NELSON RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Colonist, Volume XLI, Issue 9097, 15 February 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

NELSON RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

A representative gathering of officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the local corps assembled at the Drill Shed Committee Room on Saturday Feb. 12th, favourable to the resuscitation of a Rifle Association in connection with the Volunteers. Captain Littiejohn who presided, stated that the meeting had been called in deference to the wishes of a number of shooting men. The shooting .in Nelson had drifted to a very low ebb, and if the formation of a rifle association would give any stimulus to volunteering and shooting, Colonel Pitt would give his most hearty support. Quarter-master Sergeant Madigan, the Secretary of the defunct Association, said that there was a sum to credit of over £3. He said the old Association was not well supported by the volunteers, therefore it had to lapse. Captain Harkness (Stoke Bifles) exj pressed his thankfulness to the town corps, and those who had been the means of call* ing the meeting. His company would give an association its support. It was high time something was done to revive rifle shooting in this district. A conversational discussion then took place as to funds to keep an association in a healthy financial state. It was suggested that the £5 per corps received yearly from the district prize fund should be given this year towards the nucleus of :a fund for an Association. It was stated that this would aot meet with support from some of the companies, who devoted the £5 grant for shooting purposes amongst the first and second class shots of the company. If the whole of the £5 was put into the Association, the second class shots would receive no benefit, as it was useless for them in un* handicapped shooting to compete against first-class shots of the Association. It was pointed out that the district prize money, ( £25, did not belong to the corps until so voted by the Board of Officers, who had power to vote the money in any direction as iong as it went in the direction of the "encouragement of rifle shooting." Tbe officers could vote the money to the Association. P.O. Rankin proposed that the meeting adjourn to take the feeling of the corps on the matter, and see what support would be obtained from them. Lieut Watson proposed, and Capt Harkness seconded, an amendment that a " Nelson itifle Association "be formed. The amendment was strongly supported and oarried. The iollowiog were then chosea & mm-

m'ttee to .(.raw up rules for the working of • | the Association, same to be submitted for; approval of a general meeting:— Lieut, i I Watsoni P.O. Watson (Coast Guards) : ! I Lieut Fleming and Sercrt Milner (H Battery); dpi iWnK-ss.And Sergt Allport (Stoke Rifles) ; Capt Bryant and Pef-gt Baigent I (Waimea Rifles) ; Captain Littiejohn and Corpl Jickell (College Cadets). Secretary {pro tern), Sergt-Major Heuly. Captain Harkness proposed that the Secretary write to corps soliciting their supp'ori*; and asking that a contribution of £2 lOs lie given by &U& corps to the Association for an initial fund. — Carried. Several recommendations were made for the consideration of the Committee, j which meets on Saturday next. A general ! meeting will be held on the 26th inst to j receive the Committee's report.