KARORI RIFLE CLUB.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 496, 1 May 1909, Page 6

KARORI RIFLE CLUB.

BPEECH BY COLONEL COLLINS. SHOOTING UNDER SERVICE CONDITIONS. Tho annual diiinor of tho Karori Rifle Club was hold at Godbor's, Cuba Street, kst ovening. Mr. W. E. Jackson, president of the 1 club, was in tho chair, and there was a good attendance of membors, including Colonel R. J. Collins, V.D., Chief Executive Officer of the Dominion Riflo Association, Major A. 11. Hislop, V.D., Major J. -G. Hughes, DJ3.0., Captain Hull. Captain Mabin, •, Captain Hawthomo,- Lieutenant Roacho, Lieutenant Qibbs, and members of volunteer corps. A most onjoyablo evening was spent. Tho loyal toast having been honoured, the chairman presented the prizes awarded to members of the club for their success at .the Saturday afternoon matches during, the season just closed, i (Tho list of prize-winners was published in Tiie Dominion at the conclusion of the season.) Colonel Collins, replying to tho toast of ■the "Other Branches of tho Forces," proposed by Rifleman -H. -Masshall, referred "to tfib recent Rillo Club camp at Palmerston North during Easter. ■; The work that the rflle club men had done during their two days' training there had showed that they, as old .volunteers, bad not .forgotten their training. Very great changes had taken place with regard to musketry training, and the present indications were that they would havo to fall into line with the methods adopted by other nations, and devote more timo to shooting under service conditions. They all knew that he, with them, had a very, high opinion of bull's-eyo shooting as a national sport, bat they must 'be prepared to concode to the authorities such requirements with regard to musketry training .with ■■ disappearing . .targets at ■ unknown . ranges .as might be asked of tiicm. . "It is apparont to nie," ho slid, "that Eamo conciliatory' step must-,he ■ taken if. we -.-are to resist, .the demand.for entire service shooting. Each year tho dsmand. will be harder to fight, and if i,'we can show that wo aro prepared to make i the .shooting approach service conditions while retaining the fiied target it will do much to kill the opposition. Considering the accuracy of the rifle of to-day, tho black-and-white target must give way to something harder to hit. Ef rifle.shooting is'to become a national sport, and there appears to be'a tendency in thai direction, we must have fixed individual contests. I .havo a very high regard for the old targets, but :I see that, further opposition if not desirable in tho interests of rifle shoot;ing."_ <7?:.:'• , Major Hughes,. Inspecting • Officer of Riflf ' Clubs, added -his' testimony to the excellence of the work done by the riflo club men al Palmerston .at . Easter. ■ ■ Major Hislop also expressed a word or tw< of approval on- the principle of Easter campi for; riflo.. club men. The Defence Council ii ; these rifle 'clubs were thus -'enlisting the ser vices of the cream of ox-volunteers; they hat lat hand a corps of sharpshooters,and it • only right that thoy should ba .enconrsgei -in.'every possible. way; If these camps wer . ;to be continued in tie-fubire'it might bo i -good thing to arrange for tho riflo club mei to •bo supplied with a neat and servicealil' uniform, v ; ! • Captain Mabin, Lieut. Hawthome,' am Lieut.; Gibbs also spoke in reply to the toast ■ OtheT toasts were honouied as follow?— . '.The Club Champion,", proposed by PresidonJackson, and responded to by Mr. G. Halli day, club champion -for tho season; "Vice Presidents and Donors of Prizes," propose! by Mr. Halliday and responded to by Mr . Odlin; '.'Tho Ladies/'' proposed by Mr. -W Tarr, and responded to by Messrs. Moon and Hickson; "The Press," proposed by Mr ■ G. H. Chapmajt.. ' , ; During the.evening musical and- othe itoms woro contributed by Major Hughes ,Captain -flail, and .Messrs. D. A. Kenny,- G F. t Parsons, >'J.rßurns," Gr. ' Halh'day, A. S '• Hendersony —,: Claridge i and P: 0: M'Laron