KARORI RIFLE CLUB. SERVICE SHOOTING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 102, 1 May 1909, Page 9

KARORI RIFLE CLUB. SERVICE SHOOTING.

SPEECH BY COL. COLLINS. The annual dinner of the Karori Rifle Club was held at Godber's, Cuba-&treet, last evening, Mr. W. E. Jackson (president of the club) occupied the chair, and Col. Collins (chief executive officer of the Dominion Rifle Association) and several oliher leading volunteers and officers were present. The annual dinner of the club in the past has always been an enjoyable function, and last night's gathering was .jo exception to the rule. After the loyal toasts had been honoured, the prizes won during the shooting season were presented. The toast "Other Branches of the Service" was proposed by Mr. H. Marshall. In replying Col. Collins made a reference to the work done at the Rifle Club's camp at Palmerston during Easter. He referred to the changes whicb had taken place in (recent times with regard to musketry training. It was clear that the men would have to fall into line with the line of training adopted in other countries and go in more extensively for shooting under service conditions. Personally, he had a very high opinion of bulls-eye shooting us a national sport, but it was apparent, in view of the demands being made by the authorities, that some conciliatory step would have to be taken if a demand for entire,service shooting was to be resisted. Aib endeavour should be made to make the shooting approach service conditions as nearly as possible while still retaining the fixed target ; but considering the accuracy of the target to-day the black and white target would have to give way to something harder to hit. If rifle shooting was to become a nationa' sport — and he noticed with pleasuie a tendency in that direction — there would have to be individual contests at fixed targets, but for teams' matches the brown and green service targets would have to be adopted. Further opposition to the service target was not detirable in the interests of rifle shooting. Major Hughes, Major Hislop, Capt. Mabin, Lieut. Gibbs, and Lieut. Roache also responded. The other toasts honoured were: — "The Club Champion" (Mr. G. Halliday), Mr. Jackson ; "The Vice-Presi-dents and Donors of Prizes," Mr. G. Halliday, response by Mr. Odlin ; "The Ladies," Mr. W. Tarr, response by Messrs. Maisey, Chapman, and M'Laren ; "The Press," Mr. G. H. Chapman. During the evening songs were contributed by Major Hughes, Captain Hall, Messrs. Parsons, Henderson, Kenny, Burns, Halliday, Claridge, and M'Laren. Captain Hall also gave a flute solo.