LINTON RIFLE CLUB.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 398, 16 May 1922, Page 3

LINTON RIFLE CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING. The twentieth annual meeting of the l.inion Rifle (dub was held in the club room last evening, Mr Hugh Akers presiding over a large attendance of members. The chairman stated that General Chaytor and Major Hornibrook had inspected the club's old range at Hokowhilu, and had reported that it. would cost, over £IOOO to ptd if in order. This sum was considered 100 high. The speaker informed the Minister of Defence (Sir Healon Rhodes) when he was in Palmerston North thai the club would lix up the .range if given the right lo do so, and the local defence oflice gave hope thai the department would agree to this, but advice was received later that they would be allowed to erect targets, but they would not be given a tenure of (he land, and they would not be permitted to interfere with the 25 yards' range. The club had now arranged for a range of up to 1000 yards, carrying four targets, at Aokaulere, and they hoped it would be ready for nexl year.

The twentieth annua! report expressed regret thai the club had to carry on during tho year under the disadvantage of miniature shooting, with an occasional shoot on an open range, The Defence Department had refused to listen to their appeal to reopen the old Hokowhitu range, or to find another suitable one. The club therefore had no alternative but to endeavour to secure a private range. Matches had been fired with other organisations, the Linton club being successful against Fox ton, Bunnythorpe, and Raumai club. Notwithstanding the waul of practice, they had been well represented at rifle meetings held at Wanganui, Greytown, Trentham. Hastings and Patea, members being well up in the prize lists each time. Interest was still maintained in miniature shooting, which had kept the members together, though not to the extent the club would have desired. Matches had been tired with miniature rifle clubs in Palmerston North, the club winning five out of eight, losing two, and being ' i qual in out. Club competitions were held duriiiir the season and very close finishes were witnessed. The following were the winners of trophies, the donors' names being given in parentheses:—l-J. Bar- . low (Mr E. Pratt); T. Edwards (Mr \\. 1., j Fitzherbert); .!. Griffiths (Mr J. I!. Gerrand); 11. Barlow (Mr 11. L. Young); T. ' Edwards (Mr T. h'dlin); l\ Lumby (Mr i Akers); 11. 1.. Smith (Mr Akers). T. lid- j wards won the club championship. The report and balance-sheet were ; adopted. | The chairman referred lo a proposal (o change the name of (he club. He did not consider it would be for the best as the name of the Linton Club was on a number of shields and they would destroy their interest in these, besides losing their seniority.

Mr \V. Randoll was of the opinion (hat Ihe name should not be changed as they were known al] over the Dominion as the Linton Club.

Another member said (liar many people knew of Linton Club, but had no idea where Linton was. There was nothing to indicate thai it was in Palmerston North. After a discussion ii was decided that the present name be retained, bui the words "Palmerston North" be inserted in the title of the club. The election of officers resultqcl: Patron, Air J. A. Nash, M.P.; president, Mr Hugh Akers; vice-presidents, Messrs W. L. Fitzherbert, 11. L. Young', J. Kyle, W. Randell, G. Craw, G, Newth, G.'N. Stephenson, F. Needham, A. Elannay and .1. H. Ross; committee, Messrs J. 1). Smith. V. Pane. G. Treniaine, 11. Harlow. \V. Ivells. L. Hastings, J. Dal/iell. T. Edwards, J, Griffiths; protest officer, Mr G. Newth; secretary. Mr \V. A. Ball; handicapper, Mr \Y. Randell; auditor Mr V. P. Stuart,

On the motion of Mr 0. Craw it was agreed that Messrs Akers, luizhorberi and Randell approach the member for Parliament lor the district with a view to securing a refund from the Government of the money, or a part of the money, expended by i'!ie club on the old range, which was condemned.

Messrs Sanson and Barr wrote donating 1 a trophy for competition during the coming year. It was decided thai members bo permitted to use their own rifles on the miniature range, provided they are not equipped with a ring foresight. Any pattern rifle, would be permitted provided it is of 22 calibre. Decimal targets were decided on as the official target of the club on the miniature range during the coming season. A vote of thanks was passed to the donors of trophies last year, these gifts having served greatly in keeping the club together through the period that the club was without an open range. The secretary wa.s also thanked for the .work he had done while secretary, and fof foregoing his honorarium. The president 'then presented the trophies won last year and congratulated the winners.