MINIATURE RIFLE CLUBS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 226, 28 October 1914, Page 8

MINIATURE RIFLE CLUBS.

What dewar's are doing. It is a singular fact (says the ' * Morning Advertiser") that the value of miniature rifle ranges was not fully appreciated until the war broke out. The advice of Earl Roberts and others as to their utility was to a large extent disregarded. Now there is a rush to join miniature rifle clubs. All those who want to be marksmen cannot be received into the existing clubs, with the result that it has been found necessary to start others. The employees of John Dewar and Sons, Ltd., have been quick to see the necessity of starting a rifle club, just as they were among the first to answer Lord Kitchener's appeal for recruits, the firm encouraging this manifestation of patriotism by paying full wages to those married men who enlisted and half-wages to single men. When a rifle club is formed the next thing is to find a range. This was not a difficult matter for Mr F. G. Whitfield (director of John-Dewar and Sons, Ltd.) and Mr E. Whitney, who formed the club. Up till recently a shed at Dewar's wharf, Waterloo bridge, was filled with rubbish. By the touch of a, magician ?s wand, so-, to say, it was transformed into a bright and cheerful rifle \ range—a record achievement, as Major Bourne remarked at the opening ceremony. The range is approached through an ante-room, decorated with the flags of Great Britain, France, Belgium, Russia, and Japan, while the range itself has been admirably constructed, and the employees of the Dewar firm and others who want an opportunity of perfecting their marksmanship will be able to practise ;under , the most favourable conditions. The range was opened by Sir Thomas jB. Dewar, who fired the first shot, and, as was to be expected in a hunter of big game accustomed to bring down lions in quick time, it found the bull'seye. Major Bourne followed with a series of shots, two of which found their billet in the bull's-eye. Shooting then, became general among the company present, which included Colonel Blackburn (whoihas given valuable advice in the construction of-the range), Dr E. Tudor Jones; (Sydney), Mr J. H. Radeliffe, Mr C.asricholls/ Mr T. Mullumby, and Mr C. : L. Gambetta (Victoria), Mr George Wright (Australian manager for John Dewar and Sons, Ltd.), Mr S. D. Townsend, and Mr F. D. De Frame (Sydney), Mr D. Longworth (Uganda), and Messrs F. G. Whitfield, D. Henderson, H. F. Dixon, E. F. Cherry, S. E. Spain, and E. Whitney, of the Dewar firm. SIR THOMAS DEWAR ON THE r "SCRAP OF PAPER." Sir Thomas R. Dewar, proposing success to the Dewar Rifle Club, coupling with the toast Mr F. G. Whitfield and Mr E. Whitney, delivered a patriotic address which moved the company to en- . thusiasm. He thought it was an excellent thing that so many men of his firm, both in Scotland and England, were ,o coming forward at the present moment to serve their King and country in the Territorial and Regular Forces. It was the duty of all those who could not go to the front to assist them in the field. No matter what it cost, they had to defeat the usurper who had attempted Napoleonic ideas without the ability tp carry them out. There never was a time when the British nation was so united. Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and all the colonies were helping the Motherland with men, money, and kind, to enable her to maintain her reputation for honour in observing what had been called a "little scrap of paper." This scrap of paper waa good enough for the British nation to stand by. Great Britain meant to be true to the traditions of Nelson and Rodney, and to insist that Britannia should continue to rule the waves. So far she had succeeded in sweeping the enemy's mercantile marine from the seas, and it waa her determination to end for all time the tension under which we had been living for the last quarter of a century. For this scrap of paper Great Britain would show the world that she would fight to her last man. Sir Thomas had no doubt that the rifle range would be well used and appreciated by the employees of the firm. Mr F. G. Whitfield, in reply, said ha thought it was a good thing for everyone connected with the house of Dewar io learn how to shoot/ and seeing the shed empty it occurred to him that it could be turned into a rifle range. The Duchy of Cornwall was approached, and it was kind enough to agree that the shed should be turned into a rifle range. ; Mr E. Whitney, captain of the Dewa* Rifle Club, also replied, and said, having regard to the /enthusiasm which animated the members, he felt confident that they would soon have some high I scores; in fact, sufficient to enable every ■ man to obtain... a certificate of proficiency. The health of Sir Thomas R.. Dewar was drunk with musical honours, and the ceremony ended. .6