CANTERBURY RIFLE VOLUNTEERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XVII, Issue 968, 19 February 1862, Page 4

CANTERBURY RIFLE VOLUNTEERS.

An important meeting of the Lyttelton Companies of the Canterbury Rifle Volunteers took place at the Town Hall, on Monday evening last, pursuant to notice, to wind up the affairs of the companies prior to disbandment; Lieutenant Aynsley in the chair. .

After reading the advertisement calling the meeting, the Chairman said that the Volunteers had been called together in anticipation of the arrival of the Airedale, which was expected to bring down the order for disbanding the corps, and it was therefore necessary that they should be made acquainted with their financial position. The instruments of the band belonged to the companies, and there Avere also some liabilities which must be provided for; he would suggest that a committee be appointed to inspect the accounts. He then read through the new regulations (which have already been published) and the clauses of the several acts referred to in them, and requested Captain Ward to explain them to the meeting. Captain Waud said he stood there probably for the last time as an officer of the Volunteers, as circumstances .unfitted him for again holding that position. He was not there as a member of the Government which had framed the new regulations, for he was not in Auckland at the time they were being considered. He believed there were material advantages in the new regulations over the old. In the first place, it was absurd to form a volunteer force for one year only; iinder the new regulations service.was permanent, but a member could withdraw on giving a' month's notice. Another feature was the pecuniary assistance given by the General Government, and if the Provincial Government gave their grant, it would enable any future volunteers to pay off all the arrears of the defunct companies and to become comparatively independent. There were now sixty rities in the town, and ammunition likely to be plentifully supplied. The officers had some reason to be displeased at being summarily dismissed, after getting their accoutrements and not being allowed to wear them even once—(Laughter.)—but as far as the Volunteers as a body were concerned, their position was not altered virtually, except in certain points, in which he .thought the new regulations were preferable to the old. He thought it was best to do as Lieutenant Aynsley had suggested, viz., to leave it to a committee to see that the assets of the corps, the band instruments were handed over to the future volunteer force along with the liabilities attaching to them. Any new company, he was sure, would be very glad to get them on those terms. Though the new regulations were full of fines, this was simply necessary: the meeting well knew that regulations could not bo enforced without fines. There were two points in those regulations which the Auckland Volunteers had taken objection to, and which ho had no doubt the' Government would alter. The

Auckland corps considered tlmt.tlio whole of the time which had boon served under the old regulations should count, instead of only one-half; also hi districts where they could not muster a full company of sixty, a proportionate amount of money might lie allowed. He therefore hoped that the Lyttclton Volunteers would resume their service. (Cheers.) Mr. JiAY.NKK fully agreed with the suggestion of the Chairman. They had not been able to got a statement of the accounts hitherto, and they had never had an opportunity of investigating them. He would move— " That this meeting appoint a committee for the purpose of auditing the accounts, taking possession of the instruments of the band and other property of the corps, with power to settle all business in connection with the Lyttelton Companies." This resolution, having been seconded by Mr. Or. Scott, was put to the meeting, and, after several suggestions had been made as to who should form the committee, was carried. Mr. Hassall proposed that the companies proceed at once to nominate six members to form a committee, irrespective of rank, which was agreed to, and the folloving gentlemen were appointed:— Lieut. Aynsley, Dr. Donald, Ensign Hassall, Messrs. Willcox, Grubb, and Stout. Dr. Donald thought that, before separating, steps should be taken to consider the new regulations. So far as he had had an opportunity of judging, he considered them an improvement; for, under the old regulations, a company sworn in for one year only became defunct, officers, he thought, properly speaking, as well as others, at the end of that term, and, as commissions were not renewed at each reswearing, the officers were placed in a very anomalous position. The regulations were also more definite in the penal clauses. He would move that a meeting be called that day fortnight to consider the advisability of re-enrolment under the new regulations, which was carried.

In answer to a question from Mr. Bell, the Chairman said he could not give any information as to whether the Volunteers, in the event of their not being resworn, would be allowed to compete for the General Government prizes; but he thought that those who had sent in their names prior to the arrival of the order for disbandment would be entitled to fire for the prize rifles. He also stated that the companies would parade every Wednesday, as heretofore, till orders to the contrary were received from the Adjutant.

Mr. Rayner, in proposing a vote of thanks to the Chairman, coupled with it also a vote of thanks to the officers, which was carried by acclamation, and the meeting separated.