RIFLEMEN AT WYNDHAM.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 15, Issue 1213, 23 August 1892, Page 2

RIFLEMEN AT WYNDHAM.

— ■—+ >; •- • The opening match of the season in con* nection with (he newly foimed Kifla Olab took pUce en Saturday, at Iha rauge on the DuualieW property, Tue site has been well and happily chosen, tbe targets bring erected at the loot of a steep iaea whicu rises to the hvigut of over 100 feet, aud on ihe top 'float* tho well-known signal of danger, warning a\] iravtshbtß thai ihere is danger io bo apprehended if a too oloae &orutiuy <8 made of tho waving uauner. It beiug a coa« apicuous object from every point oi tne compass, tuere should be little risk of unwary travellers geiting in' the way of utray bulleis; ia Uot, ihs position aad height of the ridge deoars aoy risk wb*tever, and no doubt in future ages, miners may be induced to excavate in the hope of opening up a lead mine from the piospeot» or " pockets " to be found near the surface. (The foregoiug means that firing parties, cannot possibly miss the faou of tae rwge 10 the danger of. pedestrians on tne pnblio highways, anU that tho Wyndham Club ara ardent devotees of the art,) The range iuns almost due east and west, is a nice piece of even ground, and no pains £aye oeen spared by the Ciub in putting it in thorough order, although there are .*everi<l little deiails io be canied out to m ke the place more convenient, which no doubt will oe done in due comae as iunds permit, and then the W.vndham uifle tluo may conscientiously say they nnve a range which will stand inspection with any in the colouy. jha market's pit has been made moat comfortable, sunk to a depth of tome eight feet bdl'jvv the level of tho ground. 16 n»s been lined and aiso battened ar.der foot, and in every way made to be a place of comfort to the marker, a tile drain leids out from the butom to draw away tjae water ana runs light alung the shooting range, thus making it comfortable for all Concerned, l'ha range id easily -reached from the town* ship, one drawback being that' riJeis ox drivers have to leave their charg' r» on the maiu road, there being only an approach lor root passengers for some distance, and, as inducement to the Jjir sex to patronise tue sport, some shelter might . be put on the gruund for their comfort and protection against the weather, and we are Htue, f rom a knowledge of those in commaud, mat this will at almost the fust matter attended to. The weather was really splendid— not a breach of wind, to uecoy tUe maiksineu, and the sun was doin,.; its best to euuouiage them in their very laudable object;. A fair oob* course of spectators was ou the ground, me geutlersex beiug very coaspicuou-. onorily afier three o'clock, a rifL buviug bean well and truly laid, Mrs Fraser stepped forward and formally opened the sju3on by pulling the hammer, acid bad the satisfaction of registering a buliVeye, a very good augury for the success of the Oiud. bides were then chosen by Capcaiu D'rasei aud Lieutenant Milne for a luatch at 200 yd?, i.tie former's beiug viccorious as from appouded scores } yet it is uot to say thai ihuae wao were on the losing Biae are bad maikameu— itmust oa tak.eu into »c:ouuc l-bat some arc now to the work, wtiiiat otueis tuva not uaudied tua weapon of w.ir for long ytsaj&. Of course me aame m-.y oe mud of o.,ut sides, ana the L-xpeiiuuco gauiad ou SaiuiU-y *vui no iiouut lead to v more t.qmoauiu a-tjtttji— aieut of sides in tue vex. soico iuu, .i.a perhaus ieverbe tne dacision : - OAPTAJN'a SIDE.

Refreshments wore laid onfc at the target at the conclusion of the maicb. ILi Ayson proposed " Success to the" Wyndham Bifle Olub."— Besponded to by Captain Eraser and .Lieutenant Milne, the former remarking that praiaa was 'doe to several of the members for the energetic manner iv which matters hid been wrought up to a sncceesful issue, and especially to Mr Lawrie, who, although doing contract work, had in many ways done little thing* gratis, which had that day materially helped to their comfort;. The Olub were not 31m ia tunds to carry out many little details to perfect the work, yet he bad no doubt theße would ho, forthcoming, along with gratuitous assistance in carrying out the work,—Endorsed by Lieutenane Milne, who trusted that their opening that day might only bo the precursor of many happy meeting*, wbioh he would do all ia his power to I make enjoyable, ' * ',• * Mr Praser proposed " The .health' of Mr and Mrs Ayson,'' to whom they were greatly indebted to fqr the free use of the range.:—M r Ayeqq waa only teo pleased to have'them j there, and it would be his greatest pleasure to do everything which would in am way aid towards the piesperity of the Glab.-~> (Applause), Mr Bramble proposed " The Ladies," who he was pleased to see had so' loyally turned out to encourage them in their pastime and he was sure that, if the; time M comeAhow who were now here would willingly qss the experience to be gained; in the defence <rf the ladies' hearts and homee r and ; give » good acconnt oi themselves too.— Mr Hannah thanked them heartily,, on behalf of the ladies, for the gallant offer of defence, yet trusted the day might neyer come that would require them to use the moat destructive weapon for other than pastime,— (Ohoera), -r K : "The Pmbs,". by Mr Fraser, who was pleased to nee their actions watched over by the Mataura. KnSicw, met with th« usual res ooose from our i-pportsr. ' A meetinß of the Club was afterward* held, when the oaptain is ti mated that lit d. G, Fyfe declined to accept the presidency of th« Olub, and he therefore proposed My Tkog. Ayson for the position. — Agreed to nnanimently, Mr , Bramble being, .elected yioa-oresideat vice Mr Ayson, and Mr Gold* ing member of committee vice Mr Bramble, Resolved— That practice be continaed every Saturday, and that Is be charged for - every 10 rounds of ammunication, this to include cost of marking, etc! . The oaptain intimated ; that for the purpose of curtailing; expense, Messrs Laurie "". and Ayson h^d t^gfeed to mark ''alternately.^ V - A%r wothefr hearty cheer, all. jfen^ad fheir way; \hbme in the gloaminr. ''CiwH;-.-? plew4 witfr their oatiug. ; . v f y • ;

Total. Captain iiraßor „. 22223 ... in i'liOß^'A' son ... ... 00222 ... 6 T. A. Biamble ... ... OiOUU ... :■• 4 A. Aysou 52222 ... 13 Hugh Marshall... ... 82224 ... 13 ft. Young ... ... 22200 '". 6 A. aimpwn ... ... 22322 ... \\ Andrew W00d ... ... OOUO2 '", ■ 2 W. Avhou ... ... 22242" .'" 12 W. Nutbford ... ... 00000 ... 0 .-778 Lieutsnant's Side. Lieutenant Milno ... 00204 ... 6 W. H. Fahey ... ... 02220 ... * 6 A. W. Kircoa ... ... 22022 ... , 8 J. Hi. Hantmh ... ... OOUOO ... O J. B, Orawford... .„ 00001). «,, \ 0 A. Uraaßtoan ... »., 00000 .„' '■' 0 iieo. Urosbie ... „. 40202 ... 8 J«B. McKay ... ... 00002 ... 2 f. Ayaon ... ... 03025 ... 10 M. Laurie ... ... 22222 ... 10 60 •