STALWART OF RIFLE SHOOTING

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 59, 3 December 1941, Page 10

STALWART OF RIFLE SHOOTING

Late Mr. John Burns

The devotion of the late Mr. John Burns, of Wellington, to tlie sport of rifle shooting, is the subject of an ap preciation by the chairman of tlie Wellington Rille Association. Mr. S. F. MeLean. He states that as a rille shot, Mr. Burns was probably a counterpart of the famous George Howe, who with Mr. Arthur Ballinger, represented New Zealand with distinction at Bisley many years ago. In 1900 Mr. Bui'iii- was one of a team at the New Zealand rille 'championships which was known as the "possible” team. The others were Captain H. T. Marshall, Messrs. W. Williams (belt winner), G. Hawthorne and Dick Kandell. These riflemen, with Mr. George Holiday, formed Hie nucleus of tlie old Karori Rifle Club, whose range was behind the old Karori council chambers, where they shot from 1895 to 1905. In 1904, the Volunteer Rifle Association excluded other riflemen from their rifle meet ing, which led Io a cleavage lasting many years. Mr. Burns, with Messrs. Ballinger. Randei.. G. Trevetliiek, \V. Judd and >C. Amniott (secretary;, organized a two-day goodwill rille meeting at Tren'ham on Boxing Dav that year to which volunteer riflemen were socially invited. First-class catering was provided at a shilling n flay, but this did not bridge the gap between the two factions. At this meeting there was not a telephone to use or a house in sight of the range, and a pigeon post express was used between the range and the newspaper offices witli great success.

Mr. Burns was <• friend to all riflemen, specially tlie tyros, and he never let them down wiieu they sought advice • - t

'l’lie funeral of tlie late Mr Burrs took place yesterday when the Primo Minister, Mr. Frne-er, the mayor Mr. Hislop, and a number of council tors were present. There was a large artendance of riflemen, young and old, and of sportsmen generally.