Te Aroha Rifle Club.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43080, 11 April 1907, Page 3

Te Aroha Rifle Club.

certainly be supported. Commercial travellers had said that there was not a better or steadier electric light in the Australasian colonies than at Te Aroha. Certain works

SMOKE SOCIAL. were not yet complete, and His Worship was only doing his duty to both the citizens and TO CAPTAIN PAVITT ' bhnself by remaining until they were comj pleted. Mr Gavin, proceeding, said he felt ' sure that in another twelve months we should be proud of the electric light and other works that were being carried out in To Aroha. The Council may not have got into the back streets with formation work as much as people would have liked, but he himself knew the difficulty of carrying out works without money. The best thing was to stick to the main streets with the road works, so that tourists should not see our little failings. Mr Gavin then proposed the health of Mr and Mrs Somers, which met with a lusty reponse.

enjoyable smoke social was held in 6 -Hot Springs Sample Room last night, in connection with the Te Aroha Rifle Club, for e purpose of presenting a purse of money to Pavitt on his retirement from the

• idle chair, said he was pleased . j k 0 P u t in the position in which he und himself that night, as chairman. All w o were present knew why they had met, to f>w thbir good wishes to Captain Pavitt. me members of the Club were all extremely " hen resignation was announced, ®y all thought it would be fitting to p-_ 0 a presentation of some memento to emind him of the pleasant days spent among would be hard for the Club ihe place left vacant by Captain Pavitt ne had been a sportsman all his lifetime.

TOsagood old sport. (Applause). He }. r had not known Captain Pavitt all . hfo, but there was nothing in Te Aroha m connection with sport that Captain Pavitt . heen in. "When the childrens’ picnics were held in the Domain, he had generally acted in some capacity to assist the worthy object, and he had been as highly respected by all connected with those events as he was by all those who were present that , No matter whether it was cricket, shOotmg, horse-racing, or other sport, Captam Pavitt was always to the fore. How he .j ? th® Club together was wonderful, considering the poor support received from .Government. It was a pity, said Mr travin, that more support could not be obtamed from the Government. One of the

In reply Mr Somers said he could scarcely find words with which to return thanks for the way in which the toast was honoured. He would like to correct the Chairman with regard to what he had said after the election. What he really said was “After the fulfilment of my term of office, you will say, ‘ Well done, Somers !’ and nominate me for ano'ther term.” During his term of office he had done his best. There had been no north end »r south end, but aU parts had been equally treated. Complaints had been received from the side streets, and men had been sent along to remedy matters. With reference to the mayorship, he would take this opportunity of publicly stating that it was his intention to stand again. (LoudJ

arawbackß was that they made the Club pay or its arms and ammunition and supplied them with rifles that had been discarded by the volunteers. Such weapons were of no use to the best shots. We wanted the best weapons. The Government appeared to take an interest in the movement, and yet handed out to the rifle clubs old arms that would scarcely, shoot a man across the street. In „ opinion the rifle clubs should not have to P a y f or their rifles at all : they should be served _ out to them and members sworn in just as were the'Yolunteers. This would’ give more encouragement to the old hands, and would offer more inducement for younger members to join. The matter rested with our Members of Parliament to fight it out and see what could be done. Even with the second-hand rifles the Club had held its own, and the members had had some splendid afternoons on the range with Captain Pavitt, and they were sorry they would have no J llol ]® - Whilst they were bidding good-bye ~~t°. y l6 Captain, he was not leaving the distnct, and would be still amongst us, and no doubt he would still sometimes be seen up at the target upholding the Volunteer instincts amongst us. Mr Gavin then proposed the toast “ The 'rtf’ hi . ch was heartily responded to. (l Chairman, in proposing the health of Ibe truest. of the Evening,” said he wish'd Captain Pavitt would live a prosperous lie amongst us for many long years. The comwith “ For he’s a Jolly Good

applause;, lnere were several important| works winch were not completed, and on that account he would stand again. He would also announce that during the coming twelve months we should see a profit of £IOO from the electric light. Difficulties had cropped up but had been overcome. It would be necessary in twelve month’s time to extend

tne piant, as tne demand tor electric lignt nad | exceeded all expectations. It would be necessary to ask for more money for a larger plant to supply additional houses and other buildings, but we must go ahead. The Borough could not be run without money, but it could not all be paid back at once —the coming generation must help to pay for it. The traffic bridge was another important contract soon to come off. Mr Somers concluded by thanking the company for the way in which they had honoured both himself and Mrs Somers, to whom he would be pleased to convey the good wishes. (Applause). Captain Pavitt then proposed the health of the Chairman, who always very ably condimfWl Q moofl’nrr -nmn

Captain Pavitt, addressing the Chairman and company, thanked all for the kind way in which he had been met and asked to meet his fnends that night.' Tie was pleased and gratified that the Club had shown him that he had not worked in vain. He had always toed to do his best, though everybody was liable to make mistakes. He had striven to carry on the Rifle Club as well as he could. He had got a deal of pleasure on the Te Aroha range, shooting with the brethren who were befo.e him. It was alwavs a pleasure to meet on the range—men never seemed to tie m a better humour than when out shootmg, which was a most fascinating pastime He had been a good shot in his time and would expect to see young men come forwai 3 and make good shots. As the Chaii man had said, the Government was much to blame in supplying good arms such as members of the Club would be pleased to shoot with. He eulogised the Chairman’s remarks, saying he would never forget the words he had used that night. He thanked all for their kind sympathy and. invitation and hoped to meet his mends again. at future functions, where li6 would meet witli the courtesy and goodnsss of heart whioh had been extended to him that night.—(Applause). The Peesentatxoh. His Worship the Mayor, (R. L. Somers .pSfl.} ?aid he was pleased to be given the opportunity of making the presentation on bebalf of the Club, to Captain Pavitt. Caphimself had been great friend** and he (Somers) was not present that evening as a civilian, but as an old Volunteer officer. He had been in the Volunteers in the time of the old Victoria Rifles in Auckland. He was pleased to be the means of conveying to Capa present from the members of thcRifle Club. Mr Somers explained that the sum of money which the purse contained had been subscribed solely by members of the CTub, and even his own donation had been re-, fused. He hoped Captain Pavitt would look I not upon the amount it contained, but upon the spirit in which it was given. He con- 1 gratulated the Captain upon the respecl which the Club had shown to him, hut regretted that the purse did not contain a larger Slim. Captain Pavitt, said Mr Somers, had always been a great sport, and whether at cricket, football, or racing, had always been glad to render assistance. The confidence in Whioh the members of the Club held him, showed that although Captain Pavitt was resigning, they would still hold him in respect. (Applause.) Captain Pavitt, replying, said he could not exactly say that the presentation had come as a surprise, as he had seen it mentioned in the newspaper. The intrinsic value of the gift was of very little account in such a case, and whether small or large should be riceived 88 though it were large, and that was how he would receive it now. (Applause.) He heartily thanked the donors, and was sure that those who belonged to him would thank them in the same way. -Whether he again met those present or not, he would always feel that they had a kindly spot in their hearts for Captain Old Frank Pavitt. (Loud applause.) Mr Gavin, in proposing the health of the Mayor, said he felt sure that all would agree that it was kind of Mr Somers to accede to the request of the Rifle Club to make the small presentation to Captain Pavitt that evening. As Mayor, we had found him to he full of ability in every respect. Many of those even who voted for Mr Somers at the last election, were in doubt, and those of course who voted against him were also in doubt. If he (Mr Gavin) were asked what the Mayor was, he would say he was a “Ijolly good fellow.” On the night when 'he returned thanks to the electors the Mayor had said he hoped to prove during his term of office that he was capable of filling the position, and that when the next election came round they would ei’.y “ Well done, Somers,” and return him again. Mr Gavin thought there was only one thing that should be done and that was to keep Mr Somers by returning him again. Nominations were to be made by the 17th, and he hoped that the people would nominate Mr Somers for a second term of office as' Mayor of Te Aroha. A number of people had found fault with the finances of the Borough as they stood at present, but the present position. was not the fault of Mr Somers, who had . come into office whilst certain works were in an Incomplete state and had to. be carried out to a finish. Many folks thought • that the electric fight, when only partially completed should he allowed to go to —he would not say the devil—but should he left as it was. It was a good thing that such a wish had not been carried out. Everyone made mistakes at times. He (Mr Gavin) had voted against electric fight for years but -lyhen-he finally saw that he was beaten, he gave way, as he thought everyone should do tvjhen necessary. When the second loan had asked for he (Mr Gavin) mid it must

also warmly responded to by the company. Mr W. B. Maxwell then favoured the gathering with the song, “The Red, White and Blue,” which was well received. Mr Gavin replying, said it was always a pleasure to him to preside at a meeting in Te Aroha, where he had always found the people fair and willing to give an opponent a hearing. He had always been willing to meet his opponents, and as he would say of all the world, there was not a man in Te Aroha with whom he could not shake hands to-moirow. (Hear, bear). Like many other men he had neglected his own duties for public duties—somebody had to do it, although be had sometimes thought of ’ giving it up. But public men seemed to be picked out and persuaded to come forward. He believed ambition was growing in him, but often wished it would not. (Laughter). He then proposed a vote of thanks to Messrs Stanley, MoKee, Cummins, McCord, Salmon, and others for giving an opportunity for the Club to meet Captain Pavitt that night. This was •arried unanimously, and after thanking the

■ompany for the response to his health, Mr Gavin sat down amidst applause. Mr Cummins, honorary secretary to the Club, said it was more out of sentiment and respect for their old Captain that the gathering had been brought together. He had pleasant recollections of Captain Pavitt ever since the Club had been formed, Mr McCord explained that persistent efforts had been made in order that Captain Pavitt should not he allowed to leave the Club without some recognition. Mr Somers propose I “ The Press,” which be said was an unusual toast in Te Aroha. The two representatives present responded. Mr Salmon proposed the “Past Volunteer Officers,” Major Pavitt, Captain Somers, Lieutenants Gavin, Scott, and Wild, and aon-coms. Col-sergt. Stanley, Sergeants McKee, Dixon, and Cummings. Each of ehese suitably replied, A most convivial evening was brought to a close with a vote of thanks to the Chair, and the singing of “ Auld Lang Syne.”