DEFENCE RIFLE CLUB.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1917, Page 6

DEFENCE RIFLE CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the New PI3--montb Defence Rifle Club was held last iiijrht, Mr. I<\ J. Hill (president) in the chair. REPORT AND BALANCES BEET. "The annual report stated that the year just.closed had not been one of any great activity, many things having militated against the club. The inability to procure rifles, accessories, and ammunition was one of those things, another being the bad weather in the early part of the season, but more than AwV thing else was thfc constant and steady drain on the club's •personnel into the tanks of the Expeditionary Force. During the year they had lost three members by death, Colonel Okey, Kiflenian H. iStoeker, and Rifleman (..;" g. White. The club had had two matches with the Urenui Rills Club, .winning both; two against Inglewood, with tnc same result; one each with the Wjmganui and Patea Hide Clubs, both 01 which they lost. The committee regretted the comparatively -few members who had paid the annual subscription, and hoped there ,ivould .be an improvement in this respect during the coming season. A3a 3 it was manifestly impossible to do much without a fair income. •Bide clubs at the present time were the only organisations that could supply adequate means by practice and instruction to those desirous of attaining a high or indeed any standard of marksmanship, and therefore deserved every possible encouragement and support. The committee thanked members for hearty support during their term of office. The ■balance-sheet showed that the club started the year with a balance of £-25 9s 2d, and receipts amounted to £'2s 13s 4d, making a total of £sl 2s (id. The expenditure amounted to £25 Is 3d, leaving a balance in, hand 01 £2fi Is 3d. The excess of assets over liabilities amounted to £4B 14s 3d.

The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, said it wag pleasing to know that so many of their •members, over 100, had voluntarily enlisted. If the club had done nothing else they had justified their existence. The motion i\vas seconded by Mr. E. W. 31. Lysons and carried unanimously. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year:— Patron—Major Sandford. Vice-Patron—Captain F.'M. Okey. Honorary Vice-Presidents—Lt.-Colonel Fletcher, Captain A. M. McDiarmid, C'aiptain F. Hartnell, 'Lieut. C. W. Crutch. President, Mr. F. J. Hill; deputypresident, Mr. C. T. Mills; secretary, Mr. E. Armitage; committee. Messrs W. Olliver, C. H. Moore, J. Ramson, W. Keating, 0. N. Firth, E. W. W. Lysons, J. W. Bruce; handicapper and selector. Mr. W. Olliver; auditor, ,Mr. W. P Okey.. GENERAL. Mr. C. T. Mills gave notice to move that the annual membership fee be reduced from 7s fid to ss.

A vote of sympathy with the relatives of the men mentioned in the report was passed in silence, all standing.

The matter of appointing a sub-eom-aiittee, with the object of collecting outstanding subscriptions, was referred to the general committee.

Votes of thanks were passed to the Sonors of trophies, Messrs Lysons and P. J. H. 'White for the use of their rooms, also to the press.

CHALLENGE SHIELD MATCH. A match for the Rifle Club's Challenge Shield will be fired at Whangamomona to-morrow (Thursday) morning, between that club (the present holders) and the New Plymouth (.Hub. The hitter's team will consist of President Hill, Riflemen Oliver, Moore, Keating, Short, Ramson, and Lobb. The team will leave New Plymouth by the 3.45 train to-day.