TRENTHAM RIFLE MEETING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8373, 6 March 1907, Page 5

TRENTHAM RIFLE MEETING.

By Telegraph—Press Association.

TRENTHAM, March 5.

When shooting began this morninga fresh nor'-west wind was blowing, but otherwise the weather conditions were favourable. The first match to be decided was the Volunteer Match, of 200, 500 and 600 yards. The following is the prize list:—Sergt. W. Drummond, Dannevirke, 95; Pvt. A. J. Jackson, Wellington, 95; Lieut. Irvine, Nelson, 95; Lieut. Sandford, Christchurch, 94; Sergt. Maingay, Piako, 93; Col-. Sergt. Hadfield, Blenheim, 93; Sergt.Major Evans, Christchurch, 92; Corpl. James, Napier, 92; Col.Sergt. Marsh, Dannevirke, 91; Sergt. McCormick, Napier, 90; Lieut. Brighting, Masterton, 89; Sergt. Perry, Masterton, 87. A. J. Cameron (Opaki),'and A. C. Crimp (Green Island) fired off their tie for the Union Company's Cup. This trophy goes to the highest aggregate in the first, second, and third matches, and Cameron and Crimp rose even with 267. In the shoot-off the scores were:—Cameron 18, Crimp 10. Cameron lives in the Wairarapa district, so that the privilege which the holder of the Cup receives from the -Company (a free pass to the meeting by the Company's bopts) avails him little, as he comes down by train. The. Volley Firing resulted: —No. 1 Engineers, Canterbury, 190; No. 1 Wellington Battalion, 189; South Canterbury, 168; Orepuke, 160; Taranaki, 144. During the day there were rumours current that a deal of "pointing" was going on at the range. A meeting of the Council, called hurriedly, confirmed this view, and the circumstances were gone into as fully as those conversant with the details were prepared to admit. In one instance there was little to cavil at, in, fact the competitor complained of was well within his rights in claiming a point that the spotting disc showed he had not been credited with. In the second case there was no doubt reason for an enquiry, as it was shown there had been a suspicion that all was not correct, and when the competitor was taxed with" a difference in the scores on his card and that kept by those who were' watching him, he conveniently altered his total to fit that shown him by the latter. Another case was that in connection with the firing off for the final position in the 50 aggregates. Irvine, who at present holds the Belt, was among those who were ordered to parade at noon to shoot off at the 1,000 yards. The other five put in an appearance but not Irvine, and when the men got to the range it was found that Irvine was there practising. Irvine explained that he understood they were to fall in on the range, and to his credit he offered, if the others thought he had secured any advantage, he would withdraw and not take part in the shoot-off. The others would not agree to this, and Irvine fired, and while the incident was a regrettable" one Irvine's explanation is accepted as satisfactory. A singular coincidence happened at the 1,000 yards range in the Continuous Match (7 shots). Some wag worked a bogus card for Sontag, of Dunedin (who had not entered), and put his score at 31 as follows: 5555245—a rattling good shoot had it been correct—and in addition his supposed sighter was put down as a "bull." Hearing of the yarn, and baing congratu?lted on all sides, Sontag straightaway entered for the match, and strangely enough made exactly the score his jovial friend attributed to him, and what is more, the value of his individual shots were in the same order as on the bogus card. Later in the afternoon Sontag had another try at the same range, and rang on 29. The prize list in these continuous matches will not be known until to-morrow. Rapid Firing, 200 yards, 10 shots. —Wanganui Rifle Team, 26; Christchurch No. 1 Engineers and Orepuki Rifles, Battalion, I*6; Taranaki Battalion, 12. Rapid Firing, 600 yards, 10 shots. —Wellington Battalion, 29; No. 1 Engineers, Christchurch, 28; Wanganui Rifles, 27; Taranaki Rifles, 20; Orepuki Rifles, 17. Colonel Ammunition Company's Match, 10 rounds.—Karori Rifle Club, 18 hits; No 1. Engineers, Christchurch, 13 hits; Victoria' Rifles, Auckland, 13 hits; Taranaki Rifles, 13 hits; Wellington No. 1 Battalion 12 ; Wanganui Rifles, 12; Palmerston North Rifles, 12; Timaru Rifles, 11; Opaki Rifle Club, 11; Gisborne Rifles, 9; Orepuki Rifles, 8.