Southland Rifle Club

Southland Times, Issue 14332, 28 April 1899, Page 3

Southland Rifle Club

There was a good attendance at the annual busioess meeting of this club in the Prince of jWales Hotel yesterday evening. The Vice-President, the Hon, H Feldwick, M.L.C., presided. The honorary secretary, Mr W. Bannerman, read the annual report and balance sheet which stated inter alia that the past year had been the best yet experienced by the club, which was now practically out of debt, while there had been a satisfactory increase in membership. The committee suggested that the prizes be extended to include the best i ange averages ; also that the handicapping be left in the hands of one man for this year and that a small magazine be erected on the range. The balance sheet showed the receipts to have been £134 7s 8d ; expenditure, £126 9s 7d. The report and balance sheet having been adopted the election of officers resulted as follows:—President: Hon. J. G. Ward; Vice-Presidente : Hon. H. Feldwick, Messrs A. F. Hawke, J. E. Wa’<rq and P. L. Gilkison; Captain; Mr Joe Johnston; Lieutenant: Mr R. Kightly ; secretary: Mr W. Binnerman ; treasurer : Mr John Johnston ; handicapper: Mr R. Kightly ; com- ' mittee : Messrs A. R. Wills, J. S. Murphy, and L. Lennie.

Mr O’Toole threw out the suggestion that the handicapper should he appointed for three months on trial, nob that he took any exception to the gentleman appointed, but he thought the suggestion a good one. Mr J. Grant was presented with a silver cup and a barometer for bsst shot; Mr A. R. Wills with a barometer and a gold piece for making the greatest number of bulls’ eyes; half a sovereign to Mr Joe Johnston and two photos of New Zealand scenery to Mr W. Bannerman for best sighted shot. Each of the recipients suitably acknowledged the gifts. On the motion of Mr W. Smith, hearty votes of thanks were passed to the offioebears, the Press, Mr W. Nicol for designing diagrams, and to the donors of trophies. At a social meeting which followed, the chairman made a few remarks, observing that the club had done more to improve shooting in Invercargill than all the shooting committees of volunteer corps had ever done. They were assisted materially by the repoits and notes in the local papers, and he thought the club had done a great deal of good. Although a certain amount of jealousy atone time existed between rifle clubs and volunteers this had been swept away. The secretary (Mr Bannerman) was the recipient of a handsomely-framed photo of members of the club for his arduous and painstaking efforts, and suitably acknowledged the gift. The toast of “ The Army, Navy, Volun. teers, and Rifle Clubs,” proposed by Mr L. Lennie, and responded to by Mr J. E. Mackenzie ; some reminiscences of N.Z. Rifle Association’s meetings by Mr J. E. Mac-’ kenzie, and Mr W. Smith ; a recitation by Mr James Johnston ; and songs by Messrs A. F. Hawke, E. O. Service, W. Smith, J. F. Wakelin, A. R. Wills, and the Hon. H. Feldwick, and a violin solo by Mr Wills filled up the programme, the accompaniments being well played by Mr Service.