckland MATCir.-Fourth for rifle belt, 200, 500 and 600 yards ; seven rounds. Rifle me'mbora only. First prize, £12 ; second, £10 ; third, £8; fourth, *» 5 fifth, £ 5 ; a £ d seventh, £leach ; eighth, ninth and tenth, £2 each ; eleventh to twenty-fifth, £1 each. The prize-winners were :— • 200 yds. 500 yds. COOyds. Prize. Tl. Chuvton Ist • • 12 32 21 21 —77 Foster, 2nd .. •• 10 26 29 19 -71 Stirling, 3rd .. •• 8 26 20 10-71 Whiteflth .. •• 9 2o 18 f^-C8 ITne-hPH sth - ° 30 20 18 —bB Ohufcth :: •• } 3? 19 18- 07 Paynter,7th.. •• 31 21 "-66 A. Thomas,Bth .. 2 30 16 10 -Co T T,RiD-h <)th . . 2 32 23 10 —Co HMdiSrlOtti' 2 23 18 23 ~ 64 Osbornl'llth •• 1 3 2 13 W- 61 HookOT 12th 1 27 20 17-61 Giblin,l3th .. •■ 1 28 19 1 7 -&| pS?nelTl6th h . .. 1 2o 21 11-63 Anmnrlt 17th .. 1 *' « 1«> — "D XtOSe, LOXiU. •• •• . q< -in -in flo TWallis2oth •• 1 25 18 18-62 W.Ballinger,2lßt.. 1 5 19 18-62 Pt. Oakey, 22nd . . i A 22 15 -61

300 yds. 500 yds. Tl. ?civt Aumodt, Wei. . 1:5-24151 2(5 3351152 20 52 E Brownlow, Thames 231313123 52531 1127 50 Lt. Purnell. Wanganui 1231333 22 1U3135 27 10 J McDonald. Wanwui. 1322211 21 5215113 27 IS Soigt. Hogg. Clutha .. 2133121 22 1512152 20 18 F France, Wellington 2512522 22 2132551 25 47 W. H. Clmrton, Wan 22533 d 120 3411222 21 17 H.Williams. Napier .. 2213213 20 515221120 10 \V. Williams, Wei. .. 2112431 23 4 132 12 1 23 10 A. Thomas. Thames . 2331255 21 5222325 22 10 0. Gibbm, Stoke ..2032233 15 1125555 30 to J.Buchanan, Auck. .. 2233212 18 5512353 27 15 A. Henderson, Auok... 2331322 19 '2131315 20 45 R. Hughes, Wanganui 2 -'242J2 1!) 5231552 26 15 Remington, Wangamii fi 12524 21 3522252 21 15 A. McKenzio, Blouh'm 3122241 21 OJ-13-11 21 15 A. Turner, Wellington 4133152 25 1221221 20 15 X Cooper, Auckland.. 2212212 18 2135525 20 11 Weir, Thames .. ..3222335 20 1510125 21 41 P. O. Stitt, Wanganui 3331212 21 2521121 23 41 J. Wells, Taranaki .. 2115342 24 2523233 20 11 J. W. Wallis, Wairoa 5312531 20 2103522 18 14 C. Johnson, Nelson . 131531127 2322323 17 11 Maridock, Blenheim .. 2223122 17 U 13112 20 43 Wratt, Waimea .. 3232225 IS) 3525234 21 43

iVratt, 23rd .. 3hing,BUh .. riyger, 25th .. 1 1 1 27 27 27 19 23 17 15 — 01 10 -CO 15 — 59