NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1780, 4 November 1879, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Tho annual mooting of tho local Council of the New Zealand Kiflo Association was hold last night at tho Commercial Hotel. Major Lean was voted to the chair. The Chairman said they had met that evening in accordance with rule 20 of the aseociation, for the purpose of electing a local committee, and for the consideration of matters generally affecting tho interests of tho Association. In his capacity of representative of tho Canterbury district at tho annual meeting of tho association in Wellington, ho might say that since the last quarterly mooting a very successful one had been held in Nelson. The competition had boon a groat success, and the competitors and those who had tho direction of tho firing, had been equally pleased. At that meeting the rules had been, reconsidered, and the prise list decided on for the forthcoming matches on the Association’s ground. There was nothing particularly new in tho programme, with the exception of the reduction of the number of points to count at the two matches for rifle and carbine from 12 to 9. The subject of attendance at parades counting as points had been discussed, and although eonsidorod by some as obicoUqnsble^

the feeling of the Canterbury members had been in favor their retention. Colonel Whitmore thought they should be retained to count at the matches. It had been deo’ded to reduce the number of points from 12 to 9, but no further reduction was contemplated. One new feature in the programme was the use of cavalry carbines, but more would be known upon the matter when the rules came down, vvith regard to the election of the members of local committees, it had been decided that in cases ■where the district failed to elect a representative the Council should possess the right to elect one. All officers attending the meeting at Nelson in March, who were willing to act as register keepers would be allowed 10a per day and rations. A sum of money had been placed on the estimates in excess of what had been voted last year, and he thought that the firejent Government would be as willing as the ate one to give every encouragement to the association. It was in contemplation to purchase, if possible, the ground on which •the matches of the association took place. ■He might say that there would be plenty of • compensation prizes, and that the steamers -would probably take members of the association at reduced fares. The meeting would •now proceed to the election of the local •committee for the ensuing year. The financial statement of the association for the last year, as furnished by the annual report, which was read by the hon. secretary, showed—Receipts, from Government, £775 ; subscriptions, £352 5s 6d ; special prize subscription, £46 6s 6d ; fees, &o, at meeting, •£273 10s; sale of ammunition and rules, £l4l 4s 6d ; total, £ISBB 6s 6d ; credit balai e , -r£7s 17* lOi ; grand total. £1644 4s 4d. The amount expended in prizes last meeting amounted to £B3l 2s. The balance, save the amount in bank, was expended in making ■range, wages, &o. For the coming meeting fifteen matches are open to members, two • companies matches, one for carbine and one for rifle. The usual match North v South, ■ each for carbine and snider, also cavalry tournament. The amount of prize money is about £IOOO.

■ On the motion of Captain Warner, seconded 'by Sergeant Buckley, Lieutenant Appleby, 'Christchurch Artillery j Captain Warner, Engineers.; Sub-Lieutenant Francis, City Guards ; 'Lieutenant Slater, Cavalry ; and Mr E. E. Deacon, non-volunteer, were elected members of the committee. Lieutenant Appleby was elected hon. secretary for the ensuing twelve months. This terminated the business of the meeting. CANTERBURY BIFLE ASSOCIATION. At the termination of the annual meeting of the Now Zealand Bide Association the annual meeting of tfco Canterbury Association took place. Captain Warner being voted to the chair. The Chairman said the business to be done was to fix the opening day of the association, and also the date of the interprovincial rifle match in Dunedin. Lieut. Appleby said before proceeding further he should like to move a resolution which would have the effect of reducing the number of competitors from fifteen to twelve or ten. Last year they had bad the greatest difficulty in making up a team of fifteen to go to Dunedin, and the difficulty thisyear would probably be even greater. The existing rule was that the teams should consist of fifteen men on each side, and he thought that the Otago Association should be asked to alter that rule in favor of a less number. Dunedin had no difficulty in finding fifteen members as they could pick from otter localities, like Oamaru and Invercargill; indeed, last year three of their best marksmen were picked from the former place. Ho would, therefore, more in the first place —“ That the Interprovincial Match between Canterbury and Otago bo fired in Dunedin on a date to be fixed by the Otago Association.” Mr Deacon seconded the resolution, which was carried.

Lieutenant Appleby said that he made an application, through Colonel Packe, to the Government for a refund of the fares of the competitors who had visited Dunedin last year, and from the answer which had been given in Wellington to the deputation of officers to Colonel Whitmore on the subject of free passes to volunteers attending recognised demonstrations, he had little doubt his application would be acceded to by the Government. In answer to Lieutenant Strange, Lieutenant Appleby said the total liabilities of the Association amounted to about £BO, [incurred for prizes, inclusive of two meetings, one a local and the other a general one. Mr Deacon [moved provincial representative team bo reduct d from fifteen to ten, and that the Otago Bifio Association be requested to agree to the alteration.” Lieut. Appleby seconded the resolution, which was agreed to. Mr Deacon moVed—“ That the opening day of the O.E.A. be fixed for Tuesday, the 11th of November, with a series of matches; firing to commence at eight o’clock.” Lieut. Buckley seconded the motion, which was carried. On the motion of Lieut. Appleby, seconded by Lieut. Strange, Mr Deacon was elected hon. secretary and treasurer for the ensuing 'year. . The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman.