RIFLE SHOOTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 26 October 1907, Page 5

RIFLE SHOOTING.

AUSTRALASIAN MEETING. THE KING'S PRIZE. .Sydney, October 25. At the Rifle Association's meeting Cutler, of Bathurst, put up a record, scoring 238 out of 250, and thus winning the King's Prize for the second time. Linn, of Orange, with 230, was second. Raven,' of Great Britain, was third, and Tatlow, of Great Britain fourth, eafch with 229.

Of the New Zealanders, Craw was sixth with 228, and takes £8; A. Ballinger, with 222, takes .£3. Mills, Pernn \V. Speck, and C. Speck won £2 each; Umeron, Ayson, Purnell, Masefteld, and Wilkie, £1 each. A TRICKY RANGE.

RESPONSIBLE FOR VISITORS' NONSUCCESS. THE AUSTRALIAN MATCH. NEW ZEAL3M) TEAM PROMINENT. Received Oct. 25, 9.50 p.m. Sydney, October 25. The Randwick range is not one which commends itself to riflemen making its acquaintance for the first time. Situated amongst low hills, it is particularly subject to liothering cross currents and fish-tail winds. This has been markedly evident during the present meeting. To-day was a sample of the weather conditions which have prevailed throughout—glaring sunlight and winds, varying each day many points of the compass. To these conditions both the Britishers and New Zealanders attribute to a large extent their comparative failure to shoot up to form.

A chat with members of the New Zealand team elicited the fact that the li»ht was much more glaring and the winds stronger and more variable and baffling than they have been accustomed to on the New Zealand ranges, and was giving the team considerable trouble—to somo members more than others.

As an example of the strength of the I breeze, it was mentioned that in one match windage to the extent of thirtythree feet had to be allowed for Another factor that told against the visitors is the time limit. Though they admit the limit allowed is sufficient and, on the whole, approved, vet, being new to the system, it has a tendency to nuke them nervous and not shoot so confidently.

These drawbacks applied more particularly to the opening days. They are now becoming more accustomed to tie position in both directions, and this was proved to-day by the New Zealanders shooting themselves into third place in the Australian match for teams of eight from any part of the Empire.

I The conditions were eight shots at each distance, three hundred yards, at a running nun and disappearing target, and seven shots each at nine hundred and a thousand yards at plain targets. Twenty-eight teams competed. The Sydney Eastern Suburbs team secured the first prize of £4O with a score of 708. Victoria A team was second with 753, and won £32; the New Zealand A J1? 1 ™" owin 8 746 and winning £24. The Victoria B team was nest with a point less.

AUSTRALIAN MATCH BE-COUNT. NEW ZEALAND FOURTH. I ENGLISH TEAMS DID NOT COMPETE. Received Oct. 26th, 1.6 a.m. Sydney, October 25. A re-count of the Australian match places the Victoria B team second with * score of 755; the Victoria A team third with 753, and New Zealand fourth with 746. , ... ... vj The latter won £l6. ' *"■'"

The New Zealand B team also competed, but dill not figure prominently. The score is unavailable. iv was mnch disappointment at the British team not competing, LIST OF POSSIBLES. • NOTES ON THE SHOOTING. THE EMPIRE MATCH. Received 15th, 11.59 p.m. Sydney, October 25. Warne, Victoria, made the possibles at 200, 500 and 600 yards in the King's Match. Gmmundseu, Great Britain' made possibles at 200 and 500 yards. There were ten possibles at 200 yards including Moslen, of New Zealand, and Parnell, of Great Britain. Cutler has twice won the King's Prize, the first time being in 1904 Speck's shooting into second place in the Newmarch match was a fine piece of He tied for first place with Wilson, of Broken Hill, but the latter won in the shoot-off. the Britishers «o far. He and put np possibles in the Sydney match, Kefford gaming the verdict in the shoot

The following have been chosen to represent New Zealand in the Xi re match to be fired on Monuay:-Camcr-field, Craw, Wilkie and Mill* ' Emer. gene.es: Hadfield and Duntan.

GOVERNMENT GRANTS. Per Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The grant of £7OO made by Parliament for the encouragement of rifleshooting has been allocated among the i different nuhtary districts as "follows:Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago, £IOO each for competitions open to the public and m each for competitions for volunteers only; Nelson, too for pubhc conditions and £SO for volunteers only. GUARDS v. MANGOREI. On Thursday teams from the Tara- j naki Guards and Maagorei Rifle Club fired a match at the Mangorei range I .Mangorei won by three points. Follow- i ing are the scores:— MANGOREI.

aw 500 600 yds yds yds Tl. Mr. M. Marsh .. 34 35 31 — 100 Mr. Batten 30 30 27 — 87 Mr. A. Marsh 33 29 24 — 86 Mr. G. H. Herbert 32 31 23 — 86 Mr. A. Robinson 31 2fl 23 — SO Mr. T. Marett .. 28 32" 17 — 77 Mr. A. Oliver .. 28 24 17 — 63 Mr. Taylor 21 28 18 — 07 Total (•V. \RTC= 052 <"ol.-S»t.TT.irtnell :t-» 28 30 — on Private Xitholls .. 27 29 31 - - 87 Oliver .. 34 2<i 25 — 85 Private Riddle* .. 28 28 28 — 84 Private F. J. Hill 28 30 21 — 70 I.ieut. Me-^enfrer 30 28 20 - 78 Private MeKvren.. 33 .10 13 — 76 Lieut. Beadle .. 26 10 25 — 70 Total 849