DEFENCE RIFLE CLUB.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5325, 12 September 1928, Page 3

DEFENCE RIFLE CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING. The first annual meeting of the Paeroa Defence Rifle Club was held in the County Chambers qn Monday evening. Owing, to various other attractions the attendance was not large, but those present were keen and enthusiastic abojut the affairs; of the club. The. president, Mr Edwin Edward?, presided. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual repo.rt was re.a.d as follows :— “Formation of Club.—The decision to form this club was arrived at by a well-attended meeting held in the Drill Hall. Paeroa, on November 17, 1927. A go.od deal of preliminary work was necessary before the club could be authorised by tihe Minister of Defence and be gazetted, and by the time this had. been a,cco|mplkhed it was getting towards the latter end of the shooting, season. The range, which was in a state of disrepair, had to be put in order with pick and sb'oveU, a target shed had to be built, targets made, and telephone installed. .Although Vttle has been; heard of the club :o far, it ha.s been making steady progress and is now on a. very sound ba&is. “Shooting.—No team shooting was done by your club during the year, but it was represented at the National Rifle Association meeting at Trentham bj r two members and al the South Auckland Rifle Association meeting by Four members. The performances of these members were highly satisfactory, considering the short time the range had been in order, and the facilities they had available fqr practice. During the coming your committee hopes that the club will be able to* arrange a series of inter-club matches, both 'on our own and 'other, clubs’ ranges. “•Membership.—The club commenced with a membership of 26, which increased to 33 during the year. “Finance. —It is most gratifying to note .that the' club Ba 1 .; a. credit balance of. £l3 0s 4d, asi sho.w'n by the balance-sheet, considering that there were nq funds \to start witlh other than members’ subscriptions. “Range Accommodation. —The present range facilities require to be brought up to date. Mounds are available a.t 300', '5OO, 600, and 700 yards, but to give members an equal chance in open competition it is most desirable to have facilities for practice at 800 and 900 y.qrds also, and we sum cerely hope that the incoming executive will give early cqnsideration to this matter. “Thanks.—Your committee wish to express their (thanks to members of. the local Defence staff for the great assistance they have rendered the club frqm its inception ; to Colonel Porritt for his thoughtfulness in donating a set of telephones for the} range and to Mr W. Marshall for the timber given by him to erect a target shed; to Mr Bain for the use of hi? room foir the purpose qf holding committee meetings; and to the Press for keeping members and supporters Posted as to the 'doings of the club.” The receipts amounted to £29 18s 9d, made up of' subscriptions £l6, donaf rions £1 Is 3d, and sale qf ammunition £l2 16s 6d. The expenditure wa® chiefly accounted for in ithe purchase of ammunition, targets, and material for use at the range, and! amounted to £l6 18? sd, leaving a cash balance of £l3 0s 4d. This, with ammunition on hand, made assets amounting to £22 Ils 4d, with no ’ liabilities; In moving, the adoption qf the report and balance-sheet Mr Edwards congratulated the club on the success of its inaugural season, and! stated that great credit was due to Captain H. Simmonds, secretary, for his enthusiasm and work given to promote the club. The president a'lsq congratulated Captain Simmonds on being selected! tq represent New Zealand with the Dominion rifle team which is to visit Australia early in the new year. Reference was also made to. the. work of Captain F. C. Hubbard, .who; infstalled the telephone systems at the range, and the spade work by several members in preparing the ranlge. ELECTION OF OFFICERSOfficers for the ensuing yettr were elected as follows :— Patron, Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P. ; vice- Patron, Mr E. W. Por.r>tt president, Mr EdXvin Edwards; djeputyprasident, Mr F. C. Hubbard ;( vicepresidents, Lieut. C. Bassett, V.C., Dr. w. W. Little, Messrs W. F. E. Flatt, and P. Williams ; secretary and treasurer, Mr A- A. Jenkinson ; auditor, Mr W. D. Nicholas; handicapper and selector, Captain; Simmonds ; range qfficer, Captain Simmonds, assistant, Mr R. [Wells', executive, committee, Messrs P. RHubbard, H. Simmonds, R. Wells, W. A. Reid, J. H. Walmsley, J. Simpson, A. Bridge, and V. Carrick. OPENING DAY. It was decided to. 'officially open the season on Saturday, October 13, the .day to be an. “invitation day,’’ linSvitatic>ns to be sent :tq presidents and members of adjacent Sister clubs; and an open invitation to Paer.oa citizens. Also that competitions would be' arranged for riflemen and a novice match, with frees ammunition, for visitors. GENERAL. Mr Hubbard' stated that Mr TKenny iha.d qffered to the range. Mr. Simmonds suggested that shutter targets should be installed and provision made for 800 andi 90C>-yard. ranges. The meeting decided! to have' the new targets provided, and the securing of same was left tq the secretary and Messrs Simmonds and F. C. H übbard>. Arrangements for the 800 1 And 900-yard ranges "were held! over pen ding .the r.e-surveying o ( f the range. A vote of thanks was passed to M.r Stimmo.nds for hJ:s ; work as secretary, and the meeting closed With a yc ; te of than;ks to the ch|a,irman.