Maniototo Rifle Association.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 19 February 1915, Page 2

Maniototo Rifle Association.

The annual shooting contest of the above association took place on the range at Ranfurly last Friday, under ideal weather conditions. The number of competitors was about fifty, which is a very decided increase on last year's.- The shooting was good and everything passed off satisfactorily to the promoters. Had not so many farmers been harvesting, there would no doubt have been a still larger number number of entries. The results were as follows: — Manioroto Match (200 yds). Ten shots and one optional. S«»rgt. Mee, 48 Ist Rifleman Lindsay, 45 2nd

Capt. Trotter 44, Lieut. Greer 44. Riflemen Blackwell 44, Nelson 43, President Duncan 43, Riflemen Sharkey 43, Arthur 43, b\ Darling 42, W. Lobb 42, Lieut. M'Lennan 42, Riflemen Devenney 42, R. Helm 41, J. M'Lean 41, Corp. Wallington 41, Bugler Armour 41. Wedderburn Match (service conditions) rapid, 300 yards; snap Bhooting, 200 yards. Sergt. Mee. 40 Ist Corp. Wellington, 39 2nd Bugler Armour 37, Lieut. M'Lennan 35, Sergt. Hayes 34, Rifleman R. Holm 32, Privates V. Bleach 32, D Duncan 32, President D. Duncan 31, Rifleman F. Darling 31, ex-Rifleman W. Ward 31.

Ranfurly Match (500 yards). Ten shots and one optional. Private D. Duncan, 46 Ist

Riflemen Lindsay 44, Devenney 44, Sergt. Hayes 43, Lieut. M'Lennan 43, Riflemen Arthur 43, J. Armstrong 42, Private Hayes 42, Riflemen J. M'Lean 42. W. Mann 42, Capt. Trotter 41, Riflemen Blackwell 41, Lowis 41, Sergt. Mee 40, Rifleman Sharkey 40, President Duncan 39, Rifleman W. Smith 39.

The champion belt an<? medal was won by Sergt Mee, who held the championship last year. Ttie Teams Match for the shield presented by J. B. Hislop, Esq., was won by C Squadron A Team—viz., Sergt.Major Claugh, Sergt. Ha.ves, Serpt. Mee, Corp. Wellington and Private D. Duncan. DINNER AND SMOKE CONCERT.

In the evening about forty of the shootists sat down to dinner in Walkers' dinning room, the president of the Association (Lieut A. M'Lennan) presiding, supported by Lieut Greer, Lieut Law, Mr Duncan (Wedderburn Rifle Club), Mr J M'Lean (Hyie Rifle Club), Mr W. Davis, jun. (Gimmerburn Rifle Club), and Mr G. Bell (exLieut). Among the guests was an old friend Mr R. W. Trotter, formerly captain of the Maniototo Mounted Rifles. i A bjief toast list was disposud of ' pfter dinner. The usual loyal toast being duly honored, Mr Trotter proposed The Army and Navy, which he considered at present was the toast of the evening. Tommy Atkins was at present helping them to retain the freedom they enjoyed. Although the

army was so small that the Kaiser referred to it as General French's contemptible little army, yet he had not been able to get in amongst them. It behoved who stayed at home to help the bereaved relatives. Money could fight and it soothed many a sorrow. If it were not for the navy New Zealand would be bombarded. An enemy could stay out of sight and blow their towns 1o pieces. New Zealand for its size was ohe of the biggest prizes the world possessed, and but for tiie navy would be attacked. Lieut Greer replied, and as an instance of how the existeuce of the'

navy affected everyone referred to how insurance rates came down when the German cruisers were destroyed. They could not attach too much importance to the Bitish navy at the present time. Often at such meetings as the present they had had lively discussions on compulsory military training: now everyone was a supporter of all kinds of military training. They did not know bow soon more of them would b%in the firing line. If the war continesd for another twelve months, a good many of them would not be at the "shoot" next yenr. In Britain they found the value of the Territorials, who stayed at home for the defence of the country while the standing army went to the front. It was a pleasure to him that O. Squadron had done so well that day. The Wedderburn Rifle Club were the recognised shot 9 of the county, and it was a credit to the squadron to beat them. They should try to arrange a return match on the Wedderburn ground.

Mr W. Davis, jun., proposed The Allied Forces, and in doing so said that if they had to depend solely on Britain's army in the present war they would be in a bad position. Belgium receivrd the first shock of the war, and they would never know what they owed to the Belgian people. He referred to the hardships of the men at the front and hoped for a speedy conclusion of this cruel wir.

Mr Jno M'Lean rtp'ied. He thought that our Empire must consider herself verv fortunate in being allied with such forces, especially Russia and France. In potential power Russia was the greatest military power in the world. They must not forget Belgium or Servia, who would not allow themselves to be brow-beaten by gri>at and powerful nations. It was time the 'Empire took stock of how things stood. He did not think this would be the end of war; but believed it was the beginning of wars such as the world had never known. In the present war the navy was practically a negative power. We must look to the future: we lived too much in the present. We should link up the past with the present a;:d leaa to the future. Our Empire extecded round the world, and n» nation could expand without touching the Britißh Empire, and from that source future wars would come.

The chairman presented Sergt. Mea with the champion belt which he had won that day for the second time, and complimented him on his very creditable score, and wished him success in future contests.

Mr Bell proposed the Territorials and Rifle Cluba, and referred to the value of the training thoßa who had gone to the front had received from these sources. A very handsome silver mounted shield was presented to the association by Mr James B. Hislop, jeweller, Dunedin, for annual competition by teams. In Mr Hislop's absence Mr Armour (president of the Gimmerburn Rifle Club) was to have made the' presentation, but he being unavoidably absent also, Mr J. W. Reed did so on his behalf, and referred to the patriotic nature of the gift which was so very opportune at the present time. No doubt Mr Hislop'B presentation would go a long way towards making shooting the popular sport of Maniototo, which it should be of the nation. The shield was presented by the chairman to the winning team—Sergtmajor Cleugh, S«>rgt Mee, Prvt Duncan coming forward to receive it. They had to shoot against some very good teams, therefore their victory was all the more creditable to them. He thought that Lieut Greer and each Rifle Club might send a team to the Otago District Meeting. He was sure they would represent the district in a creditable manner. Mr D. Duncan replied to the last toast on behalf of Rifle Clubs. Their club had three or four representatives in Egypt, and they could send more yet if it became necessary. He congratulated C Squadron on its victory. Their club had had four "goes" at C. Squadron and they required another to decide victory, the club beat them last year, but evidently they had improved. They would be only to pleased too meet any of their friendly rivals at any time. Lieut Law replied on behalf of tae Territorials. It was four years since the Territorials came in under the name of compulsory training. It was hardly compulsory training, as they were not driven to it at the point of the bayonet. He was glad to see that the great majority supported the scheme, knowing it was necessary. H noticed that Colonel Logan said the other day the Territorials were treated like a dairyman treated his herd: he culled them and kept only the best. That was correct. A fair complement had gone to the front from the pquadron. The Agricultural and Pastoral interests was proposed by Mr Meggett, and responded to by Mr W. Mann; the Ladies by Mr Mitchell and responded to by Lieut Law in a'speech that would have delighted the most ardent suffragist. He prophesied a great deal more progrers and npppiness for thfl human race when woman has com» plete political, social, and economic indeDendence and personal control in marital relations. The Press was pro-, posed by Mr A. Arthur and responded to by Mr Reed. Mr J. M'Lean proposed The , President, Mr A. M'Lennan, referring to the fact that the formation of the association was due to his efforts, and also to the amount of work and monetory support he had given it.

In repl" Mr M'Lennan ° returnei thanks for the support he had receivpd in forming the association. The value of rifle shooting was never more than in the present war, and the German -,' neglect of it caused them to lose heavily. The shooting done od the range that day was so good that an «=nemy could not live in front of them for 500 or 600 yards. Rifle shooting was one of the all important things at the present time to the nation.

During the evening the president also spoke a few words of pleasure at seeing Mr Trotter present and gave the secretary, Mr T. Mitchell some

well deserved pn ise for the very effec tive way in which he had carried out his duties as secretary. Tne success of tbe day was largely daa to the hard and efficent work he had done.

The host and hostess was proposed by Mr Nelson and responded to by Mr Walker.

Songs were giveo by Messrs W. Helm, W. W. Smith, A. Arthur, Blackwell, Donnelly and Armour, and a recitation by Mr W. W. Smith. The accompaniments were played by Lieut. Law and Misa May Walker.