PRESENTATION OF PRIZES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 144, 12 March 1908, Page 5

PRESENTATION OF PRIZES.

SPEECHES BY THE PREMIER : AND ; COLONEL COLLINS. At the conclusion of the final for the Championship tho Belt and prizes wore presented to tho successful marksmen by Lady Ward, who had' come out from .town for tho purpose with tho Premier (Sir J. G. Ward), Miss Eileen Ward, and a party of friends. Several hundred peoplo had taken advantage of tho oxcuraion, fares on the railway, and it was a densely .packed and enthusiastic crowd that gathered around the, improvised platform. Rifleman Hyde was carried thither from the

mound on the shouldfers of comrades. The visiting officers included Colonel W. H. Webb (Council of Defence), Colonel A. W. Robin, C.B. (Council of Defence), Lieut.-Colonel Baiichop. (Officer Qommanding the Wellington District), Colonel Porter (retired list), Captain Cornwall (Zealandia Rifles'), Captain Esson (City Rifles), Hon.-Captain O'Sullivan, Lieut. C. G. Collins (Post and Telegraph Rifles), Surgeon-Lieut.-Colonel Collins, Sur-geon-Mnjor Purdy. Mr. C. H. Izard, M.P., -was.also, present. ■ SPEECH BY COLONEL COLLINS. Colonel Collins, in opening tho. proceedings, extended, on behalf of tile dissociation, a.,hearty welcome to .all thoso present, and expressed pleasure at seeing such a largo -gathering. The meeting was a record one, the number of entries (501) exceeding that of any previous gathering at Trentham. Tho weather had, indeed, .been somewhat against them, as they had had to contend against a good deal of wind, but Trentham,was always famous' for its "fish-tails" and '"corkscrews." The Championship Belt which had been,, won by' Riflemari Hyde—(applause)— was the, old Belt, which they had thought would not be fired for again. It was won outright last year by Arthur Ballinger, and the Government then camo forward'in the person of the Hon. W. Hall-Jones and promised to present the Association with a new Bolt. That; would have cost £100, but Arthur Ballinger, with the generosity that always' marked his shooting career, came forward and gave the Belt to the 1 Assocation on condition' that it should never be won outright; This condition was. inscribed on tho Belt.' The names of future winners would be - engraved on new plates, which would be hinged to those now'on, the Belt, so'that all tho names could be read. v ■ SIGNS OF PROGRESS. During.tho past year tho Association had sent.a team •to • Australia, and though they did not crime out on top, tliey succeeded in beating the best team; that- the Mother Country could send out. (Applause.) He need hardly point out' the' improvements that had been mado on the range: since the last annual meeting. The Association and tho Executive were very grateful to tho Government for what had been done. Tho range was'now equal to any outside Bisley, and lie hoped he would be able to say beforo very long that' it' was second-'to 'nono in the world. Ho also wished to welcome tho Australians who had taken part in tho contests. He' was delighted to learn that they were very pleased with the meeting, and ' appreciated ■ the efforts of the Executive. The introduction .of' the one-man-one-target system'had, ho believed, been generally approved. It was not, perhaps, quite so sociable as tho old plan, but lie considered that for'every man to shoot "on his own" was a .much better system. ■ NATIONAL DEFENCE. The Imperial' Defonce Committee, according to its recently-issued instructions on bull's-oya shooting, '.wanted.to do away with fixed targets. It was contended that shooting at fixed targets was a wasto of ammunition/ Now, .while lie did not wish to detract from the' Value of tho'service matches, ho held that'they'must havo fixed target sliootin'gj' and a man, who, studied the- wind and other conditions, and came to .the front time after time, gained a. great deal of valuable knowledge through fixed target shooting. -The New 'Zealand Defcnco. Forces lliflo Association: had been in existence since 1579. v It had passed through tho stages of infancy and boyhood, and was how- in vigorous manhood. It had had some rough criticism, but it could stand'all that; The members, did not claim, to. rival professional soldiers, but they did claim to be able to supply the Dominion with a 'force of- enthusiastic" and patriotic men who were prepared to give, their services for tho' defcnco of New, Zealand. (Applause.) THE PREMIER'S SPEECH. Sir Joseph, Ward, who wasloudly applauded on rising to speak, congratulated thoso who had coiuo out successfully in tho various con-' tests/' Although some who had' doiio excellently had won no prizes, they would remember that Jn: every. contest . thero could be only ono filial winner. It ,was a gratifying fea-' tui-e' that tho wind-up of: the /Championship had beon so even. Although Rifleman Hytlo had, been victorious', Lieutenant Timbrell, a'a they must, all-recognise, Had' made a, sturdy contest for supremacy, and the second iLan was, lie felt'suroj Quito prepared to congratulate the , champion , oil his proud position.' .Opaki, liad a-good record, and when Riflehian Hyde 'returned to his home, in the AVairarapa. ho would, no doubt, bo cordially i welcomed. Ho hoped that'' if ho was carried shoulderhigh .by his fellow-townsmen, : such attentions would' not havo the injurious "effects' wlrich had sometimes been alleged in regard to politicians,.when similarly honoured. ,Ho jliopod also ' that Rifleman ,Hydo would come back to -Trentham next year, and-win tho . Belt a third 'time.:, The Executive of the mooting deserved a word of, recognition. All of; them, from tlfo chief officer down to tho juniors, were unpaid voluntary workers, and the samo.thing, could not be said in regard to any other -rifle meoting in tho world!. ,

VALUE OF RIFLE SHOOTING,

'j.lf there' wero any people who tried. to depreciate tho value of these riflo meetings,' lie thought they must be very few indeed. One of the. first considerations of. the Government nmst he-to have available a large number of good rifle shots, 'quito,irrespective of volunteer training. To such men they must look for; assistance' in the defence of the country in time of need. He was glad that ,ihany people had come thero that day'to give 'their support' to the gathering,-and ho hoped that;its value would bo recognised from end to end; of the - country, i He did' not know anything .better calculated to mako good citizens than practice-in riflo shooting. A mail to succeed'in these contests must be temperate aiid sober. Ho must have good eyesight and sound nerves, and all this tended to make him, a. better citizen: Ho was entitled to say that all the men who had taken part 'in' these contests were better meii' :for. doing so.' ' , •

FOR 'HEARTH AND HOME.

.Ho was perfectly sure that the Governii<<jnt;.and ttte people;were anxious to see. a t-ruo: development bf the ' practical side of the'so . shooting contests. . There must be throughout the country a recognition that for, a 4 free people, like ourselves,under tho British Hag, the defence of our hearths and homes, was rondered the more secure as tho oiitcomo of these rifle meetings. . To ■ Colonel Collins . and those associated ■with him, ho.,tendered sincere congratulations on the success of. the. meeting, and he desired particularly to mention tlio freedom from accidents, which .'was a most satisfactory feature.' In addition to Rifleman Hyde and Lieut. Timbrel 1, ho wished to congratulate Sergt. Edwards and Rifleman.Chapman, who had obtained third and fourth places in the Championship contest. No. 3 was' an Australian, and . though, as such, lie was eligible to compete for the Belt, it must be a satisfaction to'him that ho had done good work. They wero pleased to have him here, for . New Zealanders and Australians wero .-ill brothers, and.this emulation would promdto good feeling. In conclusion, tho Premier said ho would now give way to Lady Ward, who would preseht the' Belt and prizes to the. successful competitors,, and afterwards ho would ask thenv all to :givo hearty cheers for the men who, by means of steady, eyes, good nerves, and a determination to bo at the top, had achieved distinction at this riflo mectin". (Applause.) THE HONOURS. ~L ady Ward then, amidst great enthusiasm invested Riflemaji Hydo with tho Championship Bolt, and presented tho medals and prizes to-tho other .winners." Ringing cheers led by .tho Premier, wero given for tho champion and tho other winners. Tho.Promier.and Lady Ward wero lustily cheered. : Colonel Collins spoke appreciatively of tho services of members of tho permanent forces as markers, saying'that at no previous meeting'had tho marking been'so accurate, so correct, and so quick. >. ' " ~-Choers woro given, on the call of tho Premier, for tho markers and; otliors who ■had 1 assisted in the work of tho mooting, and for Colonel Collins and other offieors.

A heavy shower of rain, which had been threatening for somo time, then began to fall, and tho gathering rapidly broke up!'' Tho Premier and party returned shortly afterwards to town.