WELLINGTON HIGHLAND RIFLES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 156, 26 March 1908, Page 9

WELLINGTON HIGHLAND RIFLES.

I ANNUAL MEETING. - The annual meeting of tho Wellington Highland Rifles was bold last night, tho ' Officer Commanding, Captain M'Diarmid, in ' the chair; There was an excellent muster • of tho members. > The annual report congratulated members ■ upon tho fact that tho company still niain- ' tained its position as the leading company in the battalion, as regards shooting, drill, and esprit de corps. 1 Capitation.—No difficulty had been experi- ! onced in recruiting during tlio past year, • tlio only trouble- boiug.to clothe those'who '■ camo forward. The company had a full roll 1 throughout the year, and li.-id been able to ! again • capitato on the maximum, 63 men. : This, it was stated, was a. satisfactory stato - of affairs, as in a company wearing ,'an expensive uniform every man counts, and for 1 each man who fails to capitato a , Joss of £2 10s. is sustained. Strength.—As is usual at tho end of tlio year, several members havo been discharged, | and the company begins tho year with a ' membership of 58. i Camp.—Regret was expressed that tho , Easter camp was abandoned last year, and I the forthcoming manoeuvres were being , looked forward to. 1 Annual Ball.—The annual ball was held in 1 tho Town Hal||.no other hall being largo ; enough to accommodate tho company's friends. Events proved that the committco ' were justified in their enterprise,.' the big hall being, taxed to the utmost. About 270 ' couples took part in the dancing, and between 500. and 600 spectators witnessed the scene from tho gallery, a record for tho city. 1 Although tho expenditure amounted to £108 : 16s. .lid., there was a credit balance of £5 os. 7d. ; Resignations and Appointments.—The ap- ; pointment of Captain Mackintosh' as Major of tho Battalion occasioned both pleasure' and regret; Pleasure was expressed that tho company's popular skipper was selected for this responsible position,' and regret at tho loss of oho who had the interests of itlid company so much at heart, and had dono so much for it in the' stormy days of its career, ' Captain Mackintosh had been in oommand of tho company since its .'formation eight years ago, 'and it was - to ; his high principle, his strength of character, his coil? sideration'. for those under him, and his strong .determination to run tlio company on temperance lines that it chiefly owed its sideration for those undor him, a.nd his strong determination to ran tho company on temper-

anco,lilies .that it chiefly owed its present position. Major Mackintosh was entertained at a prismatic field glasses,, an enlarged' photograph of tho company, and'a shield bearing the name of overy mombor of tho corps (tho work of Lancc-Corporal Grant). Among other resignations were Sergeant Barnard, who has accepted a commission in the Boys' Institute Cadets,, Corporal M'lver, arid Private Coni- ' /bear. 1 Corporal M'lver and Private-Conibear liavo done good .service for the corps in up- . holding its reputation as a first-class shooting . company, ami represented it at tho Riflo Association, meeting at Trentham last year, in company i with Private M'Lean. Corporal M'lver .also attended it.tins year—with Private Corliett—and the Christchnrch meotinc. as well. Lieutenant MacDiarmid was elected to tho vacant position of captain by tho unanimous vote'of the company, and Mr. Andorson was ? later on elected unanimously as a lieutenant. There is still a vacancy for one ofiicer.. The following mombers received promotion during the year :-rCorporal M'Ardlo • to sergeant'; Privates Marsden, 1 M'Arthur, and M'lver to corporal rank; and Privates Duncan, J affray, '.and Dobson.t'o lance-cor-poral rank. ■ ' ' I Field Service Uniform.—The company has. decided to adopt a fiold servico uniform, consisting of khalci hairnet, tunic; and puttees, retaining the tartan trows. Tho Defence: authorities have sanctioned tho adoption of this ; dress,'and the order for the various articles> : has been put in hand'. 1W uniforms arb'ox- . pected to . arrive in time for''.tho' ' Easter manoeuvres.'. It has boen decided'to call in '.tho leggings and dispose of thorn; ..; Shooting.—Tho annual shooting match with the .Wanganui Highland Rifles w«s allowed to fall through this year, owing to the inability of the Wanganui men to make arrangements. The company belt .was won this year by Corporal . M'lver, Corporal Marsden being run-ner-up. /■ Tho competition for ,the Ballant.vno : Shield'has • not yet beoh completed. ' The Garrison Shield, Which was won by tho company last year, had to bo relinquished .this year, after, a hard fight, to the City Rifles, the Highlanders' team being the numersUp. . / ' 1 ■ ' Shooting Competitions.—The shooting competitions organised by the company, had resulted, so far as the 1 completed series wore : concerned, as follow:— No. 1 Competition.—Seniors: ChaplainMajor Shirer's prize's—Sergeant M'Millan, 1; Private Conibear, 2;; Corporal Marsden, 3. . Juniors: Trophies presented by (1) Private Conibear and (2) Mr. W. H. Tisdall—Private Eves, 1; Corporal Dobson, 2. No.. 2 Competition.—Seniors: Sergeant M'Millan, 1; Corporal Marsden, 2 (Bacon and Co.'s trophy); Corporal M'lver, 3. Juniors:, Private Corbctt, 1 (Preston and Co.'s' trophy) ; Private Shannon, 2. No. 3 Competition.—Seniors: Captain' M'Diarmid's prizes—Sergeant M'Millan, I; Corporal MJlver, 2; Private Conibear, 3. Juniors: Private Shannon, 1; Corporal Dobson, 2.: ',No. '1 Competition will be concluded on Saturday next, and that for tho Ballantyne Shield in a fortnight's time. A word of praise is given to the markers, Messrs. Cropp and Peterson, and the handicapper, Mr. J. L. Turner. r The report was adopted.