RIFLE SHOOTING

Southland Times, Issue 24229, 12 September 1940, Page 10

RIFLE SHOOTING

INVERCARGILL DEFENCE CLUB

“The executive desires to - congratulate the members on the excellent position the club has attained both financially and in the'standard of marksmanship shown during the past season—a season which presented many difficulties because of the Empire being plunged into war,” said the annual report of the Invercargill Defence Rifle Club which was presented at the annual meeting of the club on Tuesday night. “In order to conserve ammunition, competitions had to be curtailed and modified. The officers and executive have pleasure in reporting that the members met the situation manfully and without complaint. “Every effort will be made to keep the activities of the club going during the coming season by the members who are over or under military age, and the president appeals to these members to give their fullest support to the organization locally of the Home Guard which is being formed.” During the past season, because oi the efforts of the secretary and treasurer, Mr W. Milley, the members were not charged marking fees and it was worth placing on record that during the many years the club has been in existence this was the first occasion

on which members had enjoyed such a privilege. Although this was a fairly heavy drain on the club’s funds, the balance-sheet revealed a credit balance of £4O, with assets at £142, there being no liabilities. The thanks of members was due to the secretary and treasurer, Mr Milley, for his energy and keenness.

“The standard of shooting during the season was excellent, and many fine scores were registered,” continued the report. “The championship of the club was won by G. Wilson, with W. Milley second. Other trophies were won as follows: B grade championship, L. R. Lyall; Thomson Cup, A.* Blee; _ Smith Cup 4 F. G. Henderson; Cunningham Cup, A. Pomeroy; Wills Cup, F. Mayhew; Denham Cup, N. McWilliams; Lennie Cup, J. Reeves; Oreti Rifles Shield, F. Mayhew; champion sealed handicap. G. Wilson. The Boyce Button was won by W. Milley three times, A. R. Wills once and J. Keelty once. “The club feels it an honour that the president of the New Zealand Rifle Association, Dr A. F. Ritchie Crawford, and the Southland delegate, Mr N. McWilliams, are both members of this club.”

The chairman, Mr A. R. Wills, congratulated the members on the success of the club. In his opinion no club in New Zealand could be in a better financial position. The standard of shooting also was the highest it had been in the history of the club. The election of officers resulted: Patrons, Mr W. M. C. Denham, M.R, and Mr J. T. Boyce; vice-patrons, Major H. C. MacKenzie, Major J. L. Lennie, Messrs F. G. Strang, William Grieve and Sir Robert Anderson; president, Mr A. R. Wills; deputy-president, Mr A. Lyall; secretary and treasurer, Mr W. Milley; handicapper, Mr A. Lyall; selectors, Messrs A. R. Wills, A. Lyall and F. G. Henderson; auditor, Mr A. Lyall; ammunition custodian, Mr W. Milley; range officers, Messrs F. Henderson and L. R. Lyall; National Rifle Association delegates, Messrs J. Clark and A. Lyall; executive, Dr A. F. Ritchie Crawford, Messrs A. Pomeroy, J. Archer, J. Reeves and F. G. Henderson. Opening day was fixed for next Saturday, with a teams’ match, president v. vice-president.