OPAKI RIFLE CLUB.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9171, 20 August 1908, Page 5

OPAKI RIFLE CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING :OP | MEMBERS. The Opaki Rifle Club hel:l its annual general meeting of members last evening, in the Dominion Hall, anout twenty members being present. Captain VV. J. Welch occupied the chair. The Chairman moved the adoption of the annual report, which detailed fully the doings of the Club during the past year, and in doing so he expressed extreme satisfaction at its nature. The balance-sheet also came as a pleasant surprise, as it s'iowed that in two years the credit balance had increased from £2 to £2O. As members were aware the Fairview Rifle Club had amalgamated with the Opaki Club, and he regretted that thsre were not more of the late Fairview Club present, but for various reasons they had found it inconvenient to attend, and many had sent apologies. Mr A. J. Cameron seconded the adoption of the report and balancesheet. Mr G. Hyde spoke a few words in praise of the work of the Secretary, Mr VV. J. Wiuslade, as disclosed by I the report, the outstanding subscriptions only amounting to £l. On the motion of the Chairman it was unanimously decided to grant the Secretary an • honorarium of £3. Various speakers eulogised the work done by Mr VVinslade during the year. The Chairman then suggested that in view of the onerous duties attaching to the office of Secretary, and to the growing importance of the Club, the Secretary's honorarium should be a fixed sum. Mr King moved that it be £s—The motion was carried unanimously. The following motions moved by the Chairman were then put and carried unanimously. (1) This meeting wishes to place on recor.l its hearty approval and convey the thanks and appreciation of the members of the Opaki Rifle Club to W. J. Winslade for his labours in writing up all the minutes'and records of the Club that have been preserved up to the present date, and further wishes to keep them for ; reference mainly, as some have become obsolete, and a number are contradictory, and some have been Inst through change of secretaries. (2) The members of this Club are of opinion that the time has arrived when a new set of rules and conditions should be framed subject always to those governing the New Zealand Rifle Association, and for that purpose do hereby adopt the following with this proviso—"That should the general committee be fronted with a rule or condition that prolongs, works or acts harshly, or in any way proves to the detriment of the working of the Club, its members or a member, the committee shall by a majority vote of those present have power to alter, revise or ride over any rule or condition without their action being questioned, or appealed against, provided always that every member the committee has been duly notified of the data and place of such meeting." The election of officers resulted as follows:—Patron, Mr A. W. Hogg, M.P.; President, Mr H. A. Williams; Vice-Presidents, Messrs H. Holmes, D. McGregor, senr., W. G. Beard, J. D. Cruickshank, J. M. Coradine, H. Morrison, R. J. Dagg, F. Maunsell, D. McKenzie, G. C. Summerell, F. S. Cooper, J. O. Bidwill and A. P. Whatman; Captain, Mr W.J. Welch; Secretarv, Mr W. Winslade; General Committee, Messrs J. McHattie, a. J. Cameron, R. J. King, J. McKenzie, J. Sutherland, VV. J. Henry, D. McCalmont, A. Matthews, G. Hyde, D. McGregor, R. J. Dagg, H. Evans, S. McNabb, W. D. Bennett and H. Perry; Executive and Finance Committee, Messrs Hyde King and W. J. Henry; Ammunition Committee, Messrs R. J. King, A. Matthews, J. McKenzie and Miller. The annual subscription was fixed at 10s. Mr Bennett stated that at a meeting of riflemen held at Bideford recently, at which about twenty names were handed in, it was resolved to form a Rifle Club. The meeting thought that if any arrangement could be made with the Opiki Club those present would be willing to constitute a branch of the Opaki Club. It was fully understood that there were rules regarding swearing-in and parades which would have to be observed. Mr King spoke in favour of the branch being formed, and he moved that those persons who had expressed their willingness to join the rifle club at Bideford and whose names were submitted by Mr Bennett bo elected as members of such a branch, the subscription to the Opaki Club to be 2s 6d per year per member. Mr Hyde seconded the motion, vhich was carried unanimously. It was decided to allow members of the Bideford branch to compete for the Opaki Club trophies by paying half the annual subscription of a full member. It was decided to open the season on the 26th of September.