OPAKI RIFLE CLUB.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8538, 19 September 1907, Page 4

OPAKI RIFLE CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING

I The annual meeting of the Opaki j Rifle Club was held in the Central Hotel last evening. Captain W. J. Welch occupied the chair, and there were seventeen others present. 1 The Chairman explained that as the Secretary had been absent from the ■ town for several days there was no ' repart available. The Secretary read the balance sheet for the year, which showed ' the receipts to be £2l 18s 6d and the expenditure £l7 9's 4d, leaving a 1 credit balance of £4 9s 2d. The as--1 sets of the club amounted to £2l 14?, ' the liabilities being nil. ; The Chairman, in moving the 5 adopton of the balance sheet, stated that he considered that the club was . in a very satisfactory position. With outstanding subscriptions, which 1 were considered to be good, the club ' had practically £l3 in hand, which, considering that the club had been 1 put to large expenditure, was very satisfactory. In the absence of a re- ' port, he would give a short resume ! of the business connected with the club during the year. A matter of ' considerable importance since the; last meeting was the formation of a [ Defence Council. Now that the Council had taken over control ot matters in connection with the defence of the colony, he looked for- ■ ward to a brighter time for rifle clubs and volunteering generally—■ particularly rifle clubs. Another matter he must refer to was the closing of the Opaki Rifle Range. For* many years the club had shot on the Opaki range, which he considered was one of the best ranges in the colony. In his opinion, the Defence authorities might have extended some consideration to the Opaki Club, as they had used the range for many years and had also allowed the Volunteers the use of the range. They would -now have to look out for another range. The speaker congratulated the club on having had two members selected to represent New Zealand atj the Commonwealth Rifle Meeting. Mr R. J. King was not able to make the trip, but Mr A. J. Cameron was going to uphold the honour of the Opaki Club. Mr G. Hyde, in seconding the motion, stated that, as a former secretayr, he could congratulate the present secretary (Mr VV. J. Henry) on the position of the club. The motion was then put to the meeting ard carried. The election of officers resulted as follows:—Patron, Mr A. W. Hogg, M.H.R.; President, Mr H. G. Williams; Vice Presidents, Messrs A. P. Whatman, J. 0. Bidwill, D. McGregor, senr., and G. C. Summerell; Captain, Mr W. J. Welch; Secretary, Mr W. Winslade; General Committee, Messrs J. McHattie, A. J. Cameron, R. J. King, John McKenzie, J. Sutherland, J. Turnbull, W. J. Henry, D. McCalmont,} A. , Matthews, G. Hyde, D. McGregor, tR. J. Dagg, H. "Evans, and S. McNabb; Executive Committee, Messrs King, Hyde and Henry, and Captain and Secretary ex officio; Finance Committee, Messrs King, Hyde and Henry; Ammunition Committee, Messrs King, A. Matthews and John McKenzie. Mr Winslade moved that, in the case of all trophies donated to the club, the committee frame the conditions under which they are to be shot for, after giving due consideration to the wishes of the donor. Mr King seconded the motion, which was carried.