The Record Reign Celebrations.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 242, 15 April 1897, Page 2

The Record Reign Celebrations.

i (Per Press Association.) Wellington, April 14. Major Somerville wirei the Press i Association .-—Rifle team — The Premier has iust wired me the £500 voted and I am to take that as final. This cannot > cover the expenses of more than five men ■ and unless the public will contribute • another £500 the team will be useless. As the matter is now a national one I f put it to all those who can afford it to > come to the assistance of our ri^emen. ' many of our best shots are bard working > } men and cannot afford the expense. I hope all members of rifle coanciie througout the colony will do their best to collect funds. Any of our well known shots who are prepared to pay a portion should wire me at once. No time is to be lost as the team is to go in the Ruabine. Major Collins, treasurer of the New Zealand Rifle Association, arid Mr W. H. Ballinger, ex-champion, and member of the council of the Association, had an interview with toe Premier respecting the visit of a team of riflemen to BisleyThe deputation pointed out the original vote of Parliament (£500) was only sufficient to defray the cost of the passages o the teams, and unless the amount was subsidised by public eubecription, New Zealand would be unable to send a thorough representative team. Mr Seddon. while admitting the propriety of having the best team of the Colony's riflemen at Home, said he could not go outside the Parliamentary vote, though he fully agreed on an additional sum of £'00 being paid towards the expenses of Major Somerville, chairman of the Association, who should accompany the team as Captain. An urgent appeal is to be made throughout the colony for the necessary subscript tions to assure a representative team going. The European and Maori contingents to visit England were reviewed to-day by the Premier, Messrs Hall-Jonei, and Carroll. Christchukch, April 14. The Cyclists' Alliance decided to grant £10 towards sending Reynold's of Auckland Howe to compete m the Jubilee Cycling Meeting and to endeavour to raise further funds for the project.