DUNEDIN GUN CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 19774, 26 January 1928, Page 11

DUNEDIN GUN CLUB

ANNUAL MEETING The Dunedin Gun Club held its annual meeting last evening, Mr G. E. Turner presiding over a fair attendance. It was stated in the annual report and balance-sheet that the financial year had commenced with a credit balance of £64 9s 9d and a balance of assets over liabilities of £l4l 3s id, and dosed with a credit balance of £B7 3s, the balance of assets over liabilities being £165 5s 6d. The clay birds on hand amounted to approximately £l, against £l7 at the beginning of the season. The programme for 1927 included some sweepstake matches in place of trophy matches, thus decreasing the club’s liability in the balance sheet. During the year £145 2s 2d was paid in trophy prizes and sweepstakes. Thirteen “shoots” wore held during the year, and the members were to be congratulated on their high standard of shooting. In every match close finishes were recorded, and the handicaps fully tested the prize-winners as to their efficiency. The club championship was held on October 8, and after a close finish the honor was gamed by Mr E. P. Graham. The gold medal for the highest percentage lor the season also went to Mr E. P. Graham, with several members close up. A gold medal presented by Mr A. Simpson for first barrel shooting was won by Mr J. A. Graham. The M'Bride Memorial Cup was won by Mr J. Edmond. The club’s patron, Mr R. Rutherford, presented a handsome cup during the season, and the committee decided that it should be known as the “ Rutherford Cup,” to bb competed for annually;'the winner to be the highest scorer with the first barrel, only aggregate matches to count. Mr J. A. Graham had secured the coveted honor for 1927, and the club’s congratulations went with it. The club was not represented at the New Zealand championships held in the North Island, nor at the South Island clay bird championship held, at Rangiora on November 4. The committee applied for the South Island clay bird championship, 1928, but the association decided in favor of the Springston Gun Club (Canterbury). Mention had been made of establishing an Otago and Southland clay bird championship, and the incoming committee would probably deal with the subject at an early date. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Gun Club Association was held at Masterton on June 27, and the president, Mr G. E. Turner, was again elected on the council of the South Island Executive. In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet, the Chairman exhorted the members to get more of their friends interested in the doings of the club, for, in addition to their moral support, they needed a larger working balance, and when the bigger contests came round they did not want to be crimped for a few pounds. He believed that the club which was formed in Oamaru recently now had a membership of sixty. Locally, there was still a big liability on hand, and it was the club’s ambition to see its ground cleared off. As far as shooting was concerned, the club did not take second place to any other in New Zealand. This year the championship was to be held in Canterbury. He hoped to see local men there, and not only holding their own, but also bringing back the championship. There was nothing to prevent them holding the South Island title. In conclusion, the President congratulated Mr E. P. Graham on his shooting performances during the season, and paid a tribute to the energetic work of the secretary (Mr A. Fairbairn). The report was adopted. Office-bearers for the ensuing year were elected as follows:—Patron, Mr R. Rutherford; vice-patron, Mr W. F. James; president, Mr G. E. Turner; vice-presidents—Messrs R. M'Donald, E. P. Graham, W. Smellie, T. Lang, J. A. Graham, P. Smellie, T. W. King, A. J. White. A. King, W. Overton, J. Hutchison, A. A. Fairbairn, D. Jolly, and L. E. Wilson; committee—Messrs A. A. Fairbairn, R. Morrison, A. J. White, H. White, .J. Hunter, H. Smellie, J. Potts, J. H. Edmond, L. E. Wilson, T. Callaghan, T. R. Graham; captain, Mr R. M'Donald; referee, Mr A. King; handicapper, Mr E. P. Graham; auditor, Mr J. Hutchison; secretary, Mr A. Fairbairn. February 18 was the day fixed for the club’s opening.