NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 439, 22 January 1890, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

THE BELT GOES TO WELLINGTON. AUCKLAND MEN THIRD AND FOURTH. Ddnedin, January 18. On commencing the shooting at the 700 yards yesterday the positions were: Taylor, 377; France, 370; Jones, 370; Williams, 368; White, 361. Taylor only put on 26 withhisseven shots, while France’s score was 32, Joues's 24'. White made one Under the possible, thus bringing him well up to the others. Going back to the 700 yards the positions were:—France and Taylor, 403; Williams and White, 395; Jones, 394 ; and Okey, 389. At this distance Taylor again failed to keep up his average shooting, and when his last shot had beendired it lefthim with thesmallscore of 15. For a time it appeared that France had also burst up, as he missed his first four shots, including oiie sighter ; but haviug once found the target he got on an average of inners, 16 points, which gave him the lead by one point over Taylor; the scores being—France, 419; Taylor, 418. Williams got on 22, and was third with 417; White wound up with 16, his total being 411, Okey next 408. It was now four o’clock, and a large number of spectators from Dunedin had assembled on the range to witness the final struggle for the belt, but owing to there beingoveran hour’s delay in working out the highest 50 aggregates, none of them were able to see the tiring oil, as a special train lett for town be lore the shooting commenced. Sharp at live o’clock the final stage which was to tell us the 1890 champion was cunmenced, and excitement ran very high, as the leading men were all oi a bunch. France, Williams and Taylor were near together on the right oi the range, though on separate targets, and their positions could be easily watched. Taylor opened with a bullseye and followed it with an inner. France had a miss for a start, and then a magpie. Williams had ati inner and outer, and White a bullseye and outer. Taylor then had the lead over W illiams by four points, and it looked almost a moral that he would win, bu. his next two shots missed the target, and when he had tired half his• shots his score was only 11, while Wil iams was 16, France 18, and White 18. France was then leading with 437, W’illiams 433, Taylor and White 429. The excitement was now intense, and large crowds assembled behind the mounds of which the tour men were firing, and France’s friends were already congratulating themselves that he would be declared the champion, cut their exultations proved to be premature. Taylor was the first to finish, winding up with a bullseye, bis total being 31, and his grand aggregate 449. Williams kept well on, and was next to complete, his score being 36, and his grand aggregate 453. White followed with 37, and a grand aggregate of 448. The positions were then; Williams, 453; iaylor, 449 ; -White, 448. The excitement now increased, and the crowd moved to the mound from which France, who had three shots to go, was Siring. He wanted eight to tie Williams, and nine to make him the champion shot of the colony. As each shot was fired, all eyes were bent on the target, and the crowd almost held their breath as the eighth shot was tired, which was disced as magpie, as was also his ninth shot. France had now only to flit the target to tie for or win the coveted prize, but he dwelt rather long in taking aim, and that was regarded as an ill-omen. So it proved, for he missed rather low to the right, leaving his brother volunteer, Petty-officer Williams, of the Wellington Naval Brigade, champion of New Zealand by two points; Seaman France, of the same corps, second; Gunner Taylor, of Auckland Artillery, third; Lieutenant White, of Auckland Guards, fourth; Lieutenant Okey, of the Taranaki Kitles, fifth. The champion was hoisted shoulder high, and carried round to receive the congratulations of his many friends. The other leading men were also well received. It will be seen that the first three for championship are reps, frpm companies armed with carbines, and it is also noticeable that the first and second in the Teams Match are also carbine company representatives. The individual shots of the leading men in the final stage were—Williams, 4232554254, 35 ; France, 0355535330, 32 ; Taylor, 5400225535, 31 ; White, 5254245424, 37. Tne highest individual scores at this stage were —Lieutenant Ross, Napier, 42 ; Bombardier Doughty, Auckland, 40 ; Lieutenant York, Waitfthuna, 38 ; Lieutenant White, Auckland, 37; Private Cameron, Christchurch, 37; Private A, Ballinger, Wellington, 37 ; P. O. Williams, Wellington, 35 ; P. 0. Pallthrope, Wellington, 36 ; Lieutenant Okey, Taran ,ki, 36; Private Humphreys, Rangiora, 36; Sergeant McGregor, Oamaru, 36. Grand Aggregate Match for 100 highest aggregates in Belt matches ; seven shots at 500, 600 and 700 yards.

Bombadier Grummetb, Victoria, £l2 ... 86 Lieut. Okey, Taranaki Rifles, £8 ... 84 Seaman France, Wellington Navals, £6 81 Private Scott, Wellington Guards, £5 80 Bom. Doughty, Auckland Artil’ery, £5 80 Captain Hogg, Clutha Rifle Club, £4... 80 Gunner Driver, Port Chalmers Art., £4 79 Liqut. White, Auckland Guards, £3 ... 79 p.Q. Palltborpe, Wellington Navals, £3 78 Lt, York, Rifles, £3 ... 78 Corp. Hutchison, N. Dunedin Rifles, £$ 78 Mr Sloan, Yarrawonga, £3 ... ... 78 Capt. Proudfoot, Dunedin Artillery, £3 78 Private Dunne, Irish Rifles, £2 ... 78 P.O. Williams, Wellington Navals, £2 77 Private Degrandi, Victoria, £2... ... 76 Sergb. Chalmers, Dunedin Artillery, £2 76 Private McKenzie, Masterton Rifles, £2 76 Last Try Match (nob open to those in Grand Aggregate Match); tep shots at 500 yards. Captain Kirk, Melbourne, £l2 ..". ... 46. Lieut. Tobin, Royal Irish, Auckland, £8 4fl Private Welsh, Kqitanga'ta Rifles, £6 45 Gunqer Qreenyvood, Oqmaru Nqvals, £5 45 Lieut." Rutherford, Kaitangata Rifles, £5 45 Rieut. Swap, iKfapiep Artillery,'£4 44 Lieut! Beribow, Teattierston Rifles, £4 44 Private Salek, Ashburton Rifles £4 ... 44 Lieut. Cosgrove, Oamaru Rifles, £4 ... 44 Lieut, 'iurton, Cromwell Rifles, £4 . ... 43 Private Fox, Christchurch Reserve, £3 43 Sergt. Cato, Wellington, City Rifles, £3 43 Sergb. Smaill, Kaitangata Rifles, £3 ... 43 Sergt. Jones, Waikari Rifles, £3 ... 43. Private Jones, Grey mouth Rifles, £3 ... 43. Mr Smith (civilian), £3 ... ... ... 42 Air Holdgate (civilian), £3 ... ••• 42 Private Wright,' Kaiapoi Rifles, £3 ... 42 Sergepnt Dauvergne, Rangiora, £3 ... 42 Ft. Reilly, Yarrawonga Rifle Club, £3 42 Trooper O/lJeill, Alexandra Cpvalry. £3 42 Lieut. MpKeisfl, Tpapeka Rifles, £3 ... 41 Corporal Ross, Otago" Hussars, £3 ... 41 Sgt. Remington, Wanganui Rifles, £3 41 Capt. Montgomery, Otago High School, '£3... Sergeant Kempshall, West Taieri, £3 41 Private Gill, Victoria, £3 •: ... . ... 41 Trooper Peake, Alexandra Cavalry, £3 41 Private Morrison, Dunedin, £3... ... 41 Sergeant Ross, Otepopo, £3 41 Private Armstrong, Dunedin, £3 ... 40 Mr Johnston; Clutha Rifles, £3... ... 40, Mr W. Robertson, Peninsula R. Club, £3 40 SergeantMitchelliDunedinAl-tiUery; £5 40 P. O. Taylor, \YejKngliqd Nayils, £3... 40

Gunner McCallum, Auckland, £3 ... 40 Private Binney, South Australia, £3... 40 Mr Humphrey, Rangiora. £3 40 Sergb. Wernyss, Blenheim City Rifles. £5 40 Lieut. Kennedy, East Taieri Rifles, £3 40 Private Wairing, Marton Rifles £3 ... 40 Corporal Scott, Wellington Artillery,£3 40 Tr.McCorkindale,N. Otago Hussars, £3 39 Sergeant Fraser, Nelson Arti lery, £3 39 Private Wright, Kaiapui Rifles, £3 ... 39 There are 21 prizes of £1 each. Corporal Jolly, Cromwell Rifles, £2 ... 76 Gunner Bunting, Napier Artillery, £2 76 Private Mitchell, Victoria,, £2 76 Sergeant Martin, Waitahuna Rifles, £2 76 Sergt. Sandford, Christchurch Rifles, £2 75 Mr W r . Wilcocks, Clutha Rifle Club, £2 74 Captain Ferguson, "Victoria, £2 ... 74 Sergeant McGregor, uamaru Rifles, £2 74 There are 13 prizes of £1 each. Championship, open to 50 highest (exclusive of Australian representatives) aggregates in matches coun ing for belt, 10 shots at 700 yards. Prizes:—lst, champion rifle belt, gold star and £6O ; 2nd, silver star and £4O ; 3rd, silver star and £3O ; 4th, £2O ; sth, £lO ; eight prizes of £5 each. The scores in this match are

added to the previous aggregate. P. 0. Williams, Wellington Navals ... 453 Seaman France, Wellington Navals .. 451 Gunner Taylor, Auckland Artillery ... 449 Lieutenant White, Auckland Guards ... 448 Lieutenant Okey, Taranaki Rifles ... 436 Lieutenant York, Waitahuna Rifles ... 433 Pte. A.Ballinger, Wellington Guards... 432 Sergeant Jones, Wa kari Rifles 431 Bombardier Doughty, Auckl d Artillery 431 Sergeant Kay, Oamaru Rifles 429 Captain Proudfoot, Dunedin Artillery... 428 Gunner Driv r, Port Chalmers Artillery 428 Lieutenant Davey, Petone Navals ... 428 Private Foster, Christchurch Rifles ... 428 The four last fire off for positions, the three highest to be included in the prize list. The other aggregates were :

Sergeant McGregor, Oamaru 423 Pt. Cameron, Christchurch Reserves ... 423 Lieutenant Ross, Napier Artillery ... 423 Lieutenant Prai-i, Nipier Ar'illerv ... 423 Lieutenant Morri.-on, Dunedin Navals 422 Pt. McCarthy, Victoria Rifles, Auckland 419 Private Scott, Wellington Guards ... 419 Gunner Howse, Wellington Artillery... 419 P.O. Pallthorpe, Wellington Navals ... 418 Captain Hogg, Clutha Rifle Club ... 417 Seaman Balcombe, Wellington Navals 417 Pte. Armstrong, North Dunedin Rifles 416 Gunner Gardner, Dunedin Artillery ... 416 Gunner Buchanan, Auckland Artillery 416 Pte. Humphreys, Rangiora Rifles ... 415 Sergt. Frederick, North Dunedin Rifles 415 Private Kruse, Wanganui Rifles ... 414 Captain Patrick, Waitahuna Rifles 413 Major Purnell, Wanganui Rifles ... 413 Sergt. Kuchen, Wellington Artillery 411 Capt. Hutcheson, North Dunedin Rifles 408 Private Blane, Masterton Rifles A. 407 Sergt. Grey, Christchurch Scottish ... 406 Sergb. Dauvergne, Rangiora Rifles ... 406 Captain Jolly, Cr -mwell ... ... 403 Engineer Lloyd, Dunedin Engineers 403 Sergt. Chalmers,P’t Chalmers Artillery 403 Corporal Elliott, Waikari Rifles ... 403 P’vte Simmonds, Dunedin Irish Rifles... 401 P'vbe Dunne, Dunedin Irish Rifles ... 398 Private Acheson, Kaitangata Rifles ... 398 Private Coventry, Dunedin Guards ... 397 Gunner Webster, Auckland Artillery... 395 Private Hardin, Blenheim City Rifles... 395 Sergeant McCarthy, Dunedin Guards... 394 Sergeant Mahaffey, of the Queenstown Artillery, the fiftieth man, did nob shoot in the final stage. The visitors are to be entertained at a smoke concert to-morrow night at the presentation of prizes. Hospital Orderly Coombes, of Christchurch, who died on Friday, was buried this afternoon with military honours. There was a large attendance of the local volunteers and shooting representatives, and the streets were thronged with people. The championship was not decided until a quarter to six, and Captain Somerville agreed to postpone the intercolonial and district matches until Monday morning. The team to represent New Zealand in the Intercolonial Match have been chosen by Major Acheson, Captains Somerville and Codings as follows :-P.O. W’illiams, Wellington ; Seaman France, Wellington ; Gunner Taylor, Auckland ; Lieut. White, Auckland; Sergeant Parslow, Auckland; Major Purnell, Wanganui ; Lieutenant Okey, Taranaki ; Lieutenant Ross, Napier; Sergeant McCarthy, Dunedin ; Sergeant Jones, Waikari. The North Island has eight and the South Island two representatives. The Victorian team consists of Captain Han by, Captain Draper, Lieutenants Eales and YVhibe, Corporal Ki k, Bombardier Grummett, Privates Mitchqll, Degrandi, Sloan, and Buley. At the Centennial Meeting in Melbourne, in 1888, New Zealand won the Intercolonial Match by 44 points. Wellington, Sunday. The result of the Rifle Championship created great excitement here, Seaman Williams’ (Wellington Navals) victory being a very popular one.