HAUTERE RIFLE CLUB.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 27 June 1919, Page 2

HAUTERE RIFLE CLUB.

ANNUAL BALL. DISTRIBUTION OF TROPHIES. ' A FINE GATHERING. It would have been difficult to have chosen a more unpropitious night than Wednesday for such a function as the. annual ball iu councctiou with the Hautcre Rifle Club, it being a bitterly cold, wintry night, with occasional sleety showers. Notwithstanding the adverse conditions, there was a large and representative vgathering, the large public hall being well filled. Owing to the bracing weather conditions dancing was kept going very briskly. Mrs Day supplied tip-top dance music that constrained the feet to move in sympathy, the floor was in capital order, while Mr I J. C. Guy. the M.C., was the right imm iu the- right place, and kept thiugs going merrily. Presentation of Trophies. During the evening Mr Catley (president of the Rifle Club) introduced -Mr W. 11. Pield, M.P.. whom he thanked for coming to To Horo for that night's function. Mr Catley pointed out that it was now four years since they had hud a function such as that night's ball, this being due to the crisis through which they hail passlul. Mr Pield said that as patron of the club he was proud of its achievements. It was to the credit of members that they had kept the club going all through the. war, though their numbers had naturally been deleted. He spoke of the good work done by such clubs, and said he hoped that, in the future more encouragement would be given to rifle clubs. Though a League, of Nations had been formed with "the object of preventing wars in the future, the. opinion was generally held that we. should prepare for any emergency that might arise. The Hautere Rifle Club had a record of which they might well be proud, having won the Field shield six times out of a total of eight competitions. Mr Pield then presented tHu trophies won by the club members during the year. The champion belt was won by Rifleman H. Catley, a young member aged only 20 years, who had only been shouting for a few months. Hi* periformaneo was a particularly meritorious one. and Ml Field said he hoped t*> see this promising young rifleman figuring at the big championship meetings of the future, and perhaps winning the New Zealand championship.

The first prize at the Club competitions was presented to Rifleman H. Taylor, the youugest member of the club, who had shot most consistently aad persevered well at the range. The second prize went to Rifleman E. Taylor.

A presentation was also made to Mr G. P. Catley, after which dancing was renewed, and continued till the curly hours of Thursday morning. As usual, the Te Horo ladies provided an excellent supper, and nothing WSis wanted to make the gathering an. enjoyable one. The function waj> a great suCCCSB iu every way.