RIFLE-SHOOTING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2189, 19 September 1907, Page 2

RIFLE-SHOOTING.

POVERTY BAY RIFLE ASSOCIN TION. ANNUAL MEETING. A fair attendance was recorded at the second annual -meeting of the Poverty Bay J'tiile Association, held at the Farmers’ Union' Club rooms last evening, Mr. A. Dewing presiding. Coi. Winter apologised for non-at-tendance, duo to an attack of influenza.

'A SUCCESSFUL YEAR. The committee congratulated members on a successful year. Two shooting meetings had been held. The first, which took place on the Haiti range on King’s Birthday, was somewhat marred by bad weather, on.y 24 competing. Nevertheless the programme was carried through, and prize-money totalling £lB Its awarded. The aggregate pr ; ze (presented by the Hon. James Carroll) was won by Sgt. Taylor, of the Gisborne Rifles. Mr. Farrall taking Mr. Mclernon’s trophy for second place.- A handsome silver oup preseated by M r - Arthur Hutchinson, for competition among teams of five men from volunteer corps, rifle clubs. South African Mounted Rifles Association, and civilians, was won on tips, -the first, occasion by tho Gisborne Rifleß No. 1 team. The second meeting, helcl on the Makauri range on Easter Monday, attracted 41 competitors, and £24 12s was paid in prizes. LanceCorporal Rait (Gisborne Rifles) won the aggregate prize, Mr. Farrall again being runner-up.' With regard to finances, the committee regretted mat the credit balance had dwindled down from £lB 18s 3d to £3 os 9d. This they attributed to bad weather interfering with the number of comp enters at the first meeting, to a fallingoff of membership, and to the expense of running two meetings. The committee pointed out that the Association could not he run successfully without funds, and asked that an on-.-deavor be made to secure members.. The donations for the year bad been small as compared with the previous twelve months, but the committee confidently hoped to see a vast improvement in the future. Thanks were due to the Hon. Jas. Carroll for two aggregate prizes, to the Hon. Captain Tucker for a trophy, and to Captain Coleboume and Mr. A. F. Kennedy for donations to the general prize fund. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Tho following officers were elected for the ensuing year : —Executive officer, Colonel Winter (re-elected); iiou. secretary and treasurer, Lieut. C. Hellier Evans (re-elected); hon. quartermaster, Q.M. - Sergt. Zachariah (re-elected); committee, Captain Beere (Gisborne Rifles), Captain Tomblesou (E.C. Mounted. Rifles), Captain Cowan (Cadets), Lieut. Hamilton Messrs. Elliott, Farrall, and Dewing; auditor, Mr. Redward; patron, Hon. J. Carroll; vice-patron, Col. Porter," C. 8.; president, Mr. Arthur Hutchinson; vice-presidents, the presidents of rifle clubs in the district, and Messrs. McDonald, J. Townlev, J. C. Field, Barry, Oman, Cederwall, Miller, Chambers, C. White, Nolan, Murphy, Kennedy, W. D. Lysnar, C. J. Parker, W. R. Barker, M. B. Moulder, Henry White, R. St. Ledger, W. Crawford, F. J. Lysnar, F. Hall, G. Elliott, E, M. Hutchinson, Major McCreedie, Captains Coleboume, Tucker, and Warren. SHOOTING DATES.

It was decided to hold the first ; shooting competition'on King’s Birthday. as usual, on the Kaiti range. With regard to the second meeting —last year held at Easter —it was pointed out that the troops were to be mobilised at Napier next Easter. Empire Day (May 24th) was therefore _ decided upon for the comiietition. Captain Beere moved ‘that it be a recommendation to the committee to hold an additional meeting, making three for the year. He suggested ■; Christmas or New Year as the most . _ suitable time, but would leave the ex- - act date to the committee. His idea was that it would keep the Association together better, instead of hav- , iug a lapse from early in November * till the end of May. _ Mr. Elliott favored a third meet- - iug, but thought some date about the e eud of January would be more suit--able. A meeting at Christmas would' ho too.close upon the heels of the openin' l, meeting. _ ; '■' The Chairman said there was no holiday about the date Mr. Elliott

suggested. Sergt. Cole said Christmas would not suit the Mounted Rifles, and £ Lieut. Evans said there, was some objection to breaking in. . upon the Christmas or New Year holidays for* one day’s shooting.' . He mentioned ; that the Ha.wjie’s Bay Association ’ o-nly held one meeting each year.' Captain Beere ' altered his motion',so as to leave the date of a third ' mooting to the committee’s discretion. « After discussion an amendment, moved by Corporal Raii, was carried, deciding to take a _vote among the competitors, at the.’November meeting,- as to the desirableness of hbldj. ing a' third meeting; and tho moiSsk suitable date for such meeting. . DONORS THANKED. • On the motion of Q.M.S. Zachariah, hearty votes of thanks were accorded the gentleulen who had given trophies and donations, it being:, recognised that without the assistance of generous donors the Association could not - carry oil successfully. Mr. Elliott moved a,' vote of thanks to the officers commanding the East Coast .Mounted Rifles and Gisborne Rifles for the use of their ranges and for the trouble they had taken in making complete arrangements, also to the non-commissioned officers and men for assistance rendered in getting tho ranges in readiness for the shooting. v Tho secretary mentioned that the two corps b<3ro all the expense of targets, it costing tho Association no-

thing for the use of tho ranges.— Carried unanimously. A RANGE WANTED. Captain Beere-drew attention to the necessity for moving to permanently secure a centrally-situated range. He pointed out that the present ranges wore only hold on sufferance, no legal title to thorn having been secured! If the Association took the matter up, in conjunction with both volunteer corps, something might be done. Under tho Municipal Corporations Act- local governing bodies had power to take over rifle ranges, and might very well assist tho -movement by exercising that right. Ho moved that it bo a recommendation to tlio committee to see what could be done in this direction. .On the suggestion of Sergeant Cole, the mover altered the motion to read that it be a definite instruction to the committee. He added that tho Borough Council had authority to comply with their request, if councillors so desired.

Another member said the committee could locate a suitable range,. and ask for co-operation in having it taken over' under the Public "Works Act. Lieut. Evans said that any amount of 700yds ranges could be found, but they were too small. The Chairman: Fix a target oil Nick’s Head and fire over the water. It would also instruct the men in seamanship. (Laughter.) A member: We’re not a Naval Brigade. (Laughter.) After discussion tho motion was unanimously carried. THANKS TO THE SECRETARY. Captain Beere moved that tlhe Association accord Lieut. C. Hellier Evans a hearty voto of thanks for his excellent work its secretary. Ho mentioned -that the records, etc., were as near perfection as possible, and an object lesson .to other secretaries. The Association was very fortunate in having such an able and enthusiastic official.

The vote, seconded by Mr. Elliott, was carried with acclamation. Lieut. Evans, in response, said it was his hobby. He thought every young man should “go through tlio mill” iin rifle-shooting, and that tho disciplined volunteer was preferable as a fighting unit. If ever the day came when conscription was necessary, people would regret that they

had not''treated volunteering and rifle-shooting with more enthusiasm. A GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY. Q.AI.S. Zachariah raised the question of asking for a Government subsidy towards tho prize funds. Ho thought that if representations were made in the proper quarter there was every chance of securing a grant. The committee will look into the basis on which grants 'are made, and formally put forward a request. DONATION. It was announced that Mr. \V. O’Meara had donated a gold medal for competition, the conditions to be fixed by the committee. A vote of thanks to tho chairman “concluded the meeting.