Annual Meeting of the Rifle Association.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4321, 17 January 1893, Page 3

Annual Meeting of the Rifle Association.

Next Ming to beheld in the South. (By Tolegrapli-rl'ross Association). Trentuam, Monday Night, HPlioAnnual Meeting of tho New Riflo Aesociation was held in • y thn moss tent this evening, Major Bommorville presiding, The followin); wcro elected members of tUe Council:—Gunnei-TflylorfAueklnnd), Mr F.W, Williams | Napier), Captain W. H. Ballinger (Wellington), Captain Hanm.n (Ohristcburch), Corporal Coltruan (South Caiuerbury), Corporal King (Onmaru), Captain Proudfoot (Dunedin), Major Donald (Wuirarapa), Lieutenant McKay (Invercargill), Captain Griffiths (Blenheim), Captain John Watt (Wungamii). No ono was appointed to ropresent Nd son. Mi.jor Soramerville roforrcd to the financial position of tho Association, which he said would just about onablo them to pull through thisyoar, as tho expenditure sinco tlio adoption of the had been reduced to a nflnfm. He explained that the sorvicWof himself as permanent chairman and of Captain J, Collins as treasurer, was a work of love. Major Purnell briefly addressed tho meeting on tho recent visit of New "Zealanders to tho New South Wales Rifle Association Meeting, and the handsouo treatment they had received. He attributed the absenco of marksmon from that Colony to the fact that tho sliding bar was in use there whereas •would have been compelled to feafixed sight had they visited Bi, He referred to tho asico given to associations in Australia, and to the cheapness of ammunition to Volunteers there as compared with Now Zealand. Sergeant Eose, of Auckland, declared the prosent range to bo a failure, and asked whether it was intended to maintain it as a permanent rango. He had Dover attended a meeting wliorosuch paltry prize money was offered. Major Soramerville explained that they could not carry on in their prosont condition and that they must recoive assistance from somodirection. He did not blame any Government more than another, 'the range was leased for fifteen years on very liberal terms, Mr W. H. Ballingor proposed that as Auckland was thinking of holding on exhibition next year, the meeting should he held in Auckland, Tlub motion was lost, Mr R, McNab (luvorcargill) favoured a permanent range in the South Island, to be used alternately with that in the North Island. Lieutenant Morrison (Dunedin) moved that tlio trustees of the Association beauthorised to forthwith onncel the lease of the range. Mr W. B. Scott (Christcburcli) proposed that tho next meeting be held in tho South Island. Lieutenant

Morrison's motion was negatived, and

Mr Scott's was carried by a larae majoritvv Mr F. W. Williams (Napiernfoved that future meetings of tho association be held altcrna'elv in the South and North Islands, and this Waß carried. Numerous sites wero mentioned as suitable sites for next year's meeting, but ultimately it was decidfd to leavo tho selection in tho hands ol the Council. It *as decided that tho mcetine should hoiiinj on the first Thursday in March, 1894.