Oakura.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7752, 2 March 1905, Page 2

Oakura.

(From Our Correspondent.) Th« township was en fete ou Monday when Miss Maggie L<ooncy, second daughter of Mr E. Lootwy, was 'married to Mr John Cocker, of llftw--1 era. The ceremony was performed at her parents' residence by the ltov. | Buttle, of New Plymouth. The happy ! couple left in lime for the midday ' traiiii, amidst the congratulations and cheers of all the bride's friends, and her former school-fellows. The presents, were very numerous and useful. • The annual meeting of the Kaitaki Itifle Club was held on Monday evening, Captain F. Julian presiding over 'a good muster. The Captain in his I report, l'efenud to the erratic attendance at the range of many of the ! members, and for more sup'port and regulai' practice. If that | were done a team could be formed which could hold its own against any team in the North Island. Last year out of seven matches lired oil [the first two were lost owing l to bud I practice, but the remaining live | were won easily. Members must not be discouraged because they Tailed to 'make good scores the first few times they attended the ranges. In shoot- | '"g. "s in all other undertakings, practice makes perfect.

During the evening thore took plate a very pleasing function—the distribution of a gold and silver niulul lo the successful competitors in the Shooting Handicap. Here aguin was shown " It's dogged as does it," tho , winners being both scratch men. Mr JJuggain won the gold medal, presentled by Mr Julian, and! Mr Curpenier, .the silver one, presented! in a neut and happy speech, by Mr Stnite. I Captain Julian referred to the hont'sjty of intention of shooting compel ijtora, every one participating in a shoot doing has level best to win. I V As the Victoria Cross is only t worth a :ew pence, so these medals niust be looked upon, nut for the i vu -'ue represented, but 'for the honour attached." I Captain Mace, N.Z.C., in offering I a trophy for competition in the ioiuing ye«r, referred to the days of the | war. it was not drill but shooting |thftt was roquired. Then it was to ■got close to your enemy. Tha advent |of tho machine gun was thought to put an end to rifle shooting, but the (present war Ims shown whet can be ( donc with the rifle, and lavmiet jchargwi are not yet obsolete. ' Captain Mare also referred to the poverty of attendance at the rang.'., lor the excuse of lost time, well tune Was lost in every l,ob,bv on' o,o.cricket, football, racing Ml entailed lost time. As for l W ln» handicapped, the moduli winners showed what can be done fro u scratcli. Ti... Governmept were to l.lauie for nMiokl riflos to the emio-is dub-. < f tho colony, in decreis ng rhe nil. h Hl.ce and diminishing the number „i ounds per man. Hj» p; i: -t: n> r a ,| vi( .„ was : ".Practice hard, get (1 ,r 00( i .. "'Si, 1,01(1 it sU ' l,d - v " (Cheers) * 1 The committee elected f Qr the w'h r^L lO^1 a(w ' 'l'misurer,' \| r . J . Kirkpatrjck • committee, Messrs jJulian. Carpenter, 'J\ Corkill and WoWriilge; selection poiumitw" Julian) and the assistant .Hecretarv ffoi- nl- ' trict), Mr WoJdidge dl!i " walt/: r rd a l^. ca to the commute?.