A NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3254, 11 September 1878, Page 3

A NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

« ■- A meeting of volunteers was held at tho drill shed last evening. About 40 gentlemen attended. Major Lean, who presided, explained the business, and read the following circular : — "Wellington. August 3, 1878. " Dear Sir,— lt having been decided during the last session of Parliament that thero should be no more Colonial' meetings, a suggestion was mado to the Government of the advisableness of forming a New Zealand Rifle Association, on the basis of the National Rifle Association of England, to take up the work hitherto conducted under Government Auspices, riz. :— That in the event of such Art Association being formed, whether the Go-

vernment would transfer to it the whole Colonial prize firing equipment, consisting of tents, targets, champion belte, &c., &c. • whether the Government would assist 6uch Association with a money grant in aid of its funds, and the use of a reserve at a central part of fche Colony for the purpose of holding annual gatherings. The Government; received the proposal very favourably; bufc nothing further was done in the matter until ' the same questions were asked in the House of Representatives on August 21, when the reply was favourable on every point. In order to save valuable time, a preliminary meeting of representatives of Volunteer Corps in Wellington was held on fche 27th inst., when a Provisional Committee was appointed fco confer with Volunteers generally throughout the Colony, with a view to the formation of a purely Colonial Association^ I have, therefore, by desire of fchis Committee, to address '- you on the subject, and to solicit your kind assistance with a view of placing fche matter before the Corps under your command, at the earliest; possible date, to ascertain the amount of support fche Association would be likely to receive, the Government having intimated their willingness to assist, if assured that the Volunteers mean business. (Vide Mansard, August 21, page 368.) I may point out fchat there is not; a day fco be losfc if we are to obtain any pecuniary assistance from the Government for the forthcoming season. Our Committee have every wish to work heartily in accord with volunteers generally throughout the Colony, for the general good of the whole force, irrespective of any district or branch of the service, either North or South. No attempt has yefc been made to draw up a set of rules, for the government of the proposed Association, as our Committee feel that, fco do juatice to the subject, every district should have a voice in the matter, and have asked me to suggest thafc, as soon as possible, a meeting of Volunteers in your district should be held, and a delegate appointed fco visit WeUington. The Committee have therefore fixed Tuesday, Oct. 8 next, as the date on which the meeting of delegates be held. In the meantime, tho Committee will be pleased to act in any way in furtherance of the object. If, however, your Volunteers are unable to send a delegate, our Committee would be glad if you would nominate some person resident in Wellington to represent your interests. I am also to ask you to explain to your Volunteers, that, to ensure success, the Association must be strongly supported by the Volunteer Force as a body — in facfc, become almost; a Volunteer association, otherwise it would be needless to ask . assistance from the Government. But while offering tliis remark, our committee desire me to say that they do not wish to exclude civilian (or non- Volunteer) membors. lam further desired, before concluding, to urge upon you the importance of losing no time in this matter, and to ask if you will, as early as possible, send me a short telegram, giving the probable number of members who will join. The committee, on receipt of such information, will then at once communicate with the Government, and endeavour to arrange for a grant in aid being placed on the supplementary estimates for the current year. — I remain, dear Sir, yours very truly, Francis Stjtvens, Interim Secretary." Captain Warner urged the necessity of keeping up the holding of annual meetings similar to those discontinued by the Government, as they led to good f eeling and helped to keep up a high proficiency in shooting among Volunteers. Membership he considered should not be restricted to Volunteers — for instance old Volunteers who had 'not time for performing Volunteer duties would still endeavour to keep up their proficiency in rifle Bhooting. He thought thafc not only old Volunteers, hut civilians generally would look upon the proposed Association as one which should meet their cordial support. No time should be losfc in taking action. A discussion here took place as to how the Committee which would appoint the delegate should be elected. The question as to the principle on which the Association should be carried on having been raised, Mr Appleby said he anticipated thafc the New Zealand Rifle Association would be carried on on the principle of the National Rifle Association, each company subscribing so much, and sending one or two representatives to each annual gathering. In a discussion which here ensued, Captain Hawkes mentioned incidentally that Volunteers would get their £2 capitation from Government, bufc nofc much more, as Government seemed to have made up its mind not to increase Militia expenditure in any form. Railway fares, he had understood, would be charged to Volunteers going to such a gathering, but fchis was to show the working of the railway, and they 'would be afterwards refunded by the Defence department.

It was then resolved—" (1.) That this meeting affirms the desirability of the formation of a New Zealand Rifle Association ; (2.) Thafc a Committee be appointed, consisting of the officer commanding tho District, three members from each company, and three representatives from the Canterbury Rifle Association, the same to be empowered to elect a delegate to proceed to Wellington." Ifc was suggested thafc to save expense some one already in Wellington should be apbinted delegate, but this did not meet with approval, the opinion being expressed that the delegate to represent the province should bb sent from the province. Ifc was further resolved, that with a view to an earlier meeting of the Committee, the several bodies referred to in preceding tlio resolutions appoinfcrepresentatives and forward their names to the officer commanding the district not later than Saturday morning. A vote of thanks to Major Lean for the attention he had paid to the subject concluded the proceedings.