RIFLE SHOOTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 100, 25 May 1909, Page 3

RIFLE SHOOTING.

To the Editor. Sir—ln Friday morning's paper you publish t'lie following from your Mangoiei correspondent:—"lt -was mentioned last week that the match between the Guards and Stratford Rifle Club was looked upon as a test for the supremacy of Taranaki. and that the .Mangold residents thought this was a little premature, as first teams from the Guards and Mangorei have met during the last two years on no less than eight occasions, and Mangorei have proved victorious six times' out of'the eight." Then follows i a table giving dates and scores of the , eight matches. Xow, Mr. Editor, it is 1 not with the dates and scores that i wish to cavil, for both are correct,.with the single exception that the first-men-tioned n|itch on 10th May was in no way a first eight of our company; but the public would draw from your correspondent's report that we (the Guards) were trying to place ourselves in a ialse position. I should like your many readers to understand that the matches between Mangorei and our company ire not looked upon by ourselves or the shooting people of Taranaki as tests of skill between the two units, for upon no occasion has Mangorei fired a team of clubmen, but have drawn upon both the Inglewood atid Taranaki Rifles to complete their eight. Such fine shots as Sergeant and Private Marrett, of the Taranaki Rifles, who are looked upon as two of the finest shots in Taranaki. a long way to stiffen a team 'and do away with that very objectionable tail which so often loses matches. It i« far j from our wish that anyone should for one moment think that we in any way object to shoot Mangorei under the I aforementioned conditions, for they are a team that it is a pleasure to shoot against. They are not only good shots, out good sports, and no team which has. : liiad the pleasure of shooting upon their range has come away' with any but pleasant recollections ot their team and their splendid hospitality. But unless they shoot under true colors they cannot expect, nor do I think they do expect, the shoot to count for championship honors. —I am, etc., COU-SERGT. HARTX/ELL, Sec. Guards' Shooting Committee. RIFLE SHOOTING. To tHe Editor. Sir.—Tn answer to ''Stratford Shooter's'' letter of .May 22, 1 would like to state that Mr. T. Marett has been a private member of the Mangorei Rifle Club, as everyone knows who has followed up .rifl e shooting, ever since the club'es formation over eight years ago. During this period lw has taken part in all matches, several of which have been against the TaraTinki Hifles with their I generous permission, and no objection has ever been raised to his inclusion with jus before. Mr. A. Marett has also bet"] a private member for •about two years. | There is no mention In the X.Z.D.RA. rules' against club's firing private members, and Mangorei has never objected to having same fired against them. If "Sf.ratrord Shootist** wofttd send me his nam ( » and not write'under the cloke of a nom de plume, 1 would be only too pleased to give him any information he may require re the above. 1 would also lifc» to contradict the statements made in a paper of the rfame date in reference to our club receiving any public money. The formation of rifle clubs are tnade entirely at their o-wn personal expense havnig to pay cost price for their rifles, all ammunition is purchased at 12s 6d per 100 round?', the making and maintenance ol'targets, rifle ranges and butts are made from members' subscriptions and free labor, and the only eoncession given by the Government is a small grant of ammunition which has to be earned by drill qualifications. The Mangorei Club certainly lias every reason to be proud of the shooting or its members on Thursday las't. and feel sorry to sec the unsportsmanlike way in Which the Taranaki Guards seem to j have taken their defeat. Our axiom I has always -been that a team does lot! deserve a win'who cannot take ;i defeat.) TTv* ftiards are'now throwing discredit oirThursday's ma tch by raising the question of iU membership. If the a.bove 1 two members had never fired we could | have understood this, and so many 1 friendly matches between the two teams ■ have U'en fired it is unfortunate tli.it 1 anything unpleasant should now come between them. Any further correspond- » ence on this matter will be ignored unljless same is accompanied by the name - of writer. Tfiaiflftng your 'hi anticipa- » tion, — I am. etc., . M. J. MARSH. "on. Sot. Mangorei Rifle Club. • -May 24tli, IDOfl.