PRESENTATION OF PRIZES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 764, 12 March 1910, Page 12

PRESENTATION OF PRIZES.

Suggestion, made. A TEAM FOE AUSTRALIA. When the champion had been chairel from the range to the dais near th«\ squadding post, Colojael Collins, chief executive officer of the association, made 1 a brief speech prior to the presentation of prizes by Lady Ward. Colonel Coliini expressed his pleasure at seeing such a large gathering, in spite of the bad : weather. Snch a muster he .took to be a sure sign of the interest taken in rifle ;■ shooting. The meeting had been a record one in many ways. There had been a record entry, and there had been . record bad weather. (Laughter.) If those now present had seen the riflemen firing, on Thursday, in torrents of rain, they would have been impressed by the condition! under which the shooting had been carried out. He might say that men who.. did this could be termed brave. On thin •, occasion the association had a number oil visitors from Australia, who had foughli I us onour own ground. For some time ill .' had been his (the speaker's) endeavour to get an Australian team at the meeting, aha now they ; had nineteen men from: New South Wales. Tricky Trentham had not been kind to the visitors. They had been given a taste of fish-tails, corkscrews, , and other grips. New , Zealand had coma ; out on top by winning the Empire match and the Gordon Highlanders' trophy, the last-mentioned trophy having been brought back from Australia last ejprink. Lady Ward then presented the prnfl* t» the successful competitors. How J. A; Millar Speaks, " .The .Hon.: J. A. Millar, aa represent*- ■ tiye.,of. the, then addressed the gathering; He".' expressed regret at the- unavoidable absence of the Prim#. Minister, and congratulated the competitors on their various successes.' He also, tendered his felicitations to the marksmen in tho "New Zealand and New South Wales teams who had contested the Empire match, and the Gordon Highlanders' trophy. He congratulated tho Dominion men on their success, and also paid a tribute to the visitors for their snooting throughout the meeting. It . was a pleasure to think that they had come over : to compete with New Zealanders on their own ground, and he hoped that their visit to New Zealand would be the forerunner of many others. Beferring to a raggestion ' made by Colonel Collins that the Government should endeavour to retain till Gordon Highlander 7 trophy in New Zealand, by assisting in the dispatch of a Now Zealand defending team to Aua- , tralia next year, the Minister stated tint he fancied that the l Gtjvernment favourably consider me matter. Lieutenant Datrn. Commander of tiis , New Bo nth Wales team, also spoke. Beferring to the maimer in which the New Zealand Championship meeting had been • conducted, he stated that he , had seen nothing in all his experience to equaj the spirit of self-sacrifice exhibited bj the association's honorary ' staff ranga officers in attending the meeting in their own time, and at their own expense. H« had seen nothing like it. in Australia, and he did not beliera that it could bo seen elsewhere. ■ Honour for Colonel-Lieutenant-Colonel Hnghes, CMef'Bate*, Officer, then asked, tho Hon. J. A. Mfllsi to perform a pleasing little 'ceremony is mark the occasion .of the jubilee -meeting of the association, and the . esteem in which -thechief executive officer of the association was held by the competitors and the staff.. Thqy desired, h» added, to present Colonel Collins with an illuminated address, in album farm, bearing the signatures of everyma?" petitor and mombur of the stafi with whom it : had been possible to get into touch, and, to Mrs.' Collins, a silvti " salver, suitably inscribed. The addrea was as., follows?— Trentham Camp, Wellington. March 10, 121 C. Lieut.-Colonel E. J. Collins, T8 Q_ VJ>. Dear Sir,—'We, the undersigned, da.' sire to express our gratification at be. ing enabled to attest by our signatures this memento of the juhiles of . rifle shooting in New Zealand. Per- . mit us, Sir, to extend to you our congratulations that time still finds you at the head of the Dominion liiHe Association. All honour to you, Sir; and to those associated with you in , the early history of rifle shooting in New Zealand, that this art has been so developed. . Youx many years of labour in th# interests of rifle shooting, your until* ing energy, tact, and nover-failing courtesy are reoognised by all. It ia generally acknowledged that tho plans on which rifle shooting stands to-day in this Dominion has been reached mainly as the result of your labours. From the time you firet held offio» in the association you earned, anH still retain, the respect and affectioa of us aIL We note that you joined the stafi in 1879, and assumed sole control in 1904; in that year twenty-five targets were in use, and 250 men competed; to-day eighty-six targets are available and 590 marksmen are in competition. One historical event in our shooting career, and one of which we feel justly proud, was the winning of the much-' coveted Kolapore Cup by a tonm of New Zealand marksmen, under your command, at Bisley, in 1304. In asking you, Sir, to accept this token of. regard from Jhe staff, and present and past members of the Do- . minion Rifle Association, we trust that your long service may be continued with us, and that the years to come may bring you and your family every happiness and continued health. —We remain, Dear Sir, yours, etc. The Hon. 0. A. Millar, in making tho presentation, referred in eulogistic tenon to' Colonel Collins's services to rifle shooting. ■ The Garrison Band struck up 'Tor Ho's a Jolly Good Follow," while those present responded with cheers. In the course of a very brief reply Colonel Collins thanked his staff and the competitors for the compliment which. ; they had tendered to Mrs. Collins and himself. . The gathering then, diseased, ' .