NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 82, 5 October 1881, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

? Copios of the report adopted at the annual meeting of the council of the New Zealand Kiflo Association have been placed at onr disposal. The council, we find, express their regreb at the lack of support accorded during the last year, very few volunteers beyond those who were present at the Nelson meeting having beoomo subscribers. The balancesheet showed.that £93 19a 6d was received aa volunteer subscriptions, ijll Us from civilian members, whilst .£Bl was received as company subscriptions. The special prize donations (in'money) amounted to JJ7O 10s. The amoiinta. received at the Nelson meeting were £335 9a, for entry fees, £91 3a for sighting shots, and £17 19* 6d for pool, &o. The expenditure for the past year, unfortunately, commenced with a deficiency of about £180 for the previous year. This amount was tho first to be liquidated out of the Government grant. The expenses at the Nelson meeting were very .much smaller than for the previous year, being J2246, as against -8570 for 1879-80. Notwithstanding the small amount of Government grant and the panoity of subscriptions, the Association was able to spend in cash i>7o7 6s 8d in prizes. The inhabitants of Nelson and Marlborough contributed prizes in money and trophies^ and there were also, a handsome ohallenge cup given by Messrs. Hobson and Co., of London, and a special prize of 10 guinoas by the Union Steam Ship Company. The competition for the several matches again shewed a general tendency to improve, indeed, year by year the shooting for the Beveral prizes becomes keener. Lieutenant Payhter, of Nelson, was again the champion, having been a winner of the belt in 1877 at Hokitika. He won the North and South Challenge Cnp for the third time (viz. : 1877, 1880, and 1881), which now becomes his private property ; and also the Challenge Cup presented by Messrs. Hobson and Co. The Carbine Champion Belt went to the Thames in the hands of Petty Officer Armstrong ; but it was only won on a tie with Sergeant McLean (Alexandra Cavalry, Wanganni). The catering was entrusted to Mr. Bennett, of the Commercial Hotel, Wellington, and grave great satisfaction. The programme for the ensuing meeting, to commence on the last Monday in February, 1882, has been drawn up. It embraces several features new to these competitions, yiz. :— Circular (Wimbledon) targets, and important alterations in the several matches. The council of last .year remains for the •naning year, with the additions of Captain Wbitaker (Waikato). Mr. i-utton (NapierJ, Captain Robinson (Marlborough), Captain Bunny (Nelson),' whilst Majors Baillie and Pitt, and Mr. Dodson (Mayor of Nelson) were elected vice-presidents. Mr. Christie (Manager of the Colonial Bank, Wellington) was_ oleoted treasurer The following additions have been made to the Executive Committee, viz. : — Captain Simpson, Lieut. Blundell, and Lieut. Hislop, of Wellington, and Captain Malcolm and Lieut. Ellis, of Nelson.