RIFLE SHOOTING

Northern Advocate, 20 April 1933, Page 2

RIFLE SHOOTING

DA If HA VILE DEFEAT' E If 1 IT. I CLUB.

The inaugural slioot of the Dargaville Defence Rifle Olnb was held a! the Te Wharau range on Easter Monday, when a. large gathering attended to participate in the launching of the newly formed Dargaville Rifle Club. Over (50 persons were present, and of these some 47 persons participated in the shooting, the majority of them being members of the club. The weather conditions were ideal and al! present passed a very enjoyable time. The patron of the club, AFr P. A. -Tones, Mayor of Dargaville, in a very appropriate speech. declared the range open.

In replying to the patron’s re marks, the president of the club, Dr C. H. (Tump, expressed his apprecia

tion of the assistance that had been rendered to the club by the Defence officers, and particularly to the able assistance afforded to the club in its formation and in matters leading up to its iina.l establishment by Captain Foster, of Whangarei. Thanks were also due to Captain Dittmer and to Sergeant-Major Stewart. The patron and president of the club then tired the opening. shots, and each registered a very respectable central bulls-eye at 500 yards. The shooting was more or less of an informal nature, most of the shooters being new to the game, bnt nevertheless it was quite apparent that there is excellent material available in the district, and more will be heard of them later on.

The presence of eight riflemen from Whangarei added considerable interest to the shooting, as a match was tired between them and eight local members, the Whangarei Club winning with 39 points in its favour. The local effort, however, considering that there lias boon no rifle shooting in the district for many years, was full of merit.

Considerable thanks are due to Powaka To Awha, a well known and respected chief of the district, in making available a. very picturesque and desirable site for the rilie range, and tli o riflemen present, generally expressed their appreciation of the suitability of the site, the beauties of the surroundings and the thoroughness of the equipment. The work of formation of the rifle range has been considerable. Special thanks in connection with this work arc due to Riflemen G. Dunn, Jack Smith and many others, who were indefatigable in their efforts to have the range completed in time for the opening slioot. The success which lias attended their efforts has no doubt been more gratifying to them than the congratulations of their fellow members. In connection with the shoot, there were three prizes for the ladies which added something further to the interest of the shooting. The arrangements for catering were carrieed out by the elub, but the work in connection with it fell principally upon Riflemen J. .1. and J. Smith, and they did all that could bo desired. Ample refreshments were available

for all. Now that the club has been established, regular weekly shoots will take place. The following are the results of the shooting: —

Dargaville. 200 MOO Tl. J. P. White .. 44 M2 76 Max Dunn 40 29 09 C. N. White .. . 41 28 09 G. Allen Mi) 29 OS 8mit.li 43 2M 00 W. L. Powell . 41 2M 00 C. Karisen .*. . .... MM ‘1° 0M P. Groome .... MS 27 0M Total . M44 Whangarei. 200 MOO Tl, W. Slade Clark 49 Ml 80 X. C. Shepherd .... 4(> MM 79 .1. Norris 44 77 J. 11. Ashton . 4.1 Ml 70 D. Wilton .... ... .40 29 09 E. A. Foote . . . 42 20 OS D. Patterson .. 40 28 , OS 8. E. Foote . . . 41 2M 00 Total oSo The following also shot:— 200 MOO Tl. •las. Smith . . . . M9 24 0M A. E. Will cocks M9 24 0M L. Spanhakc . . M0 27 0M 0. G. Brain we 11 30 20 02 A. Howard , .. MM 29 02 — . Devonport . 40 21 01 Gerald Dunn . . M0 Ot> M9 E. Hodsell .... 40 10 M0 C. C. Lewis . . . MS 10 54 P. A. Dunn . . . M4 19 G. Bennett . . . DO 20 M2 11. Blong MM 17 MO C. H. Crump . . MM 10 49 P. IT. Dunn ... M0 10 40 G. Danks M0 10 40 P. J. Nicholson .... 24 20 44 C. J. Homer . . 2M 19 44 G. Danks, Senr. M0 14 44 N. Nicholson 20 12 MS J. Kennedy Oil 14 M0