DUNEDIN RIFLE CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 8613, 5 September 1891, Page 1 (Supplement)

DUNEDIN RIFLE CLUB

The annual meeting of the Dunedin Rifle Club was held in Watson’s Hotel on Wednesday evening, and was attended by about twenty members. Mr Henry Mackenzie (president) occupied the chair. REPORT. The report presented by the retiring Committee of Management, abridged, stated as follows : The number of members for the season was forty-two, which shows a slight decrease from season 1889 90, chiefly through several of the old members having lefc the town, but it wai anticipated th at there would bi a large accession of m- robeiship during the season about to open. The total receipts for the reason amounted to L 56 (5j 10d, and the expenditure to 151 7s lid; leaving a credit balance of cash on band of L 4 18* lid. The assets (consisting of targets, ammunition, and range improvements) are valued at L 22 2s lid, and the liabilities amount to L 3 3i BJ, which leaves a credit ba'ance of LI 8 14 1 3d, against Ll3 5j 31 at the close of the previous year. The season optned on Saturday, 4th October last, with a match between teams under the captaincy of the pre.-ident and vice-president, when twenty-two shooting members put in an appearaucDuring the year the club took part in five inter club matches, but were not so successful as in the previous year, when they won Lur out of five matches. The matches fired last season were against the City Guard', in which the club won by 89 points; Port Cba mars Martini Club, woa by 108 points; Oamaru Martini Club, lost by 105 points ; two against the Peninsula Martini Club, bjth lost by 12 aad 1 point respectively. Four members of the ' club competed at the meeting of the New Zealand Riflj Association, which was held at Napier in January, with fairly successful results, considering that the quality of tho shooting was said to have be *n the best which has taken place in the Southern Hemisphere; and your Committee hope that a large number of the club’s members will be able to take part at the next meeting of the Association, which will be held at the Hutt, Wellington, in March next. Moat members ate now armed with the Martini-Henry rifle, the superior qualities of which over the old Snider, it is hoped, will induce an ever-increasing interest in the operations of the club The question of ammunition occasioned a great detl of trouble during the season, and no doubt the uncertainty whether ammunition was obtainable militated against the range attendance. Soma time ago your Committee sent a deputation to wait npon the Minister for Defence, and trge the claims of rifle clubs for consideration on the part of the Government. But, so far from receiving any encouragement, the depnt rtion were told that no oonco sions would be granted, and virtually that nothing would please the Minister better than that all the rifle clubs in the colony should be compelled to go to the wa'l. Your Committee, however, have been making efforts to obtain a sufficient supply of ammunition at a reasonable cost elsewhere, and have now strong hopes that they will prove sucoersful. Your Committee desire to place on record the very handsome donations and prizes received from Messrs Mackenzie, Wilkinson, Fraser, and Oow. For Mr Fraser’s prize of a gold meda l , for which there were seven matches fired during the season, the concluding competition will be held at an early date. Mr Gow’s prize for the highest average score in matches against other clubohas been won by Mr J. A. Law, with an average of 8 : for the five matcher, one of which was fired with the Snider. Messrs Mackenzie and Wilkinson’s prizes will be competed for during the ensuing season. The thanks of the club are due to these donors for their generous g fes, and your Committee express the hope that this example, which gives such a stimulus to range attendants will be emulated by other members. The adoption of the report was moved by the Chairman, who referred with pleasure to the flourishing condition of things, and to the excellent prospects of the opening season. AMMUNITION, Mr Law slated that during last year considerable difficulty was occasionally experienced by the Committee in providing a sufficient supply of ammunition, and moved that the new Committee be authorised to obtain a bank overdraft to enable them to lay in a good stock at the beginning of the season about to open. This proposal was unanimously agreed to, the overdraft to be limited to LSO. OFFICIALS AND NEW MEMBERS, Mr Henry Mackenzie was again unanimously appointed president of the club, The other office-bearers were appointed as follow Vice-presidents—Messrs W. Wills, J. Wilkinson, T. Menzies, N. Y. Wales, and J. G. Gow ; captain, Mr J. A. Law; deputy captain and treasurer, Mr B. Trythall; secretary, Mr R. Galloway ; committee—Messrs J. P. Hardie, T. M. B. Muir, and C. Speight. Messrs James B. Reid, H. K. Hooper, W. Williams, F. B. Kettle, T. M. B. Muir, W. R, Edmonds, N. Y. Wales, Lyders, Bowler, Burnes, Simmers, and Grey were elected members of the club. THANKS. On the motion of Mr Fairbairn, a vote of thanks to Messrs Mackenzie, Wilkinson, Fraser, and Gow for their handsome donations and prizsa was accorded ; and a vote of thanks to the retiring committee, and the customary compliment to the chair, terminated the proceedings.