TINUI NOTES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3821, 28 May 1891, Page 2

TINUI NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent

Poisoning is now in full swing on all the runs in this district, and reports are coming in from all directions that the rabbits are far less numerous than they have been for years. There is not the slightest doubt that the natural enemy are playing havoc with the pest, and the work of extermination is steadily progressing. This news must be highly gratifying to the Rabbit Board, for seeing is believing, and there are numbers of cases reported where stoats have been seen fastened on to full grown rabbits and the squeal of an expiring rabbit is calculated to be about the best thing known to scare bunny into seeking fresh fields and pastures new, Another consignment of die natural enemy arrived on Friday last and was turned out at Ngapapatu, Springhill, Glenside, and surrounding country. Apparently the pest is slowly but surely making its way into Hawke's Bay, one of our local rabbiters having accepted a situation as ganger in charge of poisoning operations at Porangahau.

The Whakataki-Tinui Rifle Club bad a gala day on Saturday last, the occasion being the annual competition for the Champion Belt and other prizes. Unfortunately " your own" was unable to attend, but through the courtesy of the Club's secretary (Mr Norton) lam able to supply the following particulars : Twenty eight members entered for the competition and they were divided into two squads of fourteen to each target under the captaincy of Messrs J. A. Perry and A. Murray. The wind was northerly, very little of it, and dead on. The light was variable, and the shooting, taking the average, was much superior to any previous competition. The ranges were two, three, and four hundred yards, seven shots at each range. Members were classed in three classes, A., 8., and C, but the highest scorer took the belt irrespective of class. At the 200 yds W. Pickett was the highest with 27 points, next came J. Mcintosh, C. Cameron, and W.Liverton, each with 24, and A, Speedy 28. At the 800 yds W. Pickett again took first place, scoring 20, J. Mcintosh 19, C. Cameron and A. Speedy 18, W. Liverton 17. At the 500 yds W. Pickett went to pieces, and only scored 18, making a total of 60. A. Speedy put on 21 and J. Mcintosh 19, both totalling 62. In firing off the t<e at 400, J. Mcintosh missed. A. Speedy put on an inner, thus winning the belt for 1891, The previous winners are—lßß9, J. Pickett, 63; 1890, J. W. Groves, 60. This belt has to be won twice in succession or thrice at intervals. The following are prize winners ; Class A Ist, A. Speedy, 62; 2nd, J, Mcintosh, 62 ; 3rd, W. Pickett, 60; 4th, C. Cameron, 59. Class B.—lst, W. Liverton, 57 ; 2nd. J. O'Connor, 56 ; 3rd, J. Cameron, 54 ; 4th, W. Langdon, 51. Class C—--Ist, A. Southey, 54; 2nd, J. 0. Sutherland, 48; 3rd, E. Harvey, 41; 4th, A. Vennell, 83. Juding by the results the classification could not have been better. The New Zealand ammunition was used, and gave every satisfaction. Close on a thousand rounds were expended, and not a single cartridge failed. The annual meeting was held in the • Marine Hotel after the shooting, when over 40 members were present, and took great interest in the proceedings: - Mr A. McHutchon was voted to the chair, and after the minutes of the previous meeting had been read and confirmed, the first subject brought forward was changing the name of the Club. After some discussion it was almosc unanimously carried that the Club retain its old name. The next subject brought forward was changing the standard arm, and the obsolete Enfield from the Crimea - converted into the Snider of our youth reoeived its Coup de Gr&ce. Mr A. Cameron proposed 2!] d Mr John Groves seconded,- that the Club adopt the Martini-Henri Rifle, (Carrjed un- , animously). The rules revised by Messrs Maunsell and Norton W3re then read out, and after a few alterations, Mr Murray proposed and Mr Perry seconded, that the rules as amended be adopted, and that the Secretary be instructed to have them printed in book form, and sold to members at cost price. Carried unanimously, Mr H. Elder was unanimously re-elected President, and the following committee were elected for the ensuing year:—Messrs R. Harvey, W. Langdon, R. E. Maunsell, A. McHutchon, C. J. Norton. J. Osborne, and A. Speedy, Mr Norton being elected Hon. Sere" tary and Treasurer, Messrs R F. Maunsell and D. Speedy Auditors. Mr Sutherland proposed, and Mr A. Cameron seconded, that the annual competition for the Champion Bejt be held alternately at Whakataki and Tenui. This evoked a good deal of discussion and Borne little opposition from one or two Whakataki members, but on its being ultimately put to the meeting it was I carried by a large majority. A. hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Norton for past services to the Club. Five new members were elected, and a vote of thanks to the chair concluded the meeting. After the meeting the annual dmner was held in the large dining room, which was very tastefully decorated with palms, ferns, arid other evergreens. About forty sat down to an excellent spread provided by Host Mcintosh, A description of the feast would require an abler pen than mine. From all accounts, George Augustus himself should have been there. Suffice it to say that the tables, which were heavily laden, were speedily relieved of their burdens and the rest of the evening given up to conviviality. On Monday last our somnambulistic little village was thrown into a sttae of unusual excitement, the occasion being a football match between our Whareamas and Red Star second of Masterton. The home team appear to have wpn a hard fought game, scoring three points to nil, but doubtless a full report of the match has reached you ere this.