THE RIFLE MEETING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4975, 14 March 1895, Page 2

THE RIFLE MEETING.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) Trentham, Thursday. There was a heavy frost last night, and the camp was enveloped infogii until nearly eight this morning. As* the sun shone out, it disappeared, and there is every prospect of a perfect day for shooting. The total entries are 191, about 60 under the number on wMm the prize list is based. With this in view, the Council was summoned, and met at eight o'clock this morning, when Major Sommerville stated that the amount of the overdraft of the Association exceeded £IOO, for which the Treasurer and he were the personal guarantors. He had anticipated an entrry of 250, and with that number, the present meeting would have cleared off the debt. However, there was no help but to reduco the prize list, and he trusted that all shooting men would recognise that it was only the unfortunate position of the Association that rendered such a course necessary. Another matter too which the Major said required mature consideration, was the fact that a letter had been received from Defence Department, that as regards tho free grant of ammunition and free passes on the railways to competitors, the Department felt that the Association gatherings were practically of no use to volunteerugi and were subversive to discip®, therefore in the future no assistance would be rendered by the Government. The prize list for presentation, ht said, amounted to £1705, but he advised that it should be out down so that the Association at its close would be free of debt. l'lio members of the committee combated tho opinion of the Defence Department, as to its value in furthering volunteer interests, and it was decided that at the close of the meeting, a deputation should interview tho Defence Minister.