TARANAKI RIFLES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 305, 19 May 1911, Page 5

TARANAKI RIFLES.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the TaranaW Rifles was held in the Orderly Room at the Drill Hall on Wednesday night, when a total number of sixty-three mustered. Captain Fletcher presided, and Lieutenants Wills and Marett were alto present. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report said that the company had good reason, on the whole, to be gratified with the good work ol the paßt year and with its present position. The attendance at parades had been excellent. Sixty-eight men had earned capitation during the year, which was the greatest number of men the company had ever drawn capitation for. The report congratulated the members on the great interest taken in shooting, and showed that the company had the honor of having the champion team in both the Taranaki and Auckland districts, having won the teams match at both meetings. The teams match at Auckland was won by the highest score yet recorded. Thus the company was the proud possessor of the well-known Waihi Rooster, and aUo Mr. Tisch's Challenge Cup. The companies had to thank Lieut. Willis for the way he had brought the shooting along during the year. The signallers had made excellent progress, and thanks were due to Mr. Flynn for the trouble and time he had taken in this connection. During next year the company hoped to have new undress uniforms, the necessary authority to purchase them having already been given. The thanks of the company were also due to Battalion-Sergeant-Major Armitage for. the time and trouble he had devoted to the classes of instruction. All members who had attended the class and who had sat for examinations had passed—a result which spoke for itself. In conclusion the report read: "During the year all members who join the company must serve until they reach the age of 25 years, and no member can join unless he has reached the age of 18 years on November 4, 1910. The company will this year be able to enrol up to 125 members, so with that number we should be able to do a lot of good work. Members should try to do their utmost to make the new defence scheme a great success, and that can be done if members will do their utmost to become proficient in their .drill and duties and take an interest in their work. The thanks of the company are due to the ladies' committee who assisted at the annual ball; to all those who contributed to the shooting prizes; and also to the press for their frequent references to matters of interest to Territorials." The report as read was adopted. Votes of thanks were passed to Messrs. Skinner and Cattley for their kindness. COMMITTEES. The election of committees resulted:— Finance Committee.—Officers ex officio and Corporals Buxton and Napier. Shooting Committee.—Officers ex officio, Sergeants Davies, Southam, and Crutch, Lance.-Corpl. Okey, Privates Blanchett, Arnold, and T. Marett. Ball Committee.—Officers ex officio, Col.-Sergt. Clark, Sergts, Davies and Crutch, Corporals Buxton, Gaylard, and Napier, Privates Clarke, O'Grady, Thompson, Boulton, Richards, and George. Orderly Room Committee.—Col.-Sergt. Clark, Sergt. Crutch, Corpl. Gavlard, Privates T. Marett, Rowlands, A. E. Howell, .lury, F. E. Clark, and O'Grady. Librarian.—A. E. Howell. The date of the annual ball was not decided, it being left to the committee. SHOOTING COMMITTEE. The annual report of the Shooting Committee was read and adopted. It congratulated members on the excellent progress made. The quality of the shooting towards the end of the present season was a very eloquent testimony to the effectiveness of constant practice and careful attention to every detail. Whereas twelve months ago tie corps could not average 90 a man, they could now show 97.3 for an eight-man team, and one point short of 99 for a five-men shoot. Nine members had scored over 100 out of 105 during the season. The company had been successful in the last ten inter-company shoots, and had onlylost two matches (both by small margins) during the year. The championship was again won by Lieut. Marett. After reading the annual report, Lieut. Willis referred to bulls-eye shooting and expressed the opinion that it would be absurd to suppose that the authorities would do anything to prevent members of the company who chose to jm- for their own sights, targets, markers, and ammunition from competing for prizes presented for competition by business people or their personal friends, or from firing friendly matches with other clubs or corps upon their holidays or half-holidays. He knew quite well that there were differences of opinion as to tho value of bulls-eye shooting as an assistance to soldiers in the field—indeed, some self-appointed authorities, in their ignorance, had gone so far as to say that bulls-eye shooting was a scandalous waste of time and public money. If a certain section of the company chose to spend their spare time and cash at bulls-eyo shooting they should certainly not be discouraged from doing so, but, on the contrary, should receive every encouragement, because if bulls-eye shooting was only viewed as a pastime it was surely as clean and healthy a sport, and was certainly of as great, if not greater, utility than cricket, lawn tennis, or football, while it had the great advantage that those who, through age or constitutional disadvantages, were debarred from participating in the above-mentioned games might participate in it. It was announced that the team for the Daily Mail Cup on Saturday was to be picked from the Fletcher, Licuts. Willis and Marett, Sergts. Davies, Crutch, and Southam, Corporals Blanchett and Reid, Privates Marett, Arnold, Humphries, Okey Richards, and Prestney.