MINATURE RIFLES

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 57, 8 March 1932, Page 14

MINATURE RIFLES

THE-DOMINION BODY

fEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING

(By "Aperture.")

..'.The seventh annual general meeting of the v^ew Zealand Miniature Rifle; Association was j-ield at Trentham last ; Wednesday evening. •-Ihere was a gogd;^ attendance, over which •Mr; J. Graham,: .actirig-kpresident, presided. following. districts^ counties, or provinces •{.■^ete represented-: Ashburton; Auckland, Bush '^ Sistrlct, Dunedin^' Xeatherston,' Na:pier,; Nelson, v'Oamaru, Timaru,: Wellington. '.

; The election of officers ' resulted: —Patron, ;the Hon. .J. B. Cobbei, Minister of Defence; .Vice-patron, Colonel F. B. Cresswell, V.D. (Christchurch); president, Mr. J. Graham; de-puty-presldent, Mr. H. V. Croxton; vice-presi-dents, Brigadier-General Burgess, Dr. Crawford Messrs. W. J. Blundell, Bridgeman, Bruce, L. A. Caldwell, R. Caughley, W. Duncan, Fellingfcam, Hammond, 0. Hempleman, T. C. A. HisJop, D. Keir, G. G. Kelly, Lewis, Captain H. T. Marshall, K. Neill, \C. J.- Nix, .Pimm, F. Sharland, Silvius, A. V. Swanson, Captain- H. Simmonds, S. Spencer, S. Tisdall, A. Tongue E. J. Witcombe, Wharton, S. Waters, C. E. Walker; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. 0. ■Wannell; executive committee; Messrs. P. B. Goldfinch, W.■ Mcßain> K. H. Nicholl, J. E. Pitt, D. Preston, D. Robertson; hon. auditor, Mr. B. D. Potts ;'■■ publicity officers, Mr. A. V. G. Wilson (North.lsland), Mr. K. Neill (South Island). : .-"•"-■■

■;'A-,yery full and' informative report was adopted by the meeting. The .following is a summary: .. ." ' ''..'.

'"Despite the - strenuous' time the Dominion - has been passing through, 'the sport' of minia- ■ ■ture shooting is still growing, and taken all round the past season has been a very sueVcessful one ' from all points. The' shooting -has been of an exceptional merit and no doubt ;if it were-possible to v get a New Zealand - team together ;they, would hold their own with v.one from any. part of the world. The need .-. of all clubs joining up with the association is still great, as .without . the assistance of all clubs the various competitions <do not get the support.'they warrant."

Reference was made" to-:the'poor response from the ladies of . New Zealand in regard to the ladies' matches in the annual championship. . .• .; -. • .

..The following- were' -congratulated-: The New Zealand champion, -Mr, C. Parley, of the R.S.A.' ■Christchurch; the champion lady - shot, Mrs Smith.- (Ward Ladies,- Christchurch); the champion team, Wellington Harbour Board. Messrs. C Bfadshaw 'arid R. H. Nicholl were comtoended for their wonderful individual performances of 37 and 31 consecutive bulls respectively. ,- •=_'.■■ ■ •:•-.■. •■• -.•

■.It is the desire of toe executive to continue the issue of the annual booklet, containing tules, fixtures, etc. . ■

Ths following teams were heartily congratulated: Winner of the . Sidney Tisdall Cup competition, Cashmere (Christchurch) No. 1 team; winner of the new Winchester Cup competition, Harbour Board (Wellington) No. 1 team; winner of. the Witcombe and Caldwell : Cup competition, Sydenham. (Christchurch) ..Mr. c.;.E. .Walker's.. (Christchurch) special :Prize for the highest aggregate .in the Winchester Cup; teams' match in. the championship, and the:Witcombe and Caldwell Cup competitions was won by Mr. C. Tarley. R.S.A. Club, Christchurch, who.also won.Messrs. A. and W. McCarthy's. (Dunedin) Cup to the highest .scorer in the New Zealand championship, using :.K" brand ammunition.- . .'" : .

; Messrs; A. and W. McCarthy have" donated a cup for annual competition. : . . Tho following paragraph is important: "The -number of clubs affiliated.this year (1931) is .54, against. 53 : in 1930, and 52 in 1929. Althougli your association is. not going baelnvard vre are not making the headway we desire, and iclubs n6t affiliating may be-doing some of their members out of a chance of annexixng the New Zealand championship, We would make a suggestion to the.annual meeting that -individual affiliation should be allowed, say on a payment of. 25:6 d... We would also ask the co-operation of clubs already joined up to get other clubs ~ in their district'•' to affiliate, and thus make the N.Z.M.R.A. worthy of its •aame." ! ; : ; . . .

:: The Wellington. B.S.A. team, runner-up in the British- Empire match, was congratulated. .; Headquattefs will: remain: In Wellington for

'^ The Hastings;. Club, which suffered severely In \ the Hawlses Bay earthquake, was voted during the year the sunr of £4. The club's le-establishment is a matter for congratulation. The ' two.; new clubs formed in Auckland and Devbnport are making good progress. &;: ;■■ :'!.:■-■■ .- .. -"■•■.-• ■;-•■ .- • . . ■ .■

-.The report - conveyed its indebtedness to •Sir. A. H. Ragg, of Christchurch, for sending the association a samplb of his target testing frame. This is a very simple frame for holding targets flat while the gauge is being inserted. Clubs are recommended to use it.

„ During. tKe year Mr: P. W. Congreve tendered his resignation as president. The executive placed Yon. record the-valued services Mr. Congreve rendered to the. sport. The,; donors of trophies and other services Sfere thanked.?-Thanks were alse "iccorded tht> target checkers' and; judges, • Messrs. Congreve, Graham, arid- Mcßain; the hori. auditor, Mr. E: D. Potts; the Press and the publicity officers, Messrs. It. Neill and A. V. G. Wllsop, The report • suggested that only one shot be fired, on ; each bull. .-'/ • ."• VfETONE CENTRAL CLUB/ The annual general meeting of the club Is oeing held on the: morning of 13th March in the range, .Udy street, near the Municipal Gas Works. The off-season shooting nights ended successfully on 3rd March, and the range was opened for members last night (7th March). Monday and Thursday nights will be the usual club nights, and Mr. Bert Ffrost, president of the club, will cordially welcome any new members. The official opening will take place shortly after the annual meeting. PETONE LADIES' CLUB; i At the annual general meeting of the Petone ladles' Club there was a large number present. The report and balance-sheet were considered very satisfactory and were adopted." The following officers were elected: Patron, Mr. D. McKenzie;. president, Mrs. Jones; "deputy-presi-dent, Mrs. Pratley; secretary and treasurer, Miss Wild? assistant: secretary and targetwarker, Mrs. .Scott; captain, Miss -Gregory, vice-captain. Miss ' Pratley;. delegate to W.M.R.A., Miss. Wild;, coach, Mr. .Marsden; committee, officers .and Mrs. Heney.; auditor, Mr. E. S. Jones; vice-presidents, Messrs. H. Marsden, T. A; Jones, Aldridge, E. S. Jones, Bi A. Scott, N. E. Willis; .H. . Pratley, J. Porter, L. Stewart, A...E. Ffrost, W. Reesby, Strong, H. Pirth, yv. . Taplin, Dr. Hutchison. . It was decided to open the .range for practice on Wednesday, 30th March, and to hold the official opening on 13th ; April. ■ WORKING MEN'S CLUB. The annual meeting of the Wellington Working Men's Miniature Rifle' Club was held on 22nd February.. The president, Mr. A. D. Pickard, was in the chair. ' The report and balance-sheet showed that the club was in a good position both financially and numerically. The club owed'more than a little of its success to the donors-of the 23 trophies, which were keenly cpmpeted for during" the season. During the past season' the.club 'entered two teams in the interclub. competitions,' one. in the B grade and -one in the C'grade, both teams finishing fifth in their respective grades. : The following officers were elected: President, Mr. A. D. Picfcard; vice-president, Mr. P.- Barcham; . club: captain, Mr. R. Pattison; vice-captain; -Mr; H. Roberts; committee, Messrs: Gi Walker, G. Aamodt; G. Old, R. Stewart, and- F.- Waterworthj secretary and treasurer, Mr. A; H. Collins; handicappers, Messrs. H. J. Shanks and C. Aamodt; umpire, Mr. W. Conibear; selectors, Messrs. R. PattiBon, H—Roberts, and- G. Walker; delegate •to theW.M.B.A., Mr. G. Walker; trustees, Messrs. A. Roberts and'J. McKay; auditor; Mr. H. 3. Shanks. ■ '"■■: - ■ • : The,-prospects for- the ■ season are good, there Being* several • new members already enrolled and further, additions to the.membership roll are expected before the. shooting starts. The club .will, open the season on Monday, 14th March, with a competition between teams, selected by ..the president and vice-president. - ' ' KING'S PRIZE-WINNER. ' Mr. R. H. Uicholl's success at the recent National- Rifle; Association meeting "was a fcrillia'nt triumph for- grit; determination, and consistency/ His - performance carries with It the- heartiest congratulations of all miniature rifle .enthusiasts. Holder of numerous miniature "rifle championships, Mr. Nicholl, who Js 'a member,of the Harbour' Board Club, has most deservedly achieved the best the sjiort can offer! - "Good luck! Kic, and well done I'" . ..'..' . Mr.. H. T. Croxton, president, Public Service Miniature Rifle Club, is also "heartily congratulated upon his very meritorious performance. Sir. Croxton was runner-up to Mr. Nicholl. .Messrs.' P. B. Goldnnch (Hutt) and T. H. X.. Boon. (Karori). are also congratulated on their-performances. ■/

The smallest distance that can be measured by mechanical means is about one twenty-five thousandth part of an inch;' ■ ..- ■ '.-'; : : ' ■