RIFLE SHOOTING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2759, 14 March 1910, Page 6

RIFLE SHOOTING.

THE TRENTHAM MEETING.

A GISBORNE REPRESENTATIVE’S IMPRESSIONS.

Captain Beere, Sergt. Rait and Corporal. McGuffie, of the. Gisborne Rifles, returned yesterday from the Rifle Association’s meeting at Trentham, where Captain Beere was successful in winning two prizes in the Auckland 1 and Canterbury matches. In conversation with d representative of the “Gisborne Times” the Captain gave some interesting information, respecting the annual gathering of the marksmen of the Dominion. ■He remarked! that, as far as the general arrangements were concerned’ they were much the same as in former years, except that the camp' had been moved some 300 yards back on account of the •extension of the Somerville range, a portion of which now’ provided for shooting up to 1000 yards. The catering this year was undertaken by the Dominion Rifle Association, instead of being let by contract, and the change was a decided improvement.' One important change, ’necessitated by the new Defence Act, was the abolition of the canteen, and as Colonel Collins put it, competitors might have “fishtail” winds, but “corkscrews” were- not allowed. There was, however, a- certain amount of liquor introduced into the camp surreptitiously, though not in sufficient quantities .to be detrimental to the shooting. The abolition of tins canteen, did not produce any improvement in the conduct of the camp, which has for many years been distinguished for sobriety. The Trentham range is marked off into three divisions, known as the Somerville, Collins and' Seddon ranges, on each of which there are 25 targets. On the central range, the Somerville; there are 12 targets for shooting up to 1000 yards, and 13 for distances up to 700 yards. The distance for the Collins range is 600 yards, and that for the Seddon, 800 to 1000 yards. The marking is undertaken entirely by members of the Permanent .Artillery, who also attend to the telephones from the executive office to the butts, and between the latter and the firing points. There is, in fact, a miniature telephone exchange on the ground, and it worked altogether satisfactorily. As regards the marking, the work which it involves is trying, and. an increase in the number of /markers, would be an undoubted improvement. Another improvement would be an increase in the number of officers ■in charge of the butts—trench, officers, as they are termed. At present there is, often, only one officer in’ each trench, and he has to look after 25 targets, far too many. The arrangements for the publication of results arid other information were admirable, and in regard to other matters there was little room for fault finding. Among the competitors there was noticeable a certain amount of unfamiliarity with /proper military /practice, ■especially in regard to such points as the saluting of officers. In all other respects the behaviour of the men was admirable.

It was noticeable that the time limit appointed in connection with certain matches was not, in all cases, adhered to. This is probably -mainly attributable to a shortage of range officers. The weather conditions, throughout almost the entire meeting, were not as favorable as at that of last year. Despite Coionei Collin’s prohibition “corkscrew” winds were common, as also were “fishtail” winds. The light on the whole, was favorable, though at times kaleidoscopic in character. The meeting started in rain and finished in a heavy downpour; and on several days affairs were mad© very uncomfortable by showers of greater or less intensity and duration. As a result of these adverse influences the shooting was not of the high standard' of that of last year, though it was distinctly good. The difference in the character of the shooting is shown in the scores of, for instance, tile champions. In 1909 Lieut. Duncan won the championship with an aggregate of 491 points. This year’s champion, Rifleman Hal lid ay, made 483, eight points less. It is estimated that the’ average individual aggregate scores were this year about 10 points less than last year. The Australian competitors, especially, appeared to he handicapped by the unfavorable and unfamiliar weather conditions, and did not by any means come up to their usual form. Captain Beere is of opinion that, though the Dominion Rifle Association is doing excellent work, it could be made to do still better. Its object is officially stated to be “to encourage the members of the New Zealand Defence Forces to become efficient in the use of the rifle and to promote rifle shooting generally as a necessary element for flho defence of the Empire.” That object would be 6tdll' better achieved, he considers, if more encouragement were given to young rifle shots by increasing the number of prizes, even if the value of the same were reduced, or, better still, by dividing the competitors, into, say. two classes. This might he done on ’the basis of the practice and class-firing scores of the men competing. A considerable amount of additional work would he thus involved, but it would be worth while. As to the number of .prizes, there are, at present, 115 in each of the five championship matches. As there were, this year, nearly 600 competitors. the proportion is not sufficiently large to encourage the different young riflemen to compete. As matters are at preent, a competitor must bo a marksman of very superior class in order to obtain even the lowest place in the prize list. Another matter in uliich there is room for improvement is that of the “Service matches.” The poor scores made in competitoins under service conditions strongly emphasise the necessity for paying more attention to that class of shooting.