North Taranaki Rifle Association.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 247, 17 November 1903, Page 3

North Taranaki Rifle Association.

The first annual meeting of the North Taranaki Rifle Association took place last night. There was

only a small attendance, there being representatives of the Battalion staff, Taranaki Rifles, Taranaki Guards, Eltham Rifles, and Egmont Mounted Rifles. Major Okey was voted to the chair.

An apology was received from Captain C. H. Weston, of the Taranaki Rifles.

The balance-sheet, presented by the secretary, Mr C. B. Lever, and audited by Messrs Taylor and Mills, showed members' subscriptions £lO 12s 6d, affiliation fees £5 ss, entrance fees £4 7s Od, sales of ammunition £24 6s, sighting' shots £l6 Bs, and donations and sundries brought the receipts to> £lls 18s lOd. Expenditure: Prizes £46 19s, marking £6, targets and timber £ls, ammunition £27 9s 6d, and other sundry amounts, the total 'being £lls 5s lOd, and the credit balance 13s.

Th« annual report stated that for a first meeting, considering the unfavourable weather experienced and the many other difficulties always attendant on such fixtures, the meeting of 1903 was a pronounced success. The attendance of shootingi men was scarcely up to expectations, but with the revised programme and more liberal prize money, which it was proposed to- give this year, it was anticipated that a great improvement would b6 brought about in this respect next year. A proposal was on foot to enrol honorary members', and to include a cadet match in the programme. More liberal treatment was 'intended to be given to young shots in the way of tyro prizes. It is intended also to allow competitors to use any ammunition they like. The financial re-\ suit, of the meeting was 1 a small credit balance, though to secure this the prize money was reduced somewhat. With good entries this undesirable expedient should not have to be again resorted to. On the motion of Sergeant Lister, seconded by Lieut. Messenger, the balance-sheet was adopted. Major Okey said it was necessary to increase the prize list, and with that end in view it was proposed to issue circulars asking sympathisers to become honorary members to the Association.

The programme for the forthcoming meeting was considered, and that brought down by the committee was adopted, with the recommendation that cadet matches be added, and tyro prizes increased, if possi. hie. *

The annual meeting was fixed for Wednesday and 'Thursday, February 3 and 4, cadet matches on Saturday, February 6. Sergeant Arniitage moved that th<> catering be offered to Mr T. P. Lister, who had come to the rescue of the Aseociation last year. Seconded by Lieut. Messenger, and carried unanimously.

Sergeaint Annitage suggested approaching' ths 'bus proprietors with regard to- running a service to the range. This was put in the form of a motion and carried.

Colour-Sergt, Armitage moved that the following be the definition of a tyro :—A tyro shall be a competitor who has never won a prize or prizes of the value of, or exceeding, £1 in any previous Rifle Association meeting, and no competitor shall win more than £1 in tyro prizes, and shall not take two prizes in one match, should they exceed the value of £l.

Lieut. Mills seconded, and the motion was carried. Officers were elected : —Patron, His Excellency the Governor ; Vice-pat-rons, Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, Ooi. Webb, and Col. Newall, C.B. ; President, Lieut.-Col. Ellis ; Vice-presi-dents, Major Opey, Major Deiupsey, tluartermaster-caplain Cock, Surgeon Capt. Home, Chaplain Evans, Capt.-Adjt. Alalone, Captstus Weston, Cook, .Liardet, and Knight, L.'.eut. Percival, and captains of Uilie Clubs ; Secretary, Lieut. Lever ; Treasurer, Major Okey ; Auditors, Lieut. Mills and l J vt. Taylor. Council : Lieut.-Cot. Ellis, Capt.Adjt. Malone, Capt. Wi.-ton. Cnpt. Patterson, Lieuts. Messenger and Okey, and secretary and treasurer ex officio.

A very hearty vote of thanks to tire secretary, Mr C. B. Lever, for his services, was carried unanimously. The meeting then adjourned. PROGRAMME. Waitara Match, 500 and 600 yds, ten shots at each range ; entrance 3s ; seventeen prizes, value £ls, with three tyro prizes added. Nursery Match, 500 yds, 10 shots ;• entrance 2s 6d. Open to competitors not necessarily members, who have never won a prize or prizes of or exceeding a total value of £1 at any previous Rilie Association meeting. Eight prizes, value £7 10s. Citizens' Match, 200 and 600 yds, ten slvots at. each range. New Plymouth Match, 300, 500, anU 600 yds ; seven shots at each range. Twenty prizes, value £22, with four tyro prizes added. Entrance 3s 6d.

Disappearing Target, 300 yds, seven shots, any military position at khaki head and shoulders target ; target exposed lour seconds, hidden live seconds ; hits count two points ; 500 yds, seven shots, any military position, at second-class disappearing target ; target exposed six seconds 1 ; bits count two points on black, one on white. Entrance 2s 6d. Seventeen prizes, value £B. No sighting shots.

District Match, 200, 500, and 700 yard's, seven shots at each rawg l # (subject to consent of Defence Department).

(■ran'd Aggregate Match, 700vds, ten shots ; open to twenty highest scorers in matches No. 1, 3, and 4. Entrance iis 6d.