DEFENCE RIFLE CLUB.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1924, Page 9

DEFENCE RIFLE CLUB.

ANNUAL REPORT. The year that has just closed shows a small loss financially, caused principally by clearing off the liability with regard to spoons formerly given as range prizes and which were for a time unprocurable ; by the assistance given the Taranaki Rifle Association and by the long recess caused first by the range being closed for repairs and afterwards by the long procession of wet Saturdays. The loss is not of any great moment and given a good season it should be easily overtaken.

Owing to the causes already mentioned the club did not do the usual amount of shooting last season. The club championship was won by Dep.President Higgs, the junior championship by Rifleman O. P. George, the long-range aggregate by Rifleman G. H. Taylor, the short-range aggregate by Rifleman T. A. Marett. The service shield, for shooting under service conditions, was won by Rifleman G. H. Taylor. In the various rifle associations’ meetings attended by members of the club they did fairly well, and at the Taranaki meeting extremely well, the provincial championship being won by Rifleman G. H. Taylor, Dep.-President Higgs runner-up, and other members of the club well up in the aggregate. In team shooting the club have not done quite as well as in previous years and in the last hours of the year were defeated in the match for the Taranaki Rifle (lubs’ Challenge Shield by the Patea Rifle Club.

The range has been put in a state of good repair. Unfortunately it was done during the press of the shooting season, and consequently through the delay caused by it and the weather, the last of the club’s competitions was not finished until July.

The club increased in membership during the year; in addition to new members, Mr. Turnbull, of the Utiku Club, and Mr. Osborne, of the Karori Club; came to New Plymouth to reside, and have transferred to this dub. The miniature branch finished up the last few weeks of its first season brilliantly, but the present season has been a failure. Your committee were unable to get the use of a range until July this year; the late start and the unsuitable night have destroyed all interest in it. Still the debt to the main club has been reduced. There is the possibility of an arrangement being made for next year by which the branch will bo able to start at the proper time and on a night or nights most suitable to the majority. During the year the rules of the club have been re-drafted and additions ms*!d to them. A textual revision of the draft has been made by the club's patron, Lieut.-Colonel Weston, and it will lie submitted to you to-night for final adoption. The thanks of the duh are. due to all those who have assisted it in any way during the year; to the patron. Lieut.Colonel Weston, for his donation, and the assistance he has given with the revision of the rules; to the local officers of the Defence Department for the consideration that requests from the duh have always been met with; to the ladies; and to the press.