VOLUNTEER MATTERS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 4003, 21 June 1870, Page 3

VOLUNTEER MATTERS.

; Oint readers will remember that, on the | occasion of the Volunteer firing at Otago for 1 the prizes offered by the Colonial Governi merit, when the representatives from thia J province ..were -.returning to their homes, a | match was arranged between the members of 1 the Auckland and the Thames corps. The l . suggestion was first acted upon by the Thames c Volunteers, who sent a challenge to the ■ Auckland Bifles; The latter accepted it, and, 1 on the match coming off at Point Chevalier^ • the Auckland ,team was victorious. A ' return match was asked for hy the ' Thames corps, and recently the return - match came off at the Rifle Range L at the Thames, where the Auckland team » again won by.a very large majority. Last week, at a meeting of the Auckland com. | mifctee of management, it was decided to J invite their representatives to a public 1 i dinner in honour of the services they had ' rendered to the battalion; and Captain 1 Batger, Lieutenant Matthews, and Sergeant Burns were appointed a sub- committee to • carry out the necessary arrangements. ' Hence the dinner last night in the Star Hotel, Albert-street. At eight o'clock, the hour appointed, a numerous assexn- , blage of the A. R. Y. Battalion mustered in the large room up-stairs. The senior officer, Captain Derrom, occupied the chair, and Lieutenant Matthews was vice-chairman. After a most substantial dinner had been partaken of, provided in host Macready's best style, the usual loyal toasts were drunk. — The Chairman then announced that he had received letters of apology (which he read) from Captain Batger and Major Tisdall, who, he had anticipated, would have been present. The former was detained until late in the evening, on account of unusual press of business, but he promised, at a later hour in the evening, to attend. The latter was unable to attend, owing to illness in his family, The Chairman then gave the toast of the ' ' Army and Navy," and was responded to by Captain Guilding. — The Vice-Chairman called a)ou the company to drink the health of "His onor the Superintendent and members of the Provincial Council," and in doing so said, so far as the Superintendent was concerned, they had at last got the right man in the right place. During the last session of the Provincial Council he placed a sum on the estimates, which was passed by the Council, in aid of the Volunteers, and which had been fairly distributed. He hoped that amount would be doubled next year. — The toasb was drunk with all honours, and three times three. — The Chairman then proposed the toast of the evening, " Our Successful Competitors." For many years the Volunteer movement in Auckland, has not been very prosperous, but now a change for the better had commenced. The members of the Provincial Council had come to the aid of the Volunteers by con» tributing a small sum for its support. The new rifle range, when once it was available for practice, would be of great service. He was proud of the team which represented Auckland at the late rifle conteit, but, while feeling justly proud of them, the Auckland Volunteersoughtnottooverlookthe merits of the Thames Volunteers. They displayed a considerable amount of courage in challenging the Auckland Volunteers, which was so much the older corps ; and, although beaten, the Thames Volunteers treated the Auckland team to an amount of kindnesa which was wholly unlooked for. When once the Council should provide the necessary funds for the completion of the rifle xange at Mount Eden, he did not doubt but the team who had so nobly represented them in the late contests would soon be fit to compete with any corps in the North Island. He hoped the time w oukl not be far distant when they would be able to compete with a team from the Empire City. (Cheer 3.) He would again propose the health of " Our Successful Competitors." The toast was drunk enthusiastically. — Lieutenant Morrow, on behalf of the successful competitors, thanked the company for the manner in which they had drunk the toast. — The Vice-Chairman then gave " The Thames Volunteers." He hoped the company would warmly respond to that toast, for the Auckland team had experienced a great deal of kindness at the hands of the Thames Volunteers. He thought they deserved credit for the pluck they had shown. The Auckland Volunteers had , been treated in a very gentlemanly way: they did not anticipate the present result. He would therefore ask them to drink the health of the Thames Volunteers.— The toast was drunk with all honours, and three times thre^. — Sergeant Peaton, of the Artillery, replied on behalf of the Thames Volunteers, in appropriate terms. — The Chairman next proposed "The Health of our Comma'iding Officer, Lieutsnant-Colonel W. C. Lyon." — The toast was drank enthusiastically, and responded to by Ensign Skinner. — The "Vice-chairman next proposed " The Health of our Honorary Members." He alluded to the advantage honorary members were to any Voluntser force, and that to this cause the great success of the Volunteer movement at home and in the South was to be ascribed. When they could count upon 100 honorary members, there would be some certainty of the success of the Volunteer movement in this place. Until this was attained, they should not rest. At present they had only about 20 honorary members. Without money they cquld not get along, and on Thursday night they were going to make their first appeal to the public in the Prince of Wales Theatre, and he hoped ifc would bo a success. — The toast was drunk with all honours. — Mr. Waddell responded. — The Chairman then proposed, "Our Old Fellow Volunteer Comrades," some of whom he saw around him. — Mr. Superintendent Asher responded, and was followed by Mr. Leahy and Mr. Mason, each of whom was an old Volunteer. — Captain Batger proposed, '/Prosperity to the province of Auckland," which was suitably replied to. — Sergeant Gatland gave the toast of "The Ladies," and Mr. Secretary Hammond responded. — The Vice-Chairman ' gave " The Press," whioh was duly acknowledged. — The toasts, " Our Ho^st and Hostess," "Major Tisdall," "LieutenantColonel Harington," " The Auckland Rifle Volunteer Band," '.'The Capfcain-Elect of ISTo. 3 Company, Captain J. M. Clark," "The Senior Officer of the Corps, Captain Derrom, coupled with the name of Mrs. - Derrom," "The Chairman and Vice-Chair-mau," were also proposed, and duly responded to. After this the room was cleared, and tbe members present enjoyed themselves fora few hours in tripping the light fantastic toe. At an early hour the meeting broke up, after enjoying themselves most thoroughly for a few hours. The affair altogether was a complete success.