RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2217, 29 January 1868, Page 2

RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

[ The second annual general meeting of this i association was held lust evening at White's > Hotel, Mr H. J. Tancred, vice-president, in the chair. The following gentlemen were ! present:—Captain Sunmonds, F. Pavifr,— | Bra*s, H. E. Alport (secretary), K. B. Bishop i (treasurer), A. A. Dobbs, H. Thomson, i Allison, W. Barnes, J. Hebden, and Kule. I The minutes of last annual general intet- ' ing were read and confirmed. The Chairman explained the object of the ; meeting to be the receipt of a report from the Council for the past year, the election of . president and vice-presidents, and the alteration of several rules. Une of the proposed alterations in the rules was to provide a 1 remedy for the frequent non-attendance of members at meetings of the Council. It i would be proposed to fix a minimum number i of meetings, which, if not attended by any member he would cease to become so and the Council would at once fill up the vacancy. This, he thought was very desirable, as by that means a working council—the grand desideratum of the association would be obtained. When the report of the Council was rea i he was satisfied the members would agree that the object the association had in view when inaugurated had been greatly promoted. The association had proved itself a very valuable body, ami bad become a recognise I centre to which tin different corps of Volunteers in the provinct looked for guidance in promoting rifle shoot ing. He thought the increase of mem en fully proved the success of the association which, duriug the past year, had also beei emineutly successful in giving prizes fo shooting. The desire o excel in rifle com petition was evidently gaining ground in tin province. This was not only for the use i might at some time prove, but ah as an amusement. They wantc rational amusement) for employing tliei spare time, and any addition to then must therefore be an advantage. Hn there was a still greater object in supportini the association, viz, the increased capabili ties it gave for defence. It was thought byi great many that there was no probability o being brought into collision with an enemy but he believed that such a contingency niigh possibly arise. Kifle shooting was not tliei a mere fancy, but of serious importance, ii order to bo fully prepared for any emergency and lie sincerely believed that the assouiittioi was adopting the means to do thin. Ii modern times the skill of properly using i rifle is of very great importance, and was be coming more so every year, The grett ad vantage in rifle shorn ing is to injure an enem; at a great distance, with the obj ct of depriv ing an attack of a great part of its forci before coming to close quarters. 'I he grea objeot of colonists should be to defend them selves, and nothing could conduce mon to this than a proper knowledge o rifle shooting, whereby the enemy's rank might be shattered before permitting them ti get close. This hud always been the objec of Wellington in the l'euiusular wars, am had invariably been encouraged in tin British army. Indeed, so noted were tin English for rifle shunting that one of tin Russian generals, in it history of the detenu of Sebastapol, stated that the Russians wen always cowed when they knew the Kngli&l were on duty in the trenches. If a know ledge of rifle shooting were necessary ii England, it was ten-fold more so in th colonies, where the number of defender

would render it necessary todeatroTl] " of the enemy as possible at a lone h IN To promote defence, then, he eJsid '!>• plan pursued by the association w as t "" legitimate means, Drill and mai.ceu! m -° n was not of so much consequence "8 merous marksmen, and' his opinion "il 1 * fore, was to encounge n, at ' "% required in the field. Mr t niost hen went on to explain at i that he would hare the present o,- M grant £IO,OOO per annum, which * lion small to secure the object il was grants to ° expended in substantial prizes f or ,or . instead of being frittered away ut at '*\ Instead of dividing the £IO,OOO m 4,000 volunteers now supposed to J V k would give prizes of about £SO each t! h ' would be objects of ambition, and it mi remembered that they would not n n |! ,* the 200 winners of the<e prizes, J , " e large number of unsuccessful one , . Is ? l of £SO would be worth some trouble l m * and would he was sure promote h r ?' principle of defence better than at 1* He mentioned these matters to stimuK 1 member, of the association, and hoJJ* add.ttonasptrit would be infused into f wouhl call upon the secretary to «£ J On the motion of the Secretary the m,, as read was adopted. epfjr; The Treasurer submitted the balances!™ from which it appeared £4710 aB4 had E expended, and £75 2s 3d bad been rece,,i during the year. w The alteration of rules was considpred On the motion of the Secretary it' Waj resolved that the following should be addS to rule 10 viz "Provided, that in case an member of the council fail to attend three consecutive meetings of that body, the seatri such member shall become vacant anvacancy thus arising being filled up by council." In movhg the resolution ' Ifr Alport pointed out the irregular attendance of members, and that on several occasion) they had been unable to transact business for want of a quorum.

fhe Secretary moved that the following addition be made to Rule 24:-" Provided this rule shall not come into operation until ordered at some future general meeting of the Association, and that the sum of £% already paid to capital account shall b> transfeired, and the amount paid to the Treasurer for general purposes of the Association." He explained that the amount had originally been invested by the trustees on a mortgage, but it had so much curtailed the proceedings of the council that it was thought advisable to realize it until such time as the association is more established by increase of members and funds. The investment hail been premature, and could not be continued The motion was seconded by Mr Barne* and carried. The election of officers for the ensuingyear was then proceeded with. On the motion of Captain Simmond* seconded by Mr Pavitt, Mr H. P. M. Awley was re-elected president. The following gentlemen were elected vice-presidents, viz.:—Messrs Tancred J Hall, Col. Brett, J. Ollivier, C. C. Bowcn' T. S. Duncan, E. M. Templar, J. Bewick' Major Packe, C. Clarke, W. M. Maskell, W S. Moorhouse, G. Holmes, Lord Lyttelton, fcelfe, Major Hornbrook, Dr Nedwill, W Reeves, F. Delamain, W. Richardson, J. S Williams, W. Wilson, J. C. Wilson, and Cap:. Westenra. Four vacancies in the Council were filled by the election ol Messrs A, Dobson, F. Papprill, N. Woolfe, and F. Pavitt. Some conversation ensued respecting the presentation of the Weld Cup to Mr Ballard. and the Secretary said he would lay it before the Council at their next meeting, remarking at the same time that the ceremony ought to be a public one. Votes of thanks were then accorded to the Secretary (Mr Alport), the Treasurer (Mr Bishop), and Captain Simmouds, for their services durii g the past year, after which a similar vote to the chair terminated the proceedings. It might be stated that the Secretary read an approximate estimate of the probable expenses at the Easter Meeting, 1868, from which it appeared that about £l5O would be enabled to be given in prizes.