TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 April 1922, Page 6

TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

SUCCESS IN RIFLE SHOOTING. NORTH ISLAND CADET CHAMPIONS. PRESENTATION OF SHIELD. The cadet shooting competition for the Weekly Press Challenge Shield was recently won by the New Plymouth Technical College (No. 89 Company), ana the ceremony of presenting the shield and medals to each member of the successful team %as performed yesterday afternoon by Colonel C. W. Melville, C. 8., C.M.G., D. 5.0., whose command embraces the Taranaki district. The cadets were paraded in the square, and the rear of the school, and were under the command of Captain A. L. Moore. Amongst those, present were Mr. P. White (chairman of the Education Board), Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., and sev- ; eral members of the college advisory board. Lieut. L. W. Andrew, V.C. (in charge of the local Defence Office) was also present to receive Colonel Melville. The competition is open to all cadet companies in the North Island, and the winners secured an average score of 66.1 out of a possible of 68. New Plymouth Boys’ High School (No. 110 Company) was second with 65.8, and Wellington College third with 64.7. Eleven teams competed, uuast year the shield was won by the New Plymouth High School with a score of 67.1. The success of the Technical College team under Lieut. Crimp (their coach) is one of which the school is justly proud, and yesterday Colonel Melville paid the boys a welldeserved tribute. The details of the scores registered by these Technical College boys show that two members of the team scored possibles. In the following details “A”

Grand total 661 In addressing the cadets, Colonel Melville expressed his pleasure at being present to make the presentation and inspect the boys. It had been hoped that the Minister for Defence (Sir R. Heaton Rhodes) would have been aide to officiate, but owing to pressure of his Ministerial duties he was unable to come to New’ Plymouth. The Commandant of the Forces (General Sir Edward Cliaytor) had also wished to come, but he was unable to do so. whereupon Colonel Melville determined that he would come to New Plymouth and make the presentation, for it was an occasion which, should not be passed over lightly. The Colonel then congratulated the members of “the champion cadet team of the North Island,” and said the school and the town should be proud of boys who had put up such a magnificent score. Not only had they taken the premier position in the North Island, but their score compared remarkably well with that of the team which had won a similar shield given to the South Island, the score of the victorious Southerners only being a decimal point bet ter than the score of the New Plymouth boys. Colonel Melville recalled that last year he had come to New Plymouth to make a similar presentation to a team of the High School, and on that occasion he heard that the Technical College boys were going to put forward their best efforts to win this year, and he was glad their determination had been rewarded.

This spirit of friendly rivalry, proceeded the Colonel, was one of the finest things possible. It existed in the various sports played at school—football, cricket, etc.—and it was something good to see, for it led to greater development, keener competition, and the desire to go one better. Shooting was one of the finest sports which existed, for it helped to develop important traits in a boy’s character. To be a good rifle shot a boy must be self-reliant; it tended to self-control. And above all, a boy must lead a good life to be a good shot. Colonel Melville went on to pay a tribute to the Weekly Press Company for their public-spirited action in presenting such trophies for the betterment of,rifleshooting and the fostering of a spirit of keen competition. Colonel Melville concluded by complimenting the cadets on their smart appearance. The presentation of the medals then followed, the party after v. ds being entertained to afternoon tea at the school.

means application, and “R” rapid):— i Burgess A. R. Tl. 28 28 40—6S 40—68 28 39—67 Lobb 28 39—67 2S 39 —67 26 40—66 38—65 Yardley 28 37—65 Dugdale ....... 27 37—64 Robinson ■ • • 26 38—64