Newspaper Article – Captain WH Nelson

CAPTAIN WILLIAM HENRY NELSON, of the Woodville Rifles, has taken a keen interest in rifle shooting for many years. The first open competition in which he took part was at the Hawke’s Bay Rifle Association meeting, held at Petane in 1886, when he was successful in winning first prize in the consolation match. Mr Nelson has at various times been a member of the Taradale, Takapau, Waipukurau, and Woodville rifle clubs. As a member of the latter he attended the meeting of the New Zealand Rifle Association, held at Wanganui in March, 1901, and was successful in winning the New Zealand Rifle Championship, with the record score of 570, breaking all previous records of this association by five points. Mr W.H. Nelson, who was born at Waipukurau, is the eldest son of Mr William Nelson, of Tomoana, Hawke’s Bay. At an early age he was sent to England, and was educated at Warwick College. On his return to New Zealand he took up sheep-farming, which occupation he is now pursuing at Woodville. Mr Nelson has devoted much of his time to matters of local interest. He took a leading part in the formation of the Woodville County Council, of which he has been a member from its inception. As a member of the Hawke’s Bay Acclimatisation Society he has done good work in assisting to stock the rivers and streams in the district with trout. Mr Nelson is married, and has one daughter.