RIFLE MEETING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2861, 31 March 1888, Page 2

RIFLE MEETING.

The all-comers meeting arranged by the Masterton Eifles took place yesterday. There were two matches, the prizes in each being £l los, fil, 12s 6d, 10s, and 7s Gd, In addition to these there were prizes of £1 and 10s offered for the two highest aggregates, There were twenty-eight competitors, representating all parts of the district, and although a nasty wind was blowing across the range, some fair shooting was made. Tho .'.-following are scores made by the prize-takers:— Ist Match, 200 and 300 yards, ten shots at each range

Captain Donald and Sergt. Matthews having tied for the aggregate prizes with 119 points each, they fired three shots each at 500 yds. the former scoring 12 and the latter 10. Captain Donald therefore takes the first aggregate prize.

Masterton Horticultural Industrial Society, v The adjourned Committee meeting oY the above was held on Thursday even-\ itig last in Mr Beard's office. Present:! -Messrs Beard (Chairman), Park, 'mf_" Kawson, Gardner, Papworth,. Broom/*T v Jilkins, Wickenden, Eton, and Fitz- V' cerald, . ' . V The minutes of the previous meeting . \ wore read and confirmed. Resolved that the press be admitted to the meeting. Correspondence—From Mr J. M. Rockell (read at last meeting) stating that an irregularity had occurred at the late Show in connection with an exhibit of 18 varieties cut flowers, it' , having been disqualified by the judges, and a first prize ticket being subsequently found upon the exhibit.^ Mr J. M. Rockell handed in letters which he had received on the subject. From Mr Papworth to Mr Kempton, asking him to forward full particulars to the Secretary direct. From Mr Kempton to Mr Papworth stating that he (Mr Kempton), and Mr Rockell disqualified the exhibit because it did not contain 18 varieties. After his attention had beeu drawn to the exhibit again, he still held that the exhibit was not entitled to a prize, but if Mr Rockell had no objection to'.u awarding it a prize he hniflone, but» still he maintained.the exhibit was-upt ,- entitled to it. Mr Everett's letter was then read and referred to the subject as follows: He was asked to look round and see if there were any tickets unplaced, and seeing the envelope marked disqualified merely asked Mr Kempton his ob- , jection. Mr Kempton said he was willing to give a prize under the rule IX, giving discretion to judges,, and he would mention it to Mr Rockell at lunch. Mr Everett did not mention it to Mr Rockell, and does not know whether Mr Kempton did. As to calling Mr Kempton's attention to the subject, Mr Everett could not at first see why the exhibit was disqualified, and he was anxious no mistake should occur for want of drawing the judge's attention. Mr Everett was in no way >, interested, and, was unaware to whom . % the exhibit belonged, and regretted very much that there should be any trouble about the matter. \ ■ A letter from Mr Park to r Mdo Everett (but unopened by him) rea|P' as follows. Dear Mr Everett: A report has been circulated that you, with Mr Kempton, ordered a first prize ticket to be placed on Thompson's exhibit of cut blooms," although the judges had disqualified the exhibit. I cannot believe that you did this, and would be glad if you would write and say how much truth there is in the statement,

A letter from Mr Rockell, dated 29th March was then read, and referring to the alteration of the judges' award, said that he saw Mr Kempton, who told him (Mr Rockell). substantially what was contained in Mr Kempton's letter to Mr Papworth forwarded through Mr Rockell. . Not a word was spoken to Mr Rockell on the subject of the alteration, except in reply to remarks of his after he had discovered it. He judged from Mr Kempton's remarks that ho (Mr Kempton) did not intend! to alter his decision. In reply to m question by one of the committee would say that he chose his own time [ for bringing the matter forward, and \ thought it not worth while to call a f special meeting, therefore he waited ■ till a meeting was announced, A lengthy discussion then took place - and finally Mr Beard proposed, Mr Park seconded that the Committee regret that a first class ticket was placed on an exhibit at the late show after it had been disqualified, as there is nothing before the Committee to show by whom it was so placed, Carried. Mr Beard proposed, Mr Gardner seconded that this Committee regret that Mr Papworth, a member of the Committee has been publicly chaaged with placing a first class ticket upon a disqualified exhibit as there is nothing before the Committee to, in any way, connect him with it. Carried.

Mr Park proposed, Mr Rawson seconded, that avoto of thanks be accorded to Mr Rockell for having, called attention to the Carried. w^

■ yds yds 200 300 Tl. Vol. W. A. Wilton . ... 43 35--78 Sergt. Matthews ... 43 34--77 Gapt.Douald ... .. 88 34--72 Vol. Blonquist... ... 38 33--71 Vol, McKenzie .. 40 31--71

2nd Match, 300 and. 500 yards; 7 shots at each range. yds yds 800 500 Total Capt Donald Lieut. Thompson ... Sergt Matthews ... VoVBlane 21 26 20 28 28 19 23 18 47 43 42 41 Vol. Rathbone 28 17 40