THE VOLUNTEERS.

Press, Volume II, Issue 8704, 29 January 1894, Page 3

THE VOLUNTEERS.

The annual meeting and smoke concert ol the Canterbury Engineers was held on Tuesday, the 23rd inst., in their now orderly room, which they havo lately acquired from the Scottish Rifles ; Lieutenant McGce occupied the chair, and was dap. ported by Lieuteuanfc Anderson and by the Key. Walter Beau, chaplain of the corps. There was an attendance of forty-eight members', and au apology for absence was received from Lieutenaat-Colouel Gordon. On the motion of Lieutenant McGee, seconded by Sergeant-Major Midgeley, the balance sheet as presented by the Treasurer (Corporal Donaldson) was adopted, and it was decided that an honorarium of £3 3a be voted to Corporal Donaldson for past services. It was also decided to vote the Bum of £2 2a to the memorial fund of the late Colonel Lean. The Firing Committee's report was then read by Corporal Bridgeman, which dealt at length with shooting matters in connection with the corps, both of'the past results and future prospects. The election of Committees resulted as follows:—Finance, Sergeant-Major Midgeley and Corporal Bridgetnan to act in conjunction with the officers; Firing, Sergeant-Major Midgeley, Corporal Bridgetnan, Sergeant Heau, Lance-Corporal Watts and Sapper Bunton; Auditors, Corporal Pegg and Sapper Morrow ; Secretary and Treasurer, Corporal Donaldson. The business having been disposed of the members eat down to supper. After the toast of the Queen the Chairman called on the Chaplain to present the prizes. The recruit's prize, presented by Captain Webater, was awarded to Sapper Mansfield, and the trained men's prize was divided between Lance-Corporal Smith and Swanaton. The shooting prizes resulted an follows :— Lance-Corporal Watts 1, Sapper Taylor 2, Sergeant-Major Midgley 3, and Corporal Bridgemon 4. During the evening some excellent songs and other items were given by the members, especially' Corporal Pegg's bone solo, which received a double encore.

The annual meeting of the Geraldino Rifle Volunteer Corps was held on Thursday evening last. The question of disbanding the Corpa was discussed. The epeakeie condemned the Government for the lack of interest taken in volunteering, not only at» Geraldine bat all over the colony. The general opinion was that volunteering would never be a success until the two-third number required to make a parade is lowered, and also until every Volunteer ia paid for each parade he attends. It waa pointed out that under the present capitation system Volunteers could only spend their capitation in.certain directions, and aa audited account of the expenditure must be sent to the Government, while under the old system each man got his capitation and could spend it as he liked. 11> was thought that the old system should again be brought) into force. (The question of disbanding the Corps was adjourned for a future meeting. On Friday evening the Kaiapoi Rifles* under Lieut. Millar, fifty-four, and Cadete, under Captain R, J. Alexander, forty-one, held a battalion drill, Sergeant-Major For via being present aa instructor.