TURAKIRA DEFENCE RIFLE CLUB.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 9021, 7 December 1907, Page 2

TURAKIRA DEFENCE RIFLE CLUB.

From a Correspondent. The inaugural ceremony in connection with the opening of tiie Ann Bank Rifle Range took place ou Wednesday afternoon under most favourable circumstances. There, was a record attendance of members also a number of spectators, including a fair sprinkling of ladies The new range which is on Mr B. P. Lethbridge's property is within five minutes walk of 'the railway station and when completed will be one of tho finest ranges on the coast, with a length of 1000 yards. The bulk of the work has been done by Mr J. Kelly and Messrs Hillmer Bros., three enthusiastic riflemen, who deservo the hearty thanks of the club. It is not perhaps generally known that these uuprcsuming citizens have been working on the ranges while their club mates have been soundly sleeping. Precisely at 2 o'clock the President, Mr B. P. Lothbridge, with Mrs Lethbridge, arrived at the 200 yards firing point iu their splendid 40 h.p. motor. The open ing function was performed by Mrs Lethbridge who fired the first shot, bringing up the bulls-eye disc, which was the signal for a hearty cheer, j Mr Lethbridge then declared the range open and expressed his best wishes for the future of the club. Captain Kiernan, in thanking Mrs Lethbridge. said that every member of the club fully appreciated the honour she bad conferred upon them that dav aud handed her a silver mounted dressing case as a memento of the occasion, bearing the following inscription: Presented to Mrs B. P.'Lethbridge by the members of the Turakiua Rifle Club on the opening of the A.'iu Bank Range 4-12-07. A ten-shot teams match occupied the rest of the afternoon. Teams were picked by the President and Captain . The' shooting though not up to Bisley standard, was fairly good under the circumstances. Some were using new rifles which they did not know, while others were firing with old rifles with which the best riflemen iu the Dominion could not make a decent score. The match was interesting from start to finish and resulted iu a win for tho president's team by the narrow margin of one. point, 'the totals being 264 and 203. -Rifleman Sisson made top score for the President's team and Capt. Kiernan held the honour for his own side. Last, but not least, all present wore invited to a most delicious and refreshing afternoon tea provided and dispensed by Mrs Lethbridge. I must not forget to mention that the president, with iiis characteristic generosity, not only gave tho club free use. of the range, but also donated a silver cup to bo competed for.