DEFENCE RIFLE CLUB.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5482, 2 October 1929, Page 2

DEFENCE RIFLE CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING. YEAR’S WORK REVIEWED. The second annual meeting of the Paeroa Defence Rifle Club was held on Monday evening, Mr E. Edwards, president, presiding. Annual Report. The following report was read and adopted :— “The club has had a most successful season, both financially and from the shooting viewpoint. “Membership.—The membership at the beginning of the season stood at 33 and has increased to 36 during the year, and there is every prospect of a still greater increase for the coming season.

“Shooting.—Captain H. Simmonds was included in the New Zealand team to visit Australia last February to compete in the Victorian Rifle Association’s meeting, and had considerable success. The club was also represented at the Auckland Rifle Association’s annual meeting at Penrose by six members, at the National Rifle Association at Trentham by two members, and at the South Auckland Rifle Association at Waihi by six members, besides the official openings of the 1928-29 season of the two neighbouring clubs. The individual performances of the members at all the above meetings were highly satisfactory, most success being attained at the Auckland Association 'meeting, where Deputy-President F. C. Hubbard was successful in heading the list in the President’s Match at 300yds and winning the Star Cup, besides gaining second place in the Avondale match at 600yds and several minor prizes, including a place in the A Grade aggregate. Rfm. R. I. Wells was also successful in being placed second in the Citizens’ match at 900yds and third in the B Grade aggregate, besides obtaining minor prize-money in several other matches, as did other members who attended. Considerable success was also attained by the representatives at the National and South Auckland Rifle Associations’ meetings. “Rifle Range.—During the season the 800yds and 900yds ranges have been brought into use and the telephone line extended thereto. : The mound at the 900yds range has not yet been built up, but we hope to have this work carried out at an early date. The 300yds mound required improving during the year, and the scrub required cutting round the butts. This work was carried out by outside labour to assist the unemployed. New telephone and flag-poles are about to be installed. The club is in great need of a shed on the range to store the club’s gear, telephone, flags, etc., and for general use. General Young, G.O.C. N.Z. Forces, visited the range during the year with the president and Captain Simmonds, and promised to consider the matter of a grant towards a shed. Two shutter targets were installed during this last season and have proved very satisfactory. “Formation of Miniature Club. —An outstanding feature of the year’s work was the formation of a miniature club for use during the winter months. This is, we understand, the only miniature club in the whole of the Auckland province, and it has proved a great success. Through the generosity of the local Defence authorities we have had the use of the 25yds range in the local Drill Hall. This club was opened on June 5, and shooting has been carried out every Wednesday night since. The club will be closed on October 23. The membership of the Miniature Club consists of 24 seniors and 9 juniors. The shooting has been very interesting, especially in the teams matches. Next year there is hope of neighbouring miniature clubs being formed, when it will be possible to have inter-club matches.

“Finance.—The financial position of the club is sound, the credit balance as shown in the balance-sheet being £l4 18s lid, with assets in all totalling £53 12s 8d and liabilities nil. This is very gratifying, especially when the year’s expenditure totalled £76 12s. It was found necessary to purchase two new rifles for the miniature shooting. The formation of the Miniature Club entailed a considerable amount of expense, and although the expenses for the first year are above the receipts, it is anticipated to show a good credit balance at the end of next season.

“Championship Cup.—The club is indebted to its patron, Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P., for his generous donation of a magnificent cup for competition during the year on the .303 range. This cup has been allocated by the committee to the club championship for annual competition, and was won for the last season by Captain H. Simmonds.

“Competitions. —Several handicap competitions were arranged during the year, both in the .303 Club and the Miniature Club, and were won as follows .303 Club : Club Championship, Samuel Cup and £2 2s, won by Captain H. Simmonds ;• Club Handicap Aggregate, £2 2s, Deputy-President F. C. Hubbard ; Deputy-President Hubbard’s Trophy, Rfm. W. A. Reid ; Mr R. Flatt’s Trophy, Rfm. W. A. Reid ; Mr D. A. Vincent’s Trophy, Rfm. A. A. Jenkinson ; Club Trophy, Rfm. A. A. Jenkinson. Miniature Range : Captain Simmonds’ Trophy, won by A. Simmonds ; Deputy-President Hubbard’s Trophy, M. Simmonds ; Threenight Competition, F. Patterson, A. A. Jenkinson second ; Rfm. R. I. Wells’ Trophy, M. Charlesworth ; Paeroa Hardware Co.’s Trophy, Captain H. Simmonds.

“Thanks.—The thanks of the club are due to the members of the local Defence Office staff for their untiring and invaluable assistance given the club ever since its formation ; also to the vice-presidents for the financial assistance given ; to Mr T. Kenny for survey work on the range ; to Mr G. P. Lamb for timber supplied ; and to the following for the donations of trophies : Messrs R. Flatt, D. A. Vincent, Paeroa Hardware Co., and the following members of the club : Deputy-President Hubbard (two),

Captain Simmonds, Rfm. R. I. Wells, and A. Coxhead. The club’s thanks are also due to Mr H. Smith for the care of the telephone, and, the last but by no means the least, to the Press for the assistance and space given in keeping the members and supporters posted with the doings of the club.” Upon the receiving of the report Mr Edwards said that the position was most gratifying. The success was due in no small measure to the club’s captain and the vice-president, Captains H. Simmonds and F. G. Hubbard, the secretary, Mr A. A. Jenkinson, and the executive. Members had entered enthusiastically into competitions, and the success attained during last season gave promise of being continued in the coming year. The Miniature Club had fully justified its existence, and it was hoped that some of its members would soon be shooting with the seniors. He congratulated, on behalf of the club, all the trophy winners, and in conclusion stated that the financial position was most satisfactory. Election of Officers. Mr Edwards, speaking on the question of president, said that as he was not an active shooting member of the club he thought it would be better to have as a president an active rifleman. He therefore had great pleasure in proposing Captain Hubbard, as Captain Simmonds was unable to take office. In proposing the re-election of Mr Jenkinson to the secretaryship. Captain Hubbard said he was merely voicing the opinion of all the members. Captain Simmonds, in seconding the motion, said that Mr Jenkinson was one of the finest secretaries he had ever come in contact with. He was always on the job, and nothing was too much trouble for him. He did not think there was a finer man in the whole of the Auckland province for the position.

The following officers were elected for the ensuing year :—

Patron, Major A. M. Samuel, M.P.; vice-patron, Lieut.-Colonel E. W. Porritt; president, Captain F. C. Hubard ; deputy-president, Mr R. I. Wells; vice-presidents, Lieut. C. Bassett, V.C., Major E. Edwards, Lieutenant V. J. Innes, Dr. W. W. Little, Messrs F. E. Flatt, J. Brenan, W. Marshall, C. N. O’Neill, A. E. Surrey, D. Leach, P. Williams ; honorary secretary, Mr A. A. Jenkinson; honorary auditor, Mr W. D. Nicholas; handicap committee and selectors, Captains F. C. Hubbard and H. Simmonds and Mr R. I. Wells; range officer, Captain Simmonds ; assistant range officer, Mr R. I. Wells; executive committee, Messrs A. Coxhead, P. R. Hubbard, L. Morris, W. A. Reid, R. I. Roberts, A. Simmonds, and E. Turton. In resigning the chair to Captain Hubbard Major Edwards said he had realised when he first took office that he could not become an active member, as pointed out by Captain Simmonds at the time, but he had been able to aid the club in other ways, of which he was very glad. He now had the satisfaction of knowing that the club was well on its feet and would continue so with Captain Hubbard as president.

Captain Hubbard, speaking as president, said that although Major Edwards had not been an active member his services had been very valuable in organisation and committee work, which, together with his influence in the town, had done much to make the club the success it was. Opening Shoot. Saturday, October 5, was fixed as opening day, with a shoot for local members and an invitation shoot for local visitors interested in the club. Handicapping. On the motion of Captain Simnionds it was decided to recommend to the incoming committee the system of automatic handicapping. Presentation. As a recognition of the valuable unflagging services rendered by the secretary it was decided to present him with a Parker-Hale sight Trophy. The president announced amid applause that the Farmers’ Trading Co., Paeroa, had presented a rose bowl for competition in the club. New Members. Messrs A. Coxhead, D. Fraser, T. McCormick, A. Mellor, H. A. Morrison, F. Patterson, G. Sanderson, A. Simmonds, and E. Turton were elected new members.