INTER-COLONIAL RIFLE MATCH.

West Coast Times, Issue 108, 22 January 1866, Page 4

INTER-COLONIAL RIFLE MATCH.

The " Sydney Morning Herald" of the 15th gives the following account of the annual rifle match, so far as it has been contested between the representatives of Victoria and New South Wales :—

The great annual rifle tournay, between the chosen representatives of Viotoria and New South Wales, was .commenced at the Volunteer Rifle Range yesterday morning, and will be continued to-day. This annual match was instituted in 1862, for the possession of a Challenge Shield, to cost £250, the shield to become the property of that colony whose representatives shall win the match three years in succession, and the first was shot at Snndridge, near Melbourne, on the 3rd of November of that year. The second was shot at the Volunteer Rifle Range, Paddington, in October, 1&63, the third at Sandridge in November, 1864 ; and the fourth was

commenced yesterday. Tho first and second matches were won by the representatives of this colony, and the third by the Victorians, after a close contest, extending over three days. The conditions under which the first match was shot have been considerably modified, but the number of men on each side, the number of shots, and tho ranges remain the same as in the first match". In 1862 and 1863 the Hythe position only was permitted at all the ranges ; in 1864 the Hythe position was adhered to at the two shorter ranges, namely, 200 and 300 yards, but at the remaining ranges the "any" position was allowed. In the first and second matches, the AVimbledon 1862-3 targets were used ; last year, the radial system of marking was introduced, but this year the Wimbledon (1865) targets aro again adopted. Tho conditions therefore at present are— any rifle j any position ; ten men a side, firing ten shots each at each of the respective ranges of 200, 300, 500, 600, 700, 800, and 900 yards ; Wimbledon targets, and disc marking. The names of the competitors on both sides have already appeared in our columns, but a change in the composition of the Victorian tfam was rendered necessary yesterday morning, through the unfortunate loss, by Mr Lacey, of his rifle note book, on the previous day, and the timely arrival of Mr Cole by yesterday morning's boat. Mr Lacey was out shooting on the Volunteer , raiige on Wednesday afternoon, and at the termination of his firing he put his note book in his pocket, but when ho arrived at the hotel his book could not be found. As he had been using now sights since his arrival in Sydney (and shooting well with them) his rifle was of little use without his book. He advertised his loss in both papers, and offered a reward for the recovery of the book ; but yesterday morning he was informed that it had been found by a child, who, in playing with it, threw it down a cesspool. The whole of the men on both sides expressed their regret that Mr Lacey should have been debarred the pleasure of taking part in tho match through such an unfortunate circumstance. Mr Cole, who was prevented by domestic bereavement from coming to Sydney with the other men, arrived yesterday morning aud took Mr Lacey's place in the match. The weather for the commencement of the match yesterday morning was very unfavorable, being intensely hot, with a rear wind ; and no sooner had the first squad fired four rounds than the wind flew round to the southward and eastward, and during the next hour blew most unsteadily. This will account for the large number of ceutrcs (where bull's eyes only aro expected) at 200 yards. During the remainder of the day the wind was moderately steady from tho right front. Two ranges only were got through yesterday, but the firing will be commenced at an earlier hour (nine o'clock) this morning, and it is anticipated that the 500, 600, and 700 yards ranges will be finished to- day , leaving the two longer ranges for tomorrow (Saturday). The first squad of the Victorians scored 165 points, and the five for this Colony scored 171, leaving the latter six ahead. The next squad for Victoria consisted of Messrs Macartney, Johnson, Rainsford, Muinby, and Douglass, and that for this colony of Ensign Phillips, with Messrs Wickham, Glennie, Smith and Strong. The second Victorian squad scored 169. and the New South Wales men 170, thus giving the latter the advantage of another point, and making the totals for the range as follows —Victoria 334, New South Wales 341. The competitions, with umpires, and other officials, then retired to n large tent, where justice was done to a substantial luncheon provided by Mr. O'Brien, of Tutterwill's to the order of the Rifle Association, ' After luncheon the shooting was commenced at 300 yards, the Victorians' second squad at 200 yards, firipg first at 300, but on the side of this colony the squad which fired first at 200 yards also fired at 300 yards. The Victorians' scored 160, and tho first squad for this colony 170, thus increasing their lead from seven to seventeen points. The second squads scored 156 each, and hence there^was no further alteration in the relative position of the two parties. At the close of tho firing, Victoria, had scored 650 points, and New South Wales 667. A telegram from the correspondent of the Argus gives tho result of the next day's 'firiDg : — The two- short ranges of 200 and 300 yards, 'finished on Thursday, had given to ISeW Soxith Wales a lead of 17 points ; and 1 good as' the firing of our men was at 800 .'yards — Colonel Redo especially distinguishing himself with 39— they couUTnOij makeup to their antagonists, but jr^Ver, Josfc ground — Sydney scoring 352 tyjtheir 346. Nothing daunted, however, they managed at 600 yards to make 318 to 300 scored by New South Wales] bringing them within 5 of their opponents, the totals being — New South Wales', 1,319 • Victoria,' IJ3R" '

Only one squad of five men from each side fired at 700 yards, and here the Now South Wales lead was terribly increased. Our five shot very fairly, averaging thirty-thrco points ; but this would not compare with' thirty-nine contributed both, by Brownlow and Sladc, thirty-eight by Hayner, and thirty-seven by Sharp. Tins leaves New South Wales at present twenty-seven ahead. It is not probable that this lead will be increased by the remainder of the 700 yards firing, but rather diminished, for the remaining squad of our opponents has been throughout far inferior to the one that has finished, while our two squads havo fired most evenly.

The battle will have, as last year, to be fought out at 800 and 900 yards, year on leaving the 700 yards New, South Wales had thirty-one points advantage, and yet victory was wrested from them.