OTAGO RIFLE ASSOCIATION

Evening Star, Issue 12625, 3 October 1905, Page 3

OTAGO RIFLE ASSOCIATION

The annual meeting of the Otago Rifle Association was held last evening, when about thirty members weio present. Colonel Smith (senior vice-president) occupied the chair. The balance-sheet, which showed the expenditure to have been £lB2 13s 611 i;i loss since last meeting of £l6 17s), and the credit balance in the Savings Bank to be £59 Os 6d. was adopted. The election of office-bearers was then proceeded with. Colonel Robin (the officer commanding the district) was elected president, and the three retiring vice-presidents —Colonels Smith, Allen, and Captain Stooeham —weic re-elected. Lieutenant W. K. M'Lean was re-elected secretory amidst applause. Flattering reference was made to tho excellent work he had done, lieutenant Long worth was re-elected treasurer amidst similar tokens of appreciation. Lieutenant W. H. Haydon was re-elected hon. auditor. The chairman announced that a circular would be sent to each corps, asking for the appointment of a delegate, these to act in conjunction with the officebearers elected. The following recommendation? of the delegates were next dealt with : 1. "That the annual prize-firing be held on .January 1 and 2, 1906." An amendment was carried that the service matches l>o fired on December 30 next, at 2 p.in., and that tbe other matches bt; fired 011 January 1 and 2. 2L " That the use of the ' prop' be not allowed at 200 and 300 yards ranges.' - It was resolved that in the event of the Xew Zealand Rifle Association intimating prior to tbe Ist December that the ' prop' would bo disallowed tbe ot;ig<> Association adopt the same method ; otheiwise that the uee of "props" bo allowed. 3. "That instead of giving stated prizes in the service and cover matches, tbe prizemoney be divided between the competitor* who made five hits or over in the service matches and three hits or over in tho cover matches."—Carried. 4. '"That the Nursery Match l>e struck out, and that tho prize-money allofted for the match, together with the money that will be saved by the competitors scoring, be added to the four principal matches lor tyros, up to £4 per match."—The Chairman explained that by this competitors secured £23 10s (saving in scoring, etc., which would be done by competitors). On tbe other hand, they lost the money of too Nursery Match, bat would bo about £lB better off.—The recommendation was carried. 5. "That the entry money be at a fixed price per match, but "competitors must enter for at least two matches."—Carried. 6. "That, except in service matches, competitors may lire on».< optional sighting diot at each ntnge, or they may have two optional sighters on payment of sd. Tbe lan. or both optional sighters may be counted ; competitors must decide which course they adopt before commencing firing."—lt was "explained that this would mean a total cost of about 2s on all tho r.uiges to each competitor, and it was merely another way of augmenting tike finances. It wo* objected by several that some might not be able to afford to spend 2s extra at a meeting, and they ought not to be debarred from their two sighters. .Several amendments were put and lost, and finally the first amendment moved was carried. It was to the effect that two optional sighters be allowed free. 7. " That rule 8 be altered to Tead: ' Any coloring matter may be used on the eights except in fcervice matches."—This was agreed to. with the addition of the words " blackened sights may be used in service matches." Color-serge;int Searle referred to tbe necessity for instituting long-distance shooting 'matches at 800 ami 900 yards), and moved as a recommendation to the Council that a match with ranges of SOO and 900 yards Ikj arranged for. —This was carried. Captain I'roudfoot moved that some recognition be made of the secretary's services, and that the matter Ixj left in tho hands of Lieutenant Longworth and himself.—Carried. A committee consisting of Captain Prowlfoot, Captain Stoneham. Lieutenant Jack, and the secretary was appointed to revise the roles. Tho meeting terminated after passing votes of thanks to the Engineer Corps ifnr putting up a telephone at the last meeting), to the chair, and to the Pits?.