INCH CLUTHA

From our own Correspondent.)

(Unavoidably hold over from our last.)

The Clutha Rifle Corps met in the Inch Clutha school-room on the evening of Friday, the 11th inst, to elect commissioned officers for the corps. Captain Maitland occupied the chair. The Balclutha company marched from the Ferry to the school-room, singing songs and shouting war cries as they went along, and being joined by several of their own party in the route, they entered the place of meeting amidst the cheers of the Inch Clutha and Kaitangata companies, who were impatiently waiting for their arrival. Captain Maitland said that he was exceedingly glad to find so many there owing to the importance of the business to be transacted, and that it afforded him great pleasure to see that they had such intevest in the matter as to cause a muster of nearly a hundred strong*. He pointed out the necessity of concord and unanimity in the election of officers, and of having men suitable to the responsibility as officers in the corps. He then explained tbe business and object of the meeting, which was tbe following items : — l. The election of the first and sub-lieutenants. 2. The election of the secretary and treasurer. 3. A committee of nine members to conduct the management of the corps. 4. To fix the entrance fee and the monthly instalments to defray expenses. 5. To fix the place and time of drill during the visits of the inspecting officers. 6. To arrange as to the uniform which the Captain said the Government provided iov tbe sum of 30s; and to make the pecuniary affairs less onerous to the members, he said he would try to obtain money from the Government to pay the tailor. He then invited anyone who might clioose to sepak on these matters to do so.

On the motion of Mr A. Greg-or, it was agreed that the election of first lieutenant be restricted to the tinlclutha muster roll, for which office Mr John M'Neil and Mr W. Ch rusty were proposed. Mr Christy was # the successful candidate. The same restrictive privilege was accorded to the Inch. Clutha company regarding 1 the election of second lieutenant. J. Sanderson proposed Mr W. Pillans, and Mr Donald M'Kinlay for this office, for which Mrj M'Kinlay°\vas duly elected. Captain Maitland then ordered three cheers for first lieutenant Christy and sublieutenant M'Kinlay, which were heartily responded to. He also congratulated the corps on the efficiency of its commissioned officers and said of course he did not mean to apply the remark to himself. Messrs Christy and M'Kinlay thanked the -mem hers of the corps for having placed them in such responsible positions. Mr John Low was elected treasurer, and Mr John M'JBvvin Secretary. A committee of nine were also elected, five of whom to form a quorum. It was agreed that the entrance money I should be 5?, instead of 2s 6d. The election of the non-commissioned officers was reserved till a future occasion. I may also mention that Mr Stewart, late corporal of the INorth Dunedin Rifles, was candidate for the sub-lieutenancy, and Mr J. C. Anderson for the office of first lieutenant, but the arrangement to restrict the election of officers to certain localities deprived both of these gentlemen of the success which a great many in the corps had wished them.

It was agreed, after a lengthened discussion, that the subscriptions paid previous to the night in question should be disposed of by, " cry quits and start afresh." It was arranged that Kaitangata, Inch Clnthn, and the Ferry should be the places for drill, and also Te Houka if circumstances permitted.. Upon the whole, the meeting was a success. I never saw any subject entered upon with greater enthusiasm than the business of the corps, and I do not hesitate to say that if they keep the impetus they have at present, the corps will soon be the best in Otago. The captain expressed himself highly pleased with the orderly manner in which the business of the evening was conducted. A hearty vote of thanks to Captain Maitland brought the meeting to a close.