BLENHEIM RIFLE MEETING. Blenheim, March 21.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 353, 23 March 1889, Page 5

BLENHEIM RIFLE MEETING. Blenheim, March 21.

The weather yesterday was very peculiar for shooting. During the day we had the wind more or less considerably from all points of the compass. When tho shooting commenced at 500 yds yesterday morning, to complete tho Auckland match, tho windage was from 4 to 5 feot off the right edge of the target ; then when the 200 yds o[ the Otago match was commenced the windage varied from the edge of the bull's eye to the right edge of the target, the last squad at this xange having much the worst ot it, vihile at the 300 yds the first squad had the worst of the wind, which gradually dropped till it was almost dead, consequently some good scores were made. As there was now every appearance of the wind coming up strong from the left, after a little delay ib was decided to shoot the first range of the Christchurch match (ten shots at 200 yards, standing). It was certainly a very foolish thing to do, unless it was the idea of the officers of the Association to make the men ridiculous in their endeavour to stand up againsb the heavy gusts of wind and clouds of dust. There is a good doal of grumbling afc the way the shooting is being rushed through. Ib is making hard work of what should be pleasure. Wo are in the midst of three matches. The short ranges of the Otago and Marlborough and the first range of the Christchurch match were got through, as it wa3 not considered desirable to put up the big targets. Lieutenant White and Colour-Sergeant Stirling made 36 and 33 respectively at 200 yards standing last evening. Captain Rogers, of Blenheim, pub on 41 — a fine performance. Sergeant Parslow has been deprived of his lead for the belt, he is now six pointa behind the top man. Gunner Taylor is still well up, only eight behind Parslow for the belt. There are twenty-four shots to go afc 500 yds. and seven each at 200, 300, and 600 yds. So there is a long way to go yet.

AUCKLAND MATCH. The following are the complete scores o f the Auckland representatives in the Auckland Match :—: — Parslow, A Battery 7 Taylor, A Battery 7 Stirling, City Guards 7 Fairs, Victoria _ .. ..7 White. City Guards 7 Weir, Thames 7 Tapp. Onehunga 7 White. City Guards 7 Tobin, Royal Irish 7 Leahy, Onehunga 6 Lumsden, A Battery 6 Osboi-DP City Guards 6S Leigh, Victorias .. 6 Lundon, Onehunga . . . 6 Hay, City Guards 6 Gribbin, Victoria 61 McGregor, Onehunga, 61 McCarthy, Onehunga .. b Highest Scores in t Otago Match, of which 200 and 300 yards, 6 shots each, completed. Foster, Wanganui Rifles b Rogers, Blenheim Rifles 56 Cameron, Greytown Rifles 55 J. Dickson, Portobello Rifles 55 Richardson, North Dunedin Rifles . . ..5b Sergeant Ross, J> apier Artillery . . . . 55 Turner, Wanganui Rifles -^55 McDermott, West Ttiieri Rifles 54 Ewart, Nelson City Rifles 54 Humphrey, Marlon Rifles.. .. .. ..54 Okev. Taranaki Rifles 54 Parslow, Auckland . 53 Johnson, Wangamu City Rifles . . . . 53 Remington, Wanganui Rifles 53 Butt, Oamaru Artillery 53 Taylor, Auckland Artillery 53 Asher, Port Chalmers Artillery . . . . 53

CKRISTCHURCK MATCH. The following are the highest scorers in the Chiistchurch Match, of which 200 yards, ten shots, standing, have been finished :—: — Rogers, Blenheim Rifles 4l Hutchison, .North Dunctiin Rifles .. ..3' Kuchei:, Auckland Artillery 3j Morrison, Dunechn Navals .. .. . . 2° White. Auckland Guards 36 Barnett, civilian 36 Ballineor, Wellington Guards 36 Manning, Christchurch Rifles .. : ..35 Howard, Blenheim Rifles 34 Burton, Newton Rifles . 3 Neii], Wanganui Navals 3 Sterling, Auckland Guards 33 Remington, Wanganui 3i Scales, Heretaunga Cavalry 33 McAskill, Wellington Guards .. . ..33 This match does nob count for the championship, but is included in the aggregate tor the first stage of the prizes. The second range is 200 yards, standing or kneeling.

AGGREGATES FOR THE BELT. The following wero the leading aggregates at the end of the day's shooting :—: — Riddle, Waim ate Rifles 35? Parslow, Auckland Artillery 25~ Farkes, Blenheim Rifles 34° Oakey, Taranaki Rifles . . 34Ross, Napier Artil lery 34" Taylor, Auckland Artillery 34* Foster, Wanganui Rifles 34^? Chalmers, Dunedin Artillery 34Bunting, Napier Artillery 34~ Flyger, W&nganui City Rifles .. .. 33° J. Dickson, Portobello Rifle s 33^ Johnston, Clutha Rifles 33!* Richardson, North Dunedin Rifles .. .. 33^ Anderson, Wanganui Rifles 3.3^ Atkinson. Wellington City Rifles .. .. 33^ Cato, Wellington City Rifles 33f Craic,, Alexandra Cavalry .. .. . 33-|r Stirling, Auckland Guards . .. .. 33^ Fox, v. hristchulch Reserve Coips .. . . 33« Fairs, Victoria Rifles, Auckland .. ..320

OTHER AUCKLAND AGGREGATES. Weir, Thames Navals 325 li3igb, Victoria Rifles .523 Stirling, City miai'ds 320 White. City Guards 318 Hay, City Guards .316 Lnmsden, "A" Battery 312 Vol. White, City Guards 311 sbonio, City Guards 309