MILTON VOLUNTEER HALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14507, 26 April 1909, Page 8

MILTON VOLUNTEER HALL

OFFICIAL OPENING. (From Our Own Correspondent.) fpt , „ MILTON, April 24. ■n , a '! rooms for the w" C ?i V. ?■' head <l 1 >wt«'i , s of the OX. mirth JJaltal-ioiL 0.11. V. were opened this afternoon at Milton by Lionteitamt-coJoiiel bteivart in the presence of a f u il squad 01 the Bnice liifles, ex-member*, and others Apologies W ere ixseivcd from Mr James Allen, M P. (who wat. at Miller's Flat), the Mayor of Milton, and o number of staff ofueens in Dunodiu and clsewlKyo. After the fonna.l opening ;uid the hoistin<r of the flag and the salute light refreshments were served, Captain Stewart (commanding the liruce R.ifles) being chairman of the proceedings. Two of the original members of the Bruce Rifles were present—Mr John Dickson and Mr James LooHiart. The notice calling for Volunteers in Milton was issued in 1863, and the Bruce Kifles were fainted then and dnlied by a mounted constable. The membere of the corps were not, however, sworn in till May, 1864, and in the meantime the Dunodin Citv Guards had boon enrolted ami sworn in;" so that, though the Bruce Rifles wore first to enrol in Ota.go, they wet'e second on the register through not being sworn in earlier. It was also staled that, the Bruce. Rifles were the third on t.he list of corps enrolled in the Dominion, and had been in active operation ever since. The first captain of the Bruce Rifles was Captain Jones, of the Bank of New Zealand, Milton, and the late Edward Stewart, of Milton (and father of Lieutenant-colonel Stewart and Ca.ptain Stewart), was tha first lieutenant. Mr Dickson had 33 years' service in the Bruce Rifles. Ex-Lieutenant William Moore, who joined in 1872, responded to t.he toast of '"Tno Veterans." He had served through all the ranks to lieutenant, and held the longscrviee medal. The now hall cost something like £700, including the land, and is a comfortable building, intended not so much for a drillshed as for a headquarters and social hall. Tho old hall, which it replaces, was sold to tho Salvation Army recently. It was built 42 years ago bv John Dicteon and Son, Milton, at a ecsi of something like £'00. It. nea-lued £3(30 when sold, and this sum, with an expected grant- and a loan, will bo applied to tho payment of the new hall. At the eocial which followed the opening ceremony the general opinion was expressed that universal compulsory training was necessary, and this announcement was received with applause. One .speaker .-'tated that £140,000 a year was being spent on Volunteering, and the worth of that amount was not being returned owing to t.he apathy of young men. Compulsory taeniae would give a better result.