NEW ZEALAND'S BISLEY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 210, 4 March 1912, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND'S BISLEY.

.STORMY WEATHER CONDITIONS. | . REMARKABLE SHOOTING. A MARKER INJURED. By Telegraph—Presi Association. Wellington, Last Night. Yesterday was the worst day encountered on the Trentham range for years. Shortly after daybreak rain started, and by the time the fall-in was sounded, at 8 o'clock, it had settled into a steady downpour. - The first matches taken were snapshooting at 300 yards, and the moving target at 300 yards. Again the hits were spotted, an*d the conditions' of the series, as far as rifles and targets are concerned, were nearly assimilated "to the standing target ones. The heavy rain did not appear to damp the ardour of the competitors, but many of them who looked with contempt upon this portion of the programme did not do justice to it in their shooting. In the snapshooting match, although no sighters were allowed, many of the men got on to the target at once, the spotter of exposure showing quite a : irge percentage |of hits. Law (Dannevirke) made no mistake. He struck the bull with each I shot, getting the possible. Mawley (Opaki) and Simmonds (Blenheim) each 'got 22, and there were four 2Fs, among them Captain King (South Island champion) .

In the moving target match, which was taken at the same time, competitors had to fire at the head and shoulders target, which was exposed seven times for four seconds, each exposure being made at a different part of the butt. Each hit counted four points. As showing the merit of the shooting there were "nine possibles, but Purnell (son of Major RumeU, the champion of 1888) and Mayhew (Feilding) got the first places, owing to the greater number of bulls-eyes. During the firing of this match. Gunner Watkins (R.N.Z.A.), one of the markers, was injured. A low shot struck the mound, and either a stone or the nickel case of the bullet struck his shoulder, inflicting a painful wound. First aid was rendered by Merrilees, one of the competitors, and a doctor was at once telegraphed for in the unavoidable absence of Dr. Purdie, who makes daily visits to the camp. Watkins was afterwards removed to the barracks for further treatment. He is a man of about Oft 2in, and as there is no head cover to incommode them, the tall markers are always placed in the Collins' butt. lhe butt had been overhauled bv the Public Works Department just before the meeting, and the point at which the accident took place was a foot above the regulation height. The official board of inquiry took the evidence, and a report was forwarded to headquarters. In the afternoon the Attack Match, which comprised an attack on a position, at 400, 300 and 200 yards, and observation of fire was commenced. There was still a steady downpour, which had continued without intermission from the morning Russell (Ketone) did exceedingly well here. All his shots hit the ugure, and seven of the nine were bullseyes. This easily gaye- him first place. ,?r?-. (Charleston > cam e next with eight hits. There were four with seven hits. The shooting all round, considering the conditions, was very o-ood While the Attack Match Was' bein<> n?ed, an extra match was started at 1000 yards. Despite the heavy rain there was a fair entry. The best score was put up by Hunt (Wellington) 32. The shooting' all round was fairly good t The storm continued during the night, mteTimttent gusts of wind driving the aVJ J fI A n hard a S ainsfc the tents Although there was a certain amount of discomfort it was not till 8 o'clock this morning that any of the canvas strueZTT™, d l molished - An extra heavy gust struck the camp, and in a minute or two Col. Collins' headquarters marquee was lymg on the ground, while in fl f Club ' s mar <V Captain Sandle quickly had a squad of Permanent Artillerymen at Jl, arid [the marquees were re-erected To-morrow morning the belt series, in St? 6 beU [forms the principal trophy, will be commenced The first event will be the tZ w ir'f * at 30 ° and 500 yards, the Welington Match, 500 and 600 yard.,, being fired in the afternoon The following are the leading prizemnners.ni the service matchesVsat-

Snapshooting, five rounds.-Law (Dan2 S £4 ,> Mawley £3; Simmonds (Waitohi) 92 9 - "? shots; nead and shoulders target.-Purnell fW* nganm) and Mayhew (Feilding), 28' with (Auckland), Halliday (Karori)- and Sw geanfc Drummond (Westport, 28 with 4 bulls-eyes each, £2 4s each. Attack Match, 400, 300 and 200 yardsthree shots-Russell (Petone) 45 with 7 hulls-eyes, £4 ; Boleyn (Charleston! 40 The following are the ecores for the semce nggregates.-Eussell ( Petone) 207; Simmonds (Blenheim), igg. a i' ( £ a P on g a ), 177, Mayhew' (Feildin^" 1«?T T '" L Jamea 1(?8 > R - D«thie Ti. « K -" g 166 and H - R - T 164 The Running-Man conrpeti<,on will not till Wednesday. AUSTRALIAN BISLEY TEAM. By C*bl»-Pre S « Association-Copyright. , ~ Melbourne, March 2 parliament towards sending a team to Au ß trSr e |,r thoritieS l llave decM * that E Tear a% * team be