NELSON DEFENCE RIFLE CLUB.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 21 September 1909, Page 4

NELSON DEFENCE RIFLE CLUB.

: The annual meeting of members of the Nelson Defence Rifle Club was held last evening, and was largely attended. Mr F. Trask, M.L.C.. presided. Cols. W. j H. Webb and L. J. Joyce were present '. by invitation. I The Chairman said he had always been pleased to assist and encourage rifle I shooting and volunteering. He hoped ! that universal training would soon come to pass, as it was important that every man should learn to handle a rifle in prder lo be .prepared to defend his country. New Zealand was a fine coun. try, and they should keep it for themselves, It was his intention to suggest to the Government that they should send an efficient officer to learn the Swiss system of defence. He believed in a propr military system of defence, and if compulsory training was adopted instead of having 22,000 rifle club members and volunteers they would have an efficient force of 100,000 men. He would like to see a united English- i speaking race for- the defence of their respective countries, and then tshore ; would be no. war. j The annual report presented by the President (Mr R. Catley) stated that the club had experienced another successful season, the competitions, with the ex- • ception of the latter part, being well at- j tended. The season was opened on October 10th with a ten-shot handicap ' match at 500 yards, for prize money vot. Ed out of the club funds the highest scorer being Rifleman T. Brown, with 49 out of a possible 50. Nineteen matches were fired for trophies, and four were won outright, as follows : — Mr Trask's trophy by Rifleman W. Kenning; President's aggregate by Rifleman J. Sharland; and the Wainui Tea Company's by Vice-President Holland and Rifleman J. Burch. The club championship was won by Rifleman W. Milner, with a score of 380 (runner-up- Rifleman J. Milroy with a. score of 376). The junior aggregate was won by Rifleman G. Small with a score of 367 (runner-up Rifleman F. Gledhill with a score og 360). Rifleman J. Milroy, who was their only representative at Trentham, finished well up in the final 50. Five teams matches were fired during the season, the club winning four, making a total of 66 matches fired since the formation of the club in 1901, of which the club had won 57. The committee; with authority , given at the last meeting, allowed' the College Cadets to use the club's range when not required by members. The committee had everything in Teadiness for the new season. The targets, butts, and backgrounds had been replaced and the mounds at 500 and GOO yards had been widened. The balance-sheet showed the club to be in a sound financial position, but more active members were required. l _ The thanks of the club were due to Lieut. -Colonel Joyce and staff for courtesy and assistance at all times ;to the donors of trophies and to the .press for publishing the scores. The balance-sheet presented by the secretary (Mr F. Gledhill) showed a credit balance of £28 Os lid. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Officers' were elected as follows : — Chief Patron, Mr F. Trask, M.L.C. ; Patrons, Messrs C. Y. Fell, G. M. Rout, J. Bockmann, W. Lock, H. Baigent (Ma- | sonic Hotel), A. T. Maginnity, E. E. ; Trask, F. W. Hamilton (re-elected, and , I Lieut.-Col. Webb ; president, M. T. M. Brown (after a ballot) ; vice-president, IMr R. Kenning (after a ballot) ; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr F. G. CriedI hill (re-elected) ; executive committee, Messrs G. Small. F. N. Jones, J. Sherwood, W. S. Milner, and'J. Burch; hani dicappers, Messrs W. Milner, J. W. • Milroy, and T. M. Brown (re-eleoted) ; delegates to Nelson Rifle Association, Messrs J. Milroy and G. Small; auditors, Messrs F. W. Hamilton and R. Catley. Trophies were presented by the Chairman as follows :— Senior aggregate and championship^ Rifleman W. S. Milner; ruimer-up, Rifleman J. W. Milroy; 2nd class aggregate, Rifleman G. Small ; runner-up, Rifleman F. G. Gledhill; Mr Trask's medal, Rifleman W. Kenning; Mr R. Catley's- trophy, Rifleman J. Sharland; Wainui Tea Company's trophies, Riflemen J. Holland and J. Burch. Miajsrs J. P. Livingstone, J. H. Manssen and W. Acheson-Smith were elected members of the Club. A motion was proposed by Mr J. W. Milroy that the rules be altered in the direction of allowing Volunteers to become honorary members of the club. Many rifle clubs in the Dominion had done this, and as there were several volunteers living in the neighbourhood of the Toi Toi Valley range who would like to get practice, an alteration in the rules was desirable. After some discussion the motion was carried. A bonus of £3 3s was voted, to the secretary (Mr F. G. Gledhill) for his services during the past year. .Mr C. Haggitt offered to give £2 2s to be fired for under conditions specified. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr R. Catley, the retiring president. Mr T. Brown returned thanks for his lection as president, and said that he would endeavour to do the best he could for the club. Mr R. Kenning also returned thanks for his election as vice-president, and promised to do all he could. Lieut. -Colonel Webb thanked members for inviting him to the meeting and for electing him a patron of the club. He was glad to meet many old friends at the meeting. "■•■■•. Lieut.-Colonel Joyce also appreciated the invitation sent him to be. present, and wished the club a prosperous season. He would, however, like to see the members turn out for parades, and he hoped that they would do more practice at unknown ranges. Mr F. N. Jones explained that the members of the Defence Club had not turned out on field days owing to there having been some misunderstanding. He expressed pleasure at seeing Colonels Webb arid Joyce present ; and,- at his call, three hearty cheers were given for the colonels. . ! The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman. . j TADMOR DEFENCE CLUB. f The annual meeting of tli« Tadmor Defence Rifle Club was: held on the range in the club's shelter sh^d on Saturday last. A good muster .of the members turned out. i" Mr A. Drummond, captain of the club, occupied the chair. | After' giving a review of the last season's. shooting, ho called upon the secretary to read the minutes of the' last annual meeting, i which were confirmed. , ! The secretary presented Vthe (.balancesheet, which -showed a credit balance of £1 18s. The Chairman congratulated j the club on its good financial position, and expressed a hope that they would f have a good time during the coming season. He hoped the members would take renewed interest in the shooting and turn out to practice. He then called for nominations of officers for the ensuing year. Mr A. Drummond was again (for tho third time) re-elected captain unanimously. Mr G. Macmahon was re-elect-ed secretary and treasurer. The shooting committee appointed for the ensuing year was elected as follows : — H. F. Jones, S. Moffitt, T. Driimmond, H. Kite, T. Griffiths, and J. Christian. j It was resolved to accept, the chalI lenge of the Wakatu Mounted Rifles | to shoot a friendly match next Saturday I afternoon to open tha season, v i It was resolved to devote the, follow- > I ing Saturday afternoon (October 2nd) to . skootina for the Government prize-mo- .; ; ney. Thia will be divided into a num- { ; bar of prizes, and the hope was express- •• ed that a full muster of 'members would . turn but and cdmpSlte. L ' v - '