The Gun Club.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1888, 24 September 1886, Page 2

The Gun Club.

The Masterton match of the Wairarspa Gun Club took place yesterday. The Jay was fine, and a large number of visitors were on the ground from all parts of the Valley. The Greytown and Carterton members proceeded to Masterton in Jones' large brake, and all the arrangements were carried out satisfactorily to every one interested. Owing to the exertions of Mr Elkins, of the the Club Hotel, sufficient pigeons were supplied to make a good match. For the first pigeon match there were twelve entries, viz, Messrs Perry, Welsh, Grace, Wagg. Vennell, Tancred, H Campbell, Young, Scale, B Campbell, Ward and Elkins. The shooting in this match was by points and Messrs Welsh and Tancred having killed two birds out of three tied for first prize. In firing off the tie Mr Tancred shot bis bird, and Mr Welsh missed, consequently Mr Tancred took first and Mr Welsh second. Mr Elkins made an excellent shot in this match, but lost one of his birds through a mistake in loading bis gun. Mr Welsh had the misfortune to lose his bird out of bounds, or he would have been the winner. Mr Wagg made an excellent wing shot in the first round ; so also did Mr Ward ; in the second match Messrs Young, Elkins and Ward tied and in firing ofi' Mr Young proved the winner. The next match on the programme was a sparrow competition with ten entries, in which Messrs Campbell, Ward, Tancred and Grace tied, Mr Campbell won the fire off. Messrs Scale, Grace, Wagg, Pelting, Perry and Ward also competed. A glass ball match was the next and this was won by Mr B. Campbell, be having shot all his balls the first barrel. Messrs Ward and Tancred also shot well ; there were ten entries. After the shooting the party adjourned to the Club Hotel, where a meeting was held, Mr N Grace in the chair Mr Grace in explaining the objects of the meeting said that it bad bean mooted by the members of the Club that as many members resided at Masterton and Carterton the Club should be called the Wairarapa Gun Club, and he hoped the Masterton men would fall in with that idea and assist to make the Club a strong and united one for the whole of the Valley. The Masterton men could - form a committee of their own to arrange matches in the Masterton district, and the members of the other end of the Valley could arrange their meet-

ings by the Committee now in existence. Mr Tancred said be was always under the impression that the Club was to be a general one for the whole of the Walrarapa ; he would be sorry to find that it would become a purely local one, successful as it had been already ; be was confident that every town could not form a strong club such as it was intended that this should be. He trusted the Mastertou sportsmen would join them in a body and combine to make it a powerful organisation. They had had some excellent sport that day which he hoped would tend to make a good feeling of unity among lovers of the gun throughout the valley.

Mr Buick said be would like to see a general club for the whole of the valley. They were all Wairarapa men this side of the liimutaka and the more sparrows they could shoot the better, he hoped they would work together. Mr J Tully said he hoped to see one good club, and would be pleased to see a combination.

Mr Kimberley said at first he was averse to calling the club the Wairarapa Club as at their first|meetiugs none but South Wairarapa men were present, but as the feeling of a number of members were in favour of making the Club a general one, he thought that it would be far better to have one Club ; either that or have two Clubs and the members of one Club to be honorary members of the other. Combination he thought would put them on a better footing, and lead to a goood feeling

Mr Elkins would like to see it a Wairarapa Club as it would lead to unity and that meant strength, he thought that the friendly feeling shewn by the members of the olnb the other end of the valley should be appreciated. Mr Perry would like to accord the Gun - • - '•••••♦» vote ot thanks for affording the UlUeauw.. i Masterton men a day's good sport. Mi Tancred as a member of the club thought that the committee had acted unselfish throughout; they had catered for all towns in the Wairarapa; be believed that their next meeting would be at Featherston, before the great match in November It is ultimately arranged that Mr Elkins should call a meeting at Masterton shortly to ascertain the views of the Masterton sportsmen as to the proposal re combination, and notify the Committee of the Club when (be meeting would take plaoe,