RIFLE SHOOTING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 29 August 1924, Page 7

RIFLE SHOOTING.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE HAWERA CLUB.

The annual general meeting of the Hawera. Defence Rifle Club took place in the Savoy tea rooms on Wednesday evening last. Mr. A. G. Robertson presided over a splendid muster of members. A pleasing feature was the presence of such a large number of members from the club’s Manutahi branch.

In his annual report. the president reviewed the events of the past year, stating that the club had been represented at- association meetings held at Wanganui, Grey town, Trentham, New Plymouth and Patea. At Grey town Rflmn. Cross was runner-up in the North Island championship, whilst a team comprising Pres. Robertson and Rflmn. L. Harrison, Smith, Cross and Guy won the teams match.

At Trentham this team was unsuccessful, but Rflmn. Cross and Smith in getting into the final fifty. At the New Plymouth Easter meeting a Hawera team won the Taranaki challenge cup. Rflmn. Jones also won the long range aggregate and cup, and finished, up third in the championship.

At the Patea Association meeting the Hawera team finished second in the teams match, being beaten by only a few points by Patea. At this meeting Rflmn. L. 0. Harrison tied with Rflmn.' Calder. of Patea, for the championship," the latter winning by a very narrow margin in the shoot off. In the annual home and home match for all New Zealand, the Taranaki team, of which five members — Pres. Robertson, Rflmn. Cross, Ouy, L. Harrison and 0. Harrison—represented Hawera, eras successful with a record score of 1177 for twelve men with an average of 98 l-12th per man, a very fine effort. In this match Rflmn. Cross put up the fine score of 102, and was beaten for first honours by only one point—the New Zealand champion. Captain Simmons, puttingon 103.

During the year members of the club paid a visit to Waverley and had a very enjoyable time. O'n two occasions a team journeyed lo New Plymouth after the Taranaki shield, but were unsuccessful.

In the early part of the year a branch was formed at Manutahi under the charge of Deputy-Pres. T. Geary, and a good range up to 1000 yards has been built- on that gentleman’s property and has been passed by the Defence Department. The range and its appointments reflect great credit on Deputy-Pres. Geary and his fellow members, and already the names of some Manutahi shots are being whispered in rifle shooting circles. Whilst at the Patea meeting the names of pur Manutahi members could be seen in every tyro prize list, and in some of the open lists also. In this connection special mention should be made of Rflmn. R. Brunton, whose scores of 33 at 500 yards and 33 at 600 yards are most creditable performances.

At the annual meeting of the Manutahi branch, myself and our secretary were present by invitation, 'when I had the pleasure of presenting the prizes won during the season as under: Vice-president's cup.—Rflmn R. Schwass 1, W. Barclay 2, W. R. Brunton 3, D. W. Schwass 4. Lysaght cup.—R, Schwass 1, W. Barclay 2. Mrs. D. M. Schwass’ trophy.—W Barclay 1, G. P. Anderson 2. E. J Booth’s trophy—W. Barclay 1. D. M Schwass 2.

During the year the match barrel pie sen ted by the Colonial Ammunition. Co., Ltd., was competed for by the following clubs: Mauaia, Mcremere, Manutahi and Hawera. the winner being Rflmn. Silvester, Mauaia. Club. - A wet season had greatly haudicapped the work of the shooting committee in getting off the competitions on our own range, and on numerous occasions shooting had to be abandoned owing to the conditions. This left very little time for the fmishino’ up of shooting before the end of the yca i , and thus no inter-club^competi-tions could be fired.

The president concluded his remarks by expressing his thanks to his committees for their great assistance, making special mention of the club secretary (Mr. A. E. Gorton) who, he regretted, was not seeking re-election owing to business ties, the treasurer \Mr. H. Collier) i and to all members •lor their loyal support. The balance-sheet showed the dub to he in a sound financial position. The annual report and balance-sheet were unanimously adopted. After general business arising out of previous meetings’ minutes was disposed of, the various officers were elected as under:—'Patron, J. R>. Corrigan, Esq., M.P. (subject to acceptance); president. Mr. A. G. Robertson (re-elected) ; deputy-presi-clent Mr. T. Geary; secretary. Rflmn. C. Murdi; treasurer. Rflnin. H Colher; general committee—Rflnin .Jones, \Vild and Elgar; shooting committee—ltflmn McCormack, Cross and Gorton ; auditor. Mr. F. J. McCalman. . Captain E. Bremner. at the club's invitation, presented the prizes won during the year as under: Championship Belt— RJlmn. ff ‘>q irC 9 1 ; P : es - A - CJ - R°bertSon r’> RHmn. A. E. Gorton 296, 3 Bros.’ Cup—Rflnin. A •191 1 V. Rf ! A ' E - or to u 62 G 2 > Rflimi. C. March 319 3 President’s Trophy.—Rflnin.' C. Murch 193 ], Rflmn. H. Collier 183 Rflnin. G. Cross 165 3 All-comers’ Cu.p.—Rflmn. A. H. Jones 90, 1; Rflmn. C. March 88 9Rflmn. G. Cross 87, 3. Mr. C. March’s Trophy.—Rflmn. G J - Blake 179, 9; Rflmn. G. Smith 177, 3. Bennett and Sutton’s Cup.—Rfl m „ 91 s rf/ 223 \ A - Rigar “ t Bflmn. A. H. Jones 213. 3 McGibhon Cup Rflm n. H. Collier do. I; Rflnin. P. Jennings 92. 9Rflmn. A. Ttlgar 93, 3. Brunette Cup.—Rflmn. C. March 93. , Rflmn A. G. Robertson 90. 9; Rflmn. W. G. Williams 90, 3. tain akln - the presentations Captain Bremner congratulated the club tor the privilege accorded him In endorsing his senior officer’s re-rallc-fILieUV St€ele said that natula;-' nfle shooting was a necessary adjunct to the service, but he thought to ,tt Ve 7 + 'i ,flen,an sl '°uld do his best to attend the army meeting held an E” a "7 ’ at u Trentham. No rifle shot be thought, could be termed experienced until he had had to go under service conditions, nor could he be termed efficient until he had qualified in snap and rapid shooting. He also eoinphmented the club on the willingness with which all his enquiries were a ?!°" the ]ack of fricti °n which existed between himself and the management of the dub. The matter of handicapping again came before the meeting, and it was decided to adhere to the system in vogue at present. The subscriptions were left as before.

A vote of thanks was passed to the Hawera Star for the prompt manner in which the scores were always published, and for the valuable assistance given to rifle shooting throughout the district.

Supper was dispensed towards the close of the meeting, all present dojustice to the good things provided by the caterers.

A humorous recitation by Mr. Anderson, of Manutahi, and a vote of thanks to the chair brought a most successful gathering to a close.