one of the best rifle shots New Zealand has ever produced
Arthur Samuel Ballinger was born in 1860, in Melbourne, Australia. He was the son of Joseph Ballinger who would eventually own one of the largest plumbing business in Wellington. Joseph started the business as a small shop on Willis Street in 1864 and then moved to Waring Taylor Street in 1879 where the company held a very large site. Notably, Joseph installed the plumbing at Government Buildings.
Arthur and his brother William Henry took over the business when their father died in 1881. The brothers expanded the from the six staff that their father employed to thirty-four by 1900. Among the fixtures in their impressive plumbing showroom was a toilet made of iron, stamped and painted to resemble carved walnut.
In 1902, the brothers were in dispute over patents with their older brother, Thomas, who had established his own very successful plumbing company in Wellington.
But it is in rifle shooting that Arthur is most remembered. His shooting career started with the cadets in 1872. In 1892 he was part of the Petone Rifle Club members competition. He secured second ‘leg-in’ with a score of 97 out of 105. National success came at Trentham in 1893, Auckland 1897 and Trentham again in 1907. In 1873, the government had donated a belt that became the prize for the national championship. The third victory gave him the belt outright. At the banquet given to the Ballinger brothers in 1907, Arthur said he had decided to present the belt to the Association, on condition that it became known as the Ballinger Champion Belt. It is now the oldest sporting trophy in New Zealand.
In responding to Arthur’s speech, Hon. J Carroll said that a country’s defences must be strong on land. ‘This could be brought about by cultivating nerve, resolution, self-control, and patriotism and rifle practice’. He went on to say ‘… the old fashioned weapons contrasted strangely with the fighting machines of today, but the quality of men remained the same’.
His brother William was also a champion rifle shooter and was often Arthur’s competition for first prize. As was their elder brother Joseph, shooting off in a tie with Arthur in 1892.
Arthur married Fanny Smith in 1891 and their children were Eric Arthur, Leonard Francis, Norah Alice and Esmee Phyllis. He was a member of the Petone Club for more than 30 years and was competing in minor association meetings and club competitions until just a few years before his death. Arthur died in 1941 aged 80. He is the first of nine interments in this plot.
Plot: *Ch Eng 2/M/479
By Julia Kennedy
Private A. Ballinger, Wellington Guards. Courtesy of Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections NZG-18970306-0281-05.
Group portrait of the competitors at the New Zealand rifle association meeting, Wanganui. A and W Ballinger petone rifle club. Courtesy of Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19010412-05-06.
