RATIONAL RESERVE

Marlborough Express, Volume LI, Issue 155, 3 July 1917, Page 6

RATIONAL RESERVE

AWATERE UNIT

The second annual meeting of the Awatere unit of the National Reserve was held last Wednesday evening in the Seddon Hall, Mr J. G. Armstrong chairman of the executive, presiding. About 32 members were preHont The b?.lance-sheet showed a credit of £5 -13s 4d. The report stated that the last year-had been given up prin-

eipaliy to rifle practices and competitions. "Early in the year the unit had lost the services of Lieut. J. Morrin and Private Brealey through enlistment, both of whom had obtained the rank of sergeant in camp, thanks no doubt to the Reserve training they had. previously to enlisting. At the commnecement of the year .x miniature rifle range was erected, find thanks we.re due to Messrs H. Fuller for a gift of timber and iron, to Mr Armstrong for sand, and also to a working "bee" for the erection of the butts. The unit was also deeply indebted to Mr F. M. Foster and Mr J. ■W. Shirtliffe for a donation of a cheque each for £3 10s for.the purchase o e rifles, and also to donors of trophies for rifle competitions. The actual strength of the Reserve was 40, and the average number competing, at the shooting competitions was 23, which was most encouraging to the executive. . The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, congratulated the members on the enthusiasm shown and for their support. He said that it had been reported in the press that all units not. up to full strength had1 been asked to disband. He thought that under the circumstances the only thing for them to do was either *to form a miniature rifle club or to mer^e into the existing Defence Rifle Club. ' After considerable discussion it was unanimously decided, on the motion of Mr Fleming, to merge into the heddon Defence Rifle Club, and that as soon as the forms of enrolment were received new members could be sworn in. In the meantime the old JN arional Reserve executive "would carry on the shooting competitions. /-*ater, when the new enrolment had been completed, a new executive •vould be elected Votes of thanks were passed1 to 'the executive and to Mr H. Melntosh, .he secretary of the Reserve. Ihft next competition will be for a trophy presented by Mr F. W Bur sill, under the usual conditions "