PRESENTATION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5383, 4 February 1929, Page 2

PRESENTATION.

GIFT TO CATT. SDLMOM>S. RIFLE CLUB FUNCTION. At the Ohinemuri County Chambers on Friday evening, a plepsant informal function toqk place when Mr Edwin Edwards, as president, andi.' on behalf of, the Paeroa Defence Rifle Club, presented to Captain H. Simmonds a travelling rug to accompany the club’s best wishes, for good shooting, an enjoyable trip, and a safe return to Paeroa, the qccasion being Captain Simmonds’ coming departure on leave, during which time he is t'o participate in the N.Z. Rifle Championship meeting at Trentham and latqr as a member of the New Zealand team to compete in Australia.

Mr Ed,wards regretted that as he ■had only heard that morning of Captain Simmonds’ intended lepve he had been unable, owing to the limited time, to) get together a full muster of members; but at anyrate those present, though small in numbers, were select and representative. Mr Edwards spoke in eulogistic terms of Captain Simmonds’ untiring efforts on behalf of the club he had helped to found, and under whose guidance, aftejr a remarkably short time, t|he club had shown its prowess, notably at the regent Auckland meeting. Paeroa would follow with interest and pride the achievqments of her representative at Trentham and in Australia.

The Mayor, Mr W. Marshall, joined with much pleasure in paying tribute to Captain Simmonds and! reiterated* the good wishes of the club and Paeroa. To 'him more than ta anyone else the founding of the cjub was due;. To be a good rifleman one must toe the line every day, alid in being a good rifleman one was rendering service not only to the community, but tq thq Empire as a whole. It was incumbent upon everyone tq do w'hat he could for t’he community, ahd do it to the best of his ability. Mr V.'J. Innes, lieutenant, N.Z.)S.C„ further remaiked on the benefits of shooting, and the clean life necessary to goad marksmanship. Captain Simmonds was an example qf w'hat a rifleman should be. Captain Simmonds, in replying, thankqd those present for what they had said and for the travelling rug, which would keep him constant; company. He hoped that he would be successful on the other sidq for New Zealand and Paeroa’s sake.

The proceedings terminated with a toast wishing Captain Simmonds g,qo<l luck, safe voyage, and Gqd speed to his return.