OUR DEFENCE FORCES.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 75, 26 September 1898, Page 5

OUR DEFENCE FORCES.

Mr. Edward Pearce, who was captain of the D Battery for some years, is to be presented with the photographs of the members before he leaves for England. A committee has been set up to collect material for a history of the Battery which it is intended to publish in book form. As a result of a meeting of enthusiastic Scotsmen held at the Foresters' Hall, Torystreet, on Saturday night, Mr. W. M'Lean presiding, it was unanimously agreed to form a corps to be called the Wellington Highland Volunteer Corps. A Committee consisting of Messrs. Donaldson, D. M'Phee, Walker, Connel, Anderson, and Henderson was elected to canvass for members and to report to a meeting to be held on Wednesday week. Mr. M'Lellan was appointed Secretary. Lieutenant-Commander Hislop, of the Naval Artillery, and Major Loveday gave some valuable information to those present with regard to the requirements of a fully-equipped Highland corps. The number of members required is 63, out of which about 35 have already signified their intentionj of becoming members, and it is expected that the required number will be procured without any trouble. One of the conditions is that those desirous of joining must be of Scotch descent, while those who wish to become honorary members may be of any nationality. The Karori Rifle Club held its fifth annual business meeting on Saturday night in the Shepherds' Arms Hotel, the Captain (Mr. John Burns) in the chair. The annual report stated, among other things, that during the past season the following members won trophies outright: — Mr. Beauchamp's trophy was secured by A. Henderson, Messrs. Levin & Co.'s by A. Venuell, Mr. J. Danks'sby E. Randell, and Messrs. Bulkley's, Gasquoine's, and Zohrab and Co.'s all won by R. Randell. Mr. Kernot's trophy was still under competition, with Mr. Nixon as winner of last leg. The shooting on the whole showed a gradual improvement as compared with that in other seasons. The balance-sheet showed a net credit balance of £8 4s sd. The report, after a brief discussion, was adopted. It was decided that the squatting position at 200 yards should be done away with. A proposal that the club be divided into A and B classes was carried. It was agreed that the system of sealed handicaps should be continued, and that members should provide their own ammunition. Messrs. G. Hawthorn, G. Halliday, and B. Caton were elected as new members. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows : — Patron, Dr. Newman ; President, Mr. R. C. Bulkley ; Vice - Presidents, Messrs. H. Beauchamp, C. Wilson, M.H.R., H. Moss, C. Haynes, W. C. Gasquoine, A. Gillespie, A. E. Kernot, and JohnDanks; Captain, Mr. John Burns ; Secretary, Mr. E. Randell; General Committee, Messrs. H. Hawthorn, R. Randell, F. Lessingtou, A. Henderson, and A. Vennell ; Shooting Committee, Messrs. R. Randell, H. Hawthorn, and C. Nixon; Handicapper, Mr. H. Hawthorn; Auditors, Messrs. F. Lessington and F. Severne. The opening of the club's season was fixed for Saturday, the Ist October. The following team has been selected to represent the City Rifles in the Morris-tube match against the Petone Navals at Petone on Wednesday : — Colour - Sergeant Davis, Sergeants Buuckenberg, Halpin, and Marshall, Privates B. Halpin, Turner, Howe, Jackson, D. Claridge, Curry, Pepper, B. Claridge, and Lawton.