GOVERNMENT AID TO PRIZE SHOOTING.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 4078, 9 August 1883, Page 2

GOVERNMENT AID TO PRIZE SHOOTING.

Contention at Auckland.

(BY TKLKGRAPH.- PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

WELLINGTON, Wednesday. An influential deputation of the Council of the New Zealand Rifle Association waited on tho Hon. Mr Bryco at Parliament Buildings this evening with rospect to Government aid for tho Association for the ensuing year. Tho deputation was headed by Sir G. S. Whifmore, who entered at length into the success which had attended the Dunedin meoting, and pointed out that by a liberal grant from the Government the Association had been able to offer an attractive prize list. The prize money at tho last meeting amounted to nearly £1,500, the attendance of competitors being upwards of 800, of whom 100 went from the Forth Island. At the Nelson meeting in March, 1882, the prize money waft only £500, and the attendance somewhere about 110. Sir George pointed out that by making the meetings peripatetic, the interest evinced by the citizens in the different towns visited by the Association would naturally tend to encourage its usefulness. The Hon, Mr Bryce replied that he had the interest of the Association at heart, aid he would have communicated wi'h the Association on the > übject of a grant if the present deputation had not waited on him, He promised to lay the matter before the Cabinet, with the view of obtaining assistance during the present session, Mr Bryce expressed his pleasure at the large attendance at the Dunedin meeting, and wished the Association every success. The Council of the Association propi se to hod tho next meeting at Auckland.