NEW ZEALAND BISLEY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 243, 4 March 1913, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND BISLEY.

RIFLE SUPREMACY'. TilK SERIOUS BUSINESS COMMENCED. DEARTH OF TERRITORIALS. By ToUj^iiipli—Press Association. Trcntham, Last Night. To-day. at Trcntham, what rillcmen consider to be the real business of the! annual meeting of the Dominion Riile Association was begun, that is, the first match in the Belt series—the Auckland Mitch. This, however, did not start before the afternoon, as a preliminary canter, in the shape of a three-range "opening match," occupied the morning." There is no special interest in this event, apart from the fact that it gave an opportunity to judge to some extent the "form" of the competitors, while it enabled the test shots pro tern to divide £BS between themselves. In the afternoon, the men who had not fired in the standard test match on Saturday got off their shots, and then the Auckland Hatch, at 300 and 500 yards, the initial one in the Champion Belt series, was set in motion, and completed to-day's doings. Weather conditions were, as so far throughout the meeting, excellent, though the usual variations of wind, which in the morning was a slight front 1 left and in the afternoon a breezy rear right, with intervening patches of baffling drifts, gave marksmen some trouble. Early in the morning' the light was also a source of trouble, but later on there was small cause for grumbling on that account. The men were squadded at 8 o'clock for the opening match, when Colonel Collins addressed them on a matter of considerable interest to competitors. He said that owing to the limited number of entries the executive found that they were £2OO short of what they relied on in entry fees. He had telegraphed to General Godley, asking whether the Department, owing to the absence of Territorials from the entry list, would make this amount up, but General Godley did not favor this course. The executive therefore decided on a reduction. He had in the past several times secured for them an increase in the prize money, and he greatly regretted this reduction, which was caused by lack of support by the Territorials. He also warned competitors against putting bogus scores on the board, as this mislead the pressmen, who were of great assistance to a meeting such as this.

I The first stage of the judging distance competition was taken in the afternoon, ] and the men appeared to make very wild guesses. The distance fixed was 835 yards, and the ranges given by the men varied from 420 to 1800 yards. Five men struck within five yards on either side of the actual distance, and eleven got within 25 yards of - the distance. The following teams ; have entered for the rifle teams championship:—Te Awamntu. Auckland City. Taumarina, Petone, Okawa (A and B), Suburbs, Wellington (A. B and C). Blenheim, Ohurri, Opaki (A. B and C). Karori (A, B, and C), Whangamomona. and Akarana (A, B and C). In the Auckland Match, the shooting was not remarkable, the highest total at a comparatively short range being four off the possible. There was no possible at 300 yards and only two at 500, Scannetl securing one. and Heald (a tyro from Ruapehu) the other. The principal prize-winners in the Opening Match, seven shots at 300, 500 and 000 yards, were:—Currie (Ohura), 00, £5; Harrison (Kayionga), Montgomery (Dunedin), each 07, £4 ; McCallont (Opaki). Hunt (Wellington) and Brvdcn (Kaiapoi). each 05, £3; Hatfield (Blenheim). Farley (Auckland), Millroy (Nelson). each , 05. and Burns (Karori), 04, each £2. AUCKLAND MATCH, 10 shots at 300 and 500 vards; figure targets. Rfm. R. .T. King (Opaki). £5.... 06 Corp: Mace (lltli Regt.. N.I-.), £4.. 05 Rfm. McK. Williams (Ohurh,). £4.. 05 Lieut. W. Duncan (13th Regt.), £3 04 Rfm. S. Mnrenzi (Kaitawa). £3... 04 Rfm. W. Rvder (Ohawa), £3 04 Corp. D. Se'annell (12th Regt,), £2.. 03 Rfm. -T. B. Buerstow (Opaki), £2.. 03 Rfm. fi. A. TCylcs (Dannevirke). £2. 03 Private L. Loralav (oth Regt.). C2. 03

1 RIFLE CLUBS. AWVT'AL MEET TNT; OF THE ASSOCIATION. Tronlham, Last Night. The annual mooting of tlio New Zealand Rifle Clul/s Association was held at Trentham to-night, Mr. Marshall presiding. Over 200 rifle club men were present. The balance-sheet disclosed a credit balance of ;C4 14s '2d. The outgoing executive was re-elected. President Welsh, eulogised the work of the executive during the year in furthering the interests of riflemen. Presidents Masefi'eld (Sounds), Welsh (Opaki) and { Marshall (Karori) were again nominated as representatives on the Dominion Rille Association. The meeting adopted a resolution, moved by Mr. Duthiej (Christchurch) that area group secretaries be appointed to link up the organisation of rifle clubs throughout "New Zealand. It was decided to recommend to the fiovernment the desirability of investigating the question of an insurance scheme to cover markers on all rifle clubs' ranges. Tt was pointed out that the minimum was at present £5, which pressed rather heavily on the smaller clubs. The meeting passed a hearty vote of appreciation to Colonel Collins for his efforts on behalf of rifle shooting and of the Dominion Rifle Assciation. and hoped that he would continue as executive ollieer for many years to come.