RIFLE SHOOTING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 178, 28 June 1938, Page 5

RIFLE SHOOTING

MANAWATU DISTRICT ASSOCIATION. (From Our Own Correspondent.) ASI-IHURST, June 27. At the annual meeting- of the Manawatu District Rifle Association, at Ashhurst, Mr W. G. Roinley presided over an attendance of thirteen delegates from the Mana--1 watu-Pohangina, and Kiwitea Association districts. Apologies for absence were received from the clubs in the Horowhcnua district. The balance-sheet, disclosing a ; credit balance of £2 Os 9d, was adopted. Members expressed the view that the balance was very satisfactory, considering the championship meeting had had to be postponed last year, and entries fell below the' estimate. It was decided that the name of the association, “ManawatuPohangina,” bo altered, and that the original name, “Manawatu District Rifle Association,” bo reverted to. Members considered this essential in view of the proposed district, and to avoid further confusion. Mr W. R. Kells, in speaking as an old Manawatu executive olflcer, expressed pleasure that the name of Manawatu had been reverted to. The action in arranging an inter-association shoot between Kiwitea, Horowhcnua and Manawatu was approved. The shoot is to take place on July 23. The secretary (Mr R. A. Jones) was empowered to select the Manawatu representatives. The election of officers resulted: Patron, Mr R. H. AV. Ramsay; president, Mr W. G. Romlcy; deputy-pre-sidents,-Messrs W. R. Kells, W. Webster, R. E. Stuart, I. Neill, M. Hausmann;. vicepresidents, all members of tho original Manawatu Association executive; secretary, Mr Jones; assistant secretary, Mr H. Barlow; ’management committee, two members, to be appointed from each of the Linton, Massey College, Pohangina, Ashhurst, and Cheltenham clubs, with president, deputypresidents, and secretary of tho Manawatu Association; Manawatu District executive, all presidents of the district clubs affiliated, and the Manawatu secretary. All district clubs are to be levied an affiliation fee of ss. Range officers for the Manawatu championship meeting will be Messrs R. E. Stuart (Cheltenham), M. Hausmann (Ashhurst), and A. R. Tantrum (Levin). It was decided to adhere strictly tb the N.R.A. rules. The annual championship. shoot and Greer Shield teams match are to be fired on Labour Day, October 24, and to be off the rifle, catering for A, B, and C grade in ibe prizo list. Mr Kellsgave a resume of the activities of rifle shooting in the Manawatu district, before the loss of the Hokowhitu range in 1917 created the first setback to the popular meetings held by the association. A range was opened at Aokautere in 1922. but did not have sufficient targets available for a championship meeting, and only a district shoot, restricted to local clubs, was fired each Labour Day, until this range was lost in 1931, and again stopped rifle shooting activities until, in 1933. old members of tho association and the. present secretary arranged for tho competition for. the Greer Shield and Manawatu championship to be held on the Pohangina range, and open to clubs ivithin(a 30-mile radius of Raumai. The name of the association was revised and called ManawatuPohangina, and the shoot was held on the range until 1935, when the competition was moved to the Ashhurst range, and tho meeting had been held with greater success each year. Mr Kells paid a tribute to tho secretary’s efforts in keeping the association going under very adverse conditions. It was 49 years since ho first took up the rifle, said the speaker, and to show how he appreciated the interest taken in the association he wished to present a small cup for competition. The patron (Mr Ramsay) thanked members for re-electing him, and endorsed the remarks of Mr Kells. He also extended congratulations to Mr Romlcy on his return to office. The president thanked Mr Ramsay for his remarks and the meeting for rc-electing him. He assured them that he would continue to take tho same interest in the association. Ho stressed the fact that tho association was now on a better footing than a few years ago.