OTAGO RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14359, 31 October 1908, Page 7

OTAGO RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Tlu annual meeting of Ihc Otago Hille Association was held last evening in the officers' club room at the Harrison Ilall. Lieutcnaut-coloiiel Smith presided over a rather small gathering. The Chairman moved ami Captain Proudfool. seconded the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, which read as follows: — "As members are aware, the prize-firing held last New Year was one of the most sucee--ful meetings held by the association. There wero 12?. competitors, a.s compared with 113 for ihe previous meeting and 67 for the 1905 meeting. About Ml Cadets also took pari in the C'adet Match. "It is with pleasure your council notes the improvements which have been made to Ihe I'elichot Day villi' range. In former years the small number of targets available has retarded the progress of Ihp association, bul with the alterations made — 10 targets being available—your council anticipate* that our already popular meeting will become oven more popular, and that ; n a very few years Ihe increased acfomniodution will he taxed to its utmost.

"A leam was entered for Ihe Overseas Daily Mail Empire Day competition, but owing lo the very had weather prevailing the wring was poor. The vules governing next year's eomveiition debars this association from entering a team.

"The receipts for the year, including interest, amount to £210 8s 2d; Ihe expenditure wa.s £193 19s 3d, leaving a profit of £10 &s lid; balance last year, £H 9s £d; total. £54- 18s 7d, less amount voted to .secretary al last annual mcefraj:, £5 ss; leaving a balance on hand, including unclaimed prize-money, of £19 13s 7d." The motion was carried. The election of ofliec-bearers resulted as follows:— Presidenl, Lieut.-colonel Smyth; vice-presidents—Lieut.-c-olonel Smith, Lieut.colonel Stoneham; Lient.-colonel Allen, Lieut.-colonel -Myers; Major liislop; secretary, Lieutenant Ooldenstedt; treasurer, Lieutenant Lacey; auditor, Captain Dempster.

It. was resolved lo recommend to the incoming cominitiec tliat the annual prize.firing he arranged for January 1 and 2, 1909. The secretary mentioned that at the South Island Kifle Association's last meeting it had been suggested that the next championship meeting might be held at Diincdin if Otago applied for it. A short discussion disclosed the opinion that Otago bad not sufficient target accommodation, and would not in any case dc9ire to havo the meeting held in Dunedin.

The secretary of the Southland Rifle Association advised that their animal meeting would he. held on November 9 and 10, and drew attention to the fact that it was Otaßo's turn to send a team down to Inverenrffill for the annual match. In this connection Captain Scarlc, of the First Railway Pioneers, that the Southland Kiiies jVssociution had later decidcd to change ils dates to Boxing Day and December 27, the Gore Association, whose meeting usually falls on those dates, having abandoned itn meeting this year.—The matter was referred to the incoming committee. ' s Tito Defencc Office advised that the Government grant of £45 wiis available for the association's meeting.—The Secretary explained that the amount was £22 10s less than was available to the association last year, the balance having been devoted to (service matches open to the Volunteers only. The association would this year possibly adjust the matter by dropping the service matches from the programme.—Received.

It was resolved—" That the secretary bo instructed to write to the Council of Defence, through the officer commanding the district, with a view to having the 100mile limit for free railway passes abolished, and a free pass granted for any distance to bona fide competitors at any rifle association meeting where Government money is included on the prize-list." It was mentioned that, a similar resolution bad teen passed at tho previous annual meeting, but had not been favourably considered by the authorities. Various epcakers referred to the iniquity of the restriction, whicjj prevented Invercanrill and Dunedin Volunteers, for example, from travelling free to take part in the meetings at each other's centres. The Chairman expressed the opinion that the limit was a reasonable one.

On the motion of Captain l'roudfoot, seconded by Lieul-coloncl Stoneham, it wa.s resolved to voto the usual honorarium to the retiring secretary. Captain M'Lean. Various speakers referred in terms of sincere praise lo the worth of the secretary, to whose- forethought ami unsparing effort, was <lue the fact that tlw Otago meetings were conducted without hitch or delay.

Votes of ilmnks to the treasurer (Lieutenant Laeey) and the auditor (Captain Dempster), the ranj»e officer (Captain I'roudfcotl.rand the press were passed.