FEDERAL RIFLE MEETING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8867, 30 October 1907, Page 5

FEDERAL RIFLE MEETING.

THE EMPIRE MATCH. WON BY AUSTRALIA. Received October 29, 10.4 p.m. SYDNEY, October 29. For the resumption of the Empire Match the weather conditions were totally different to those of yesterday. " A fairly steady north-easter blew, but the light was troublesome. The sun's rays streamed down, causing a mirage. The targets seemed alive and moving. The Britishers went down at the 800 yds range, while the New Zealanders came out on top, Australia following four points behind. At the 900 yds range New Zealand again topped the score, beating Australia by a couple of points and Britain by ten points. Entering thejast stage Australia had a lead of 25 points from New Zealand, but the dominion riflemen fell away sadly at the long range, allowing Australia to lead them by 23 points : and Britain by 14 points. The scores were:--800 900 1000 yds yds yds Australia 355 340 301 New Zealand 359 342 278 Britain 352 332 292 The final scores for the match were: — Australia ... 2104 New Zealand ... 2056 Britain 2053 The indivdual scores of the New Zelanders were : 800 900 1000 yds yds . yds Masefield 48 43 32 Purnell 47 45 39 Wilkie 47 46 31 Cameron 45 35 33 Ayson 44 41 37 Mills 43 44 37 ' Craw 43 42 32 Ballinger 42 46 37 i Masefield, with 48 at the 800 yds range, was the best target of the day. He put on nine bulis. A. Cutler headed the Australians on to-day's ranges with 129, while Inchaffie, of the British team, headed their list with 130. Received October 30, 12.15 a.m. SYDNEY, October 29. At one stage of the Empire Mat h there was a prospect ot an interesting finish, for the New Zealanders more than held their own, but the long range gave the Australians the advantage. The British team, firing doggedly, made a close finish for second place. It looked as if the Motherland would beat th 3 New Zealanders substantially, but at a critical stage Raven went to pieces. A. Cutler comes out as champion of all the teams, his aggregate of 271 being 4 points ahead of McHaffie, of the British team, who was the next best individual scorfer. Major-General Hoad, addressing the teams at the conclusion of the match, said that they would join in the heartiest congratulations to the New Zealanders, who put in a stern ding-dong fight. Colonel Hopton, commandant of the British team, also congratulated the New Zealanders. The Australian team cheered the New Zealanders and Britishers.