RIFLE SHOOTING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3131, 6 March 1909, Page 5

RIFLE SHOOTING.

TRENTHAM MEETING. By Telegraph—Press Association. TRENTHAM, March 5. A start was made at firing befrre 8 o'clock this morning. During the early part of* the morning bcarcely a breeze was experienced, being practically perfect for shooting. Colonel Collins, with his long experience at the range, stated that he had never before experienced two sucti favourable mornings in>succession for shooting. As the day wort' on the breeze increased, and was.playful with the marksmen at the 800 yds range. Tii.i Nelson Matcn was concluded, and likewise part of the Auckland iViHtch. The latter will be concluded on Tuesday next.. Results:— NELSON MATCH,' 500 yds and 800 yds. Boys, Newton' Rifles. 98 Dulley, Daunevirke 97 J. Mills, Dunedin 97 Higgins, Timartu,. 96; Soper, Taumarina. 96:: Sergeant Lee, Ureti Rifles, 93 ; A\. Guy,. Kaponga, 95; Frederics. Royal Rifles, 95; M. S. King, Linwood, 95; McLachlan, Petone, 95.. There was.a. slight haze from the grass fires in. the neighbourhood, but the men did:not complain of any defective light.. The 500 yds range is the easiest of all ranges for marksmen under conditions such as prevailed to-day, for the bull's-eye is larger in proportion to the distance than any shorter or longer range. Nine marksmen succeeded in finding the "bull." These were Marshall, Waikare; Rowe, a tyro from Auckland; J. J. Preston, Auckland; Duthie, Christchurch;. F. W. Ching, Christchurch;. Bigg, Christchurch; Dodds, Port Chalmers; Williams, Featherston; Fraser, Napier. "All buts" were registered by Lee, Orati; Mills, Dunedin; J. J. Moore, Tim aru; Wakelin, Wellington; Wing, Rangitik«; McKenzie, Gpaki; Ongley, Otago; Merrilees, Johnsonville; Boys., tyro, Newton; Preston, Auckland; Nolan, Canterbury; 'Mellor, Petone.; Needham, Palmerston North; Drummond, Denniston; Standish, Tarata; Jarvis, Tarariaie; Person, Timaru; Sofer, Taunr*ranui; Bolton, Pahiatua; Duncan. Millerton, The 800 yds stage was fired under conditions rot so, good as those prevailing at the 500 yds range, for a brisk breeze sprang up, and during the shooting practically "boxed the compass." Atone time it was a rear left and then a front right, and again a direct rear. Some one on the racecourse adjacent had lighted a rubbish or grass fire, and the smoke from this stung the eyes of th-a marksmen and dimmed the targets to some extent Asa consequence the excellent shooting up to this point markedly fell off, though there was on the whole fair scoring. Two possibles only were recorded, these being secured by Guy, of Nelson, who with his "sighter" put up eleven uuil'seyes, and Wills, o± Southland. Nei- ) ther of these two, however, came on top in the match, for Guy had only put up 45 at the previous range, and Wills had but 42 to his credit. The Newton (Auckland) Tyro, Boys, put up an "all but" at this range, as he had done at the 500 yds stage, and his 98 aggregate was never reached in the match. The 200 yds. Auckland range commenced this afternoon, when Shaw, of Ohinemuri, and Milroy, of Nelson, j were tha only two reaching possibles. Several "all buts" were recorded, ! while 48's were also much in evi- ' der.ee.

CABLE NEWS.

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.