THE LAST ACT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1072, 10 March 1911, Page 6

THE LAST ACT.

REWARDING GOOD RIFLEMEN. END OF MEETING. SPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR. The presentation of prizes which marks the termination of the annual rifle carnival at Trentham, attracted a number of visitors to the range yesterday. The scene of the ceremony was a temporary platform erected at a convenient spot just outside tho boundary lino of tho Sommerville Range. His Excellency the Governor, who made the presentations, was attended by Captain Hamilton, A.D.C., and others present were MajorGeneral A. G. Godley, C.B. (Commandant of tho New Zealand Forces) and Mrs. Godley, the. Hon. J. Carroll (actingPrime Minister), tho Hon. G. Fowlds (Minister for Education),-Captain D. C. Spencer-Smith, staff officer to the commandant, Col. R. .T. Collins (chief executive officer to the Dominion Rifle Association), Col. J. R. Purdy (Director General of Medical Services), Col. S. W. (ihaytor (O.C. Wellington district), Col. Wolfe (O'-C. Auckland district), Col. Smytho lO.C. Otago district), Col. Hawkin's (O.C. Canterbury district), and Major T. W. M'Donald (O.C. Junior Cadets). Among tho ladies present were Mrs. Earton, who entertained a number of tho visitors at afternoon tea, Mrs; Samuel, Mrs. Bateson, .Mrs. Chaytor, Mrs. Kemp, Mrs. Mantel, Mrs. Maybury, and Misses Tollmrst, Simpson, Hughes, and Bunny. Also present were a number of territorial officers from both islands who had stayoil to witness the championship meeting, en route to the Featherston camp.

When tho hour for the presentations arrived, tho riflemen who had gained a place in the King's fifty assembled near the platform, and Rifleman Roots, Winner of the championship belt, was brought "to the front" in a chair, which was carried shoulder high by a party of his comrades.

REMARKS BY COLONEL COLLINS, THE PAST SUMMED'UP. Colonel Collins was the first speaker. Touching briefly on tlio subject of tho association and its objects ho stated that, from ISO to IS7S, the Government of the day conducted the annual championship meetings at considerable expense to the country, so much so that in a fit of economy or indifference they decided to discontinue the annual championship meetings. The outcome of thevposition then was that the volunteers decided to run an association of their own, and, in 1879, the New Zealand Rifle Association was inaugurated. Tho only assistance given by the Government was a grant of ammunition, which tho association sold to competitors for the purpose of augmenting the prize money. The whole cost of preparing ranges and providing target accommodation was cast upon the association. In order to make the meetings popular they were made peripatetic, being held at ri different place cacli year. This went on till 1901, when the council decided that they could no longer carry on without Government assistance, the result being, that the present Association was formed.

The success achieved by it was evidenced in the fact that the present meeting had attracted a record number of competitors (595), and tho shooting would stand comparison even with that of Bisley. The range itself was purchased by the Government in 1891 at very small cost. , What an asset it had now* become he would leave his hearers to judge. No assistance from the Government towards tho formation of the range could be obtained in 1891. but the citizens of Wellington subscribed a-sum of .£3OO or .£IOO and enabled the butts and firing mounds to bo formed. In 1901, when the Government took over tho association, the annual meeting was made a permanent fixture, and there had since been no reason to complain of the assistance and encouragement received from the Government. Over ,£SOOO had been spent on tho range. In conclusion, Colonel Collins referred to the effect which tho new defence scheme would have on tho Trentham rifle meeting. This was outlined in yesterday's issue.

LORD ISLINGTON. THE CHANGES THAT.HAVE COME. His Excellency Lord Islington, after congratulating Colonel Collins and thoso associated with him on the success of the meeting, said that the range represented an admirable example of what should exist in tho neighbourhood of all large centres of population. Continuing, his Excellency said.—"We are all creatures of habit, and most of us, I expect, aro victims of habit. The changes that the military range is undergoing to-day, cannot be regarded with entire favour by the older school of "bull's-eye" men, but I am sure that they will one and all accept this change in a reasonable spirit when they remember the one and only object for which the range competitions aio conducted, and that is to furnish tho country concerned with as many men as possible who are practised and expert, not so much in hitting fixed objects at a definite range, as in hitting a moving target at an indeterminate distance. . . ."

"I congratulate Colonel Collins and his colleagues, ami, you gentlemen who have taken pari in it. on the success of the past, week's shooting. 1' would especially like to congratulate Rilleman Roots, who is the successful competitor, and to express my sympathy and congratulations to Rifleman Henderson, who is second. . . . T am led to believe that, in prime very important respects, the Trentham range here is in advance of the Bisley range at Home. lam informed that, at Bisloy, ranges fitted with the service target only exist up to ,100 yards, whereas, here, service targets aro fired at on ranges up to COO yards. I am told that the service practice- which follows the lines I have ventured to outline, is compulsory for all who shoot upon this range, while nt Bisley it is still optional in that resJPCCt,

"I.nilies and gentlonua. you have "constituted yourselves, in New Zealand, pioneers in many branches of national life. 1 am glad to sec, and congratulate you most heartily upon it, (lint you have constituted yourselves pioneers in (he motk-rn niilitary'movcmcnt both in regard to the defence scheme; now (established and (o a range practice, which secures Unit I'.io-se who lake part in it in future years will not be altogether a loss to tho military movement in New Zealand."

Colonel Collins, in inviting his Excellency to present the more important trophies j;aiued by competitors, mentioned that the association had already disbursed some 20110 cash prizes. ■ - His Excellency then presented to Rifleman Hoots the championship belt and the prizes by which it is accompanied and to remaining members nf the King's fifty, ihe various prizes which their skill had won.

HON. J. CARROLL'S SPEECH. A WORD FOR Till: OLD-TIME SHOTS. When tho presentation ceremony was over ■ tho Hon. J. • Carroll delivered a brief speech .in the course of -which he stated that he had been asked to return, on behalf of the association, those thanks which were due to his Excellency. Lord Islington had supplied abundant evidence of the interest ho took in ritle shooting and in such larger interests of this country as its military scheme. So far as the Government was concerned the speaker could only say that it watched these movements with (he deepest interest and would be ever on the alert to. further and develop them on lines of evolution. It was sad, Mr. Carroll continued, that the older participants in this rifle meeting must bow to the inscrutable laws of continuity and change. These things happened i everywhere. Pace must be kept with improvements in science, equipment, and military discipline. The question at stoke was whether the British nation was to keep a pace in front of other Powers so as to make peace and freedom secure. At the same time, one could not avoid a. pang of regret that the day of the pioneers, "the bull'seve men," was passing. As expressing wdiat he would say of the pioneers, Mr. Carroll quoted the following stanza;— As newer things do crowd the fore, wo drop behind; Wo who have laboured long and sore, times out of 'mind; And keen are yet, must not regret,. The drop behind. Before the gathering dispersed Colonel Collins, on his own behalf, and on behalf of the association, thanked the officers and staff for the work done in connection with this meeting. Lieut.-Colonel Hughes, at a time when the - speaker could not do so, had assumed the reins of control, and carried tho meeting to a successful issue. Colonel Collins also thanked the range officers and the members of the permanent forces who had attended tho meeting.

Cheers for the Governor, for General Godley. Mrs. Godley, e.nd Colonel Collins marked the termination of the proceedings.