PRESENTATION OF PRIZES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1383, 8 March 1912, Page 6

PRESENTATION OF PRIZES.

the speeches; prime minister and colon ei. COLLINS. At the conclusion of the shooting the formal presentation of the principal prizcß was made by Lady Ward. Owing to tha heavy rain tailing the ceremony wus held in tho mess room instead of in the open air. Colonel Collins.-beforo calling upon Lady Ward to present the trophies, said that he wished to congratulate everyone concerned on what had, notwithstanding the very bad weather, been a .successful meeting. At the commencement, of tho meeting there had seemed to he trouble brewing, and that had been intensified by some few individuals, but the clouds of unpleasantness had passed away, and the proceedings had run along.smoothly. The shooting had been particularly good, although the shooting conditions had been so bad. When the champion '(Loveday) went down to fire for the lust match that afternoon he had 459 to his credit, which was a range record. The previous best was 451. Another record was Rifleman D. lioots's (last year's champion) possible at tho 1000 yards range. They had had possibles at 800 yards, but never before a possible at 1000 yards. Next year he hoped to see 1000 competitors on the range.' He was pleased to say that there had been a conference between General Godley (Commander of the Forces) and the presidents of tho rifle clubs that morning, and a good understanding had, he thought, been arrived at. He felt sure that when the presidents placed the matter beforo their clubs, the clubs would be pleaded with what had been done. The finish for the Belt had been a brilliant one, and the scores for the meeting showed that tho long range shooting was improving, and the shootists deserved congratulations. He regretted that the teams matches were not a success, but that was owing to the Territorials being in a state of transition. It had been intended to have a team from every regiment in the Dominion. Next year*, however, they would see large numbers of Territorials present. Of course, the executive would have to prepare their programme so ns.to provide separate divisions for Territorials only just commencing to shoot, and those who were oxperienccd shootists—an A and a B series. The drop in the entries was only temporary; it would' not be long before there were 1000 entries. . Sir Joseph Ward, who was enthusiastically received, congratulated the gathering'' on the very satisfactory way in which the meeting had been carried out. Without detracting from the work of others, he specially complimented Colonel Collins. When Sir Joseph Ward remembered that this was the forty-fifth year that Colonel Collins had Ihoti connected with shooting, ■ he recommended every young man to go in for shooting, for it meant rejuvenation, Ho . also complimented Colonel Collins on his record of nine years in charge of the New Zealand meetings. A white ago Colonel Collins contemplated retirement, but, happily, wiser councils had prevailed. These riflo meetings were a pretty expensive institution. For a great number of years men from all parts of the country had gathered here, and it was only right that the meetings should be encouraged. The Government helped considerably. Facilities and'concessions were given competito'rs, and was voted. Ho hoped there would bo 1000 competitors present next year. "Tho next man" would have to iin'd the money for the thousand, and he would be delighted to sec him do it. (Applause.) The conference held that morning between General Godley and the presidents of tho ride clubs was," continued Sir Joseph Ward, of great importance to the country. Ho congratulated the rifle club men on their recognising that it was proper to work liand-in-hnnd with tho Territorials. Ho was glad to hear from General Godley that the riflo club men had agreed to form practically a second iinc of defence, coming behind tho Territorials as a protective force. He Thought ho was right' in saying that the Defence Department would help the riflo clubs. There wero a number of men who could not join tho Territorials, and it was well that they could outer the rifle clubs. It must be realised that this meeting was not piny, but a serious business, in view of the'possibility of it being necessary some day for New Zealanders to defend these shores or help to retain some portion of the British Empire. Sir Joseph Ward congratulated the winner, and tho second, and the third-ond tho losers, for tho losers might be winners next year as an outcome of their experience this year. "Only ono man can be at (he lop of a job like this—as in other tilings," lie added. (Laughter.) Ho concluded by remarking that Private 1,.-' Loveday. tho belt winner, was a member of the Territorials. Lady Ward then presented (he principal prizes. At the conclusion of the presentation, Captain Roach, the secretary of the Dominion Riflo Association, was presented with a watch as a testimony to his unfailing attention to his duly, and (o the interests of the annual meetings.