AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8864, 26 October 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

RIFLE ASSOCIATION MEETING. A RECORD SCORE. October 25, 10.20 a.m. SYDNEY, October 25. At the Rifle Association meeting. Cutler, of Bathurst, put up a record of 238 out of 250, thus winning the King's Prize for the second time. Linn, df Orange, with 230, was second; Raven, of Great Britain, with 229, third; and Tatlow, of Great Britain, who also scored 229, fourth. Of the New Zealanders, Craw was sixth, with 228, and takes £B. A Ballinger, 222, wins £3; Mills, Perrin, W. Speck, and C. Speck, £2; Cameron, Ayson, Purnell, Hadfield, Masefield, and Wilkie, each £l. THE AUSTRALIA TEAMS MATCH. Received October 25, 9.50 p.m. SYDNEY, October 25. The Rand wick range is not one which commends itself to riflemen making its acquaintnce for the first time. It is situated amongst low hills, and is particularly subject to bothering cross currents and fish-tail winds. This has been markedly evident during the present meeting. To-day we had a sample of the weather conditions, which prevailed throughout—a glaring sunlight and winds varying each day to 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 light was much more glaring, the winds stronger and more variable and baffling than they were accustomed to on New Zealand ranges, giving the team considerable trouble. As an example of the strength of the breeze it was mentioned that in one match a windage to the extent of thirty three feet had to be allowed for. Another factor that told against the visitors was the time limit, though they admit that the limit allowed is sufficient, and on the whole they approve of it. Yet being new to the system they consider that it has a tendency to make the riflemen nervoue, and cause them not to shoot so confidently. These drawbacks applied more particularly to the opening days. Now they are becoming more accustomed to the position in both directions. This was proved to-day by the New Zealanders shooting themselves into third place in the Australia match for teams of eight from any part of the Empire. The conditions were eight shots each; distance 300 yards, at a running man and disappearing target, and seven shots each at 900 yards and 1,000 yards at plain targets. Twenty-eight teams competed. The Sydney Eastern Suburbs team won the first prize of £4O, with a score of 758. The Victoria A team was second with a score of 753, and won £32. The New Zealand A team followed with 746 points, winning £24. The Victoria B team was next with a score of 745. Received October 26, 1.6 a.m. SYDNEY, October 25. A recount of the scores in the Australia Match places the Victoria B team second, with a score of 755, the Victoria A team third with 753, and New Zealand A team fourth with 746. The latter team won £l6. A New Zealand B team also competed, but did not figure orominently. Their score is unavailable. Disappointment is expressed at the British team not competing. FINE SHOOTING BY SPECK. Received October 25, 11.59 p.m. SYDNEY, October 25. Warne (Victoria) made the possibles at 200 yds, 500 yds and 600 yds in the King's Match, and Ommundsen (Great Britain) made the possibles at the 210 yds and 500 yds ranges. There were ten "possibles" at the 200 yds, including Moslem (New Zealand) and Parnell (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 marksmanship. He led for first place with Wilson, of Broken Hill, but the latter won in the shootoff.

Raven has done the best amongst the Britishers so far. He and KefforJ put up possibles in the Sydney Match, Kefford gaining the verdict in the shoot-off. The following have been chosen to represent New Zealand in the Empire Match to be fired on Monday next:—Cameron, Ayson, Purnell, A. Ballinger, Masefield, Craw, Wilkie and Mills. Emergencies—Hadfield and Duncan.

THE TARIFF BILL. Received October 25, 10.29 a.m. MELBOURNE, October 25. In committee on the Tariff Bill in the Federal House, the preference duty on candles was reduced from twopence to three-haifpence per pound. A LOW RAINFALL RECORD. Received October 25, 10.33 a.m. MELBOURNE, October 25. The rainfall x from September Ist to October 25th was 1.22 inches, the lowest register for sixty-five years. A BILL REJECTED. Received October 25, 10.29 a.m. HOBART, October 25. The second reading of a bill doubling the cost of the Agency-General Department was rejected in the Assembly by nineteen votes to six.

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