"PRIMUS IN ARMIS."

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 12, 15 January 1909, Page 2

" PRIMUS IN ARMIS."

JUBiri.EE OF OUR FIRST VOLUNTEER CORPS. \liX TELEUr.AI'H— PHESS ASSOCIATION.'; r NEW PLYMOUTH, 14th January. There was a unique gathering at the Drill Hall last night, when a dinner and sociaL gathering to celebrate the fiftieth . anniversary ot the formation of the Tara- [ naki Riti.es were eventuated. The funci lion was largely attended, among those pieseni being members of the corps when originally formed, present members, veterans who saw service with the militia, during the Maori troubles, mem bers of South African Contingents, borough councillors, and citizens interested in the volunteer movement. The Taranaki Rifles have a history of which any company might justly feel proud, and it was fitting that its jubilee should be marked by so memorable a gathering. The Oiii^inal members of the Rifles first began their drill under Major Lloyd in 1858, but it was not until the following year that the company was actually proclaimed. By commencing drilling in '58 Taranaki was the first province in New Zealand to move in the matter of raising a volunteer corps, "but in the intervening months to '59 Auckland followed, and to the latter province belongs the distinction of Isaving the first volunteer corps officially pioclaimed. Prior to the commencement ol the toast list Bugler Okey soundsd the old bugle call of the company, after which Captain Bellringer read the original roll call, which \v»e answered by the following: — Lieutenant M'Kellar, Corporal Bcrtrancl, Drummer Laurence, Privates' Bayly, Black, Carrick, Kelly, Messenger, Morshead, and Webster. Apologies liad been received from Sergeant -Free, Privates G. N. Curtis, R. JS T . Greenwood, _T. Vealc, mid Captain Standish. Ihe veterans present were each greeted with hearty applause as they -lose in answer to their names. There was a large and representative gathering of military, including Colonel Robin, C.8., who in replying to ths toastof the "Army and JS'avy,"'said thsauxiliary forces and volunteers in New Zealand were a great dea 1 more efficient than the general public gave them credit ior being. Just as fifty years ago it was said that Tavcnaki was defenceless, they were often told that New Zealand was. defenceless to-day, but should the call come again, as it might and pro bably would, the Taranaki volunteers and the volunteer corps throughout the Empire would prove, as the Taranald volunteers did fifty years ago, that they were able to defend their countiy The colours of the old corpa "Primus in Armis" (the Rifles, having been the first volunteer company in the Empire on active service) occupied a position in the decorations. [PEESS ASSOCIATION.] ANOTHER ATHLETIC TROUBLE. INVERCARGILL, 14th January. The executive of the New Zealand Athletic Union decided by a largo majority to declare the Wanganui Caledonian Society's meeting an unregistered meeting, and to disqualify all competitors thereat. Members of the union state that they have considered all means of conciliation, and used fruitlessly their best endeavours to arrive at an amicable settlement. The New Zealand Sports Federation will be 'asked to endorse the disqualification, and those disqualified will not be permitted to take part in any classes of sport affiliated to the federation. The dispute arose out of the disqualification of a director of the Wanganui Society who competed at the Christchurch Scottish Society's gathering at the Exhibition. HOKITIKA HARBOUR IMPROVEMENT. HOKITIKA, 14th January. At a public meeting held this evening it was unanimously decided to support the proposal to borrow £25,000 for necessary harbour improvements. "RECEIVED." DUNEDIN, 14th January. At a meeting of the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association to-night a letter was received from the secretary of the Christchurch council asking for an immediate reply to the offer to allot the championship [ meeting* tto Dunedin. The letter was "received" without discussion. A YOUNG MAN'S DEATH. REEFTON, 14th January. A young man, aged about twenty -four, named James Millar, was found dead on the Strand reseive this morning. A blue bottle containing poison was lyingjjeside him. Deceased had been 'mining in and about the district for several years. It is stated he came from Kyneton, Victoria, and from correspondence found on the body it is thought he had children in Dunedin. At the inquest a verdict of death from suffocation was returned, the man being at the time stupid from "the effects of chlorodyne. BUILDING IN CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, 14th January. According to a return furnished by the City Council, there were on Ist January 13,123 buildings in the city area, of which 11,404 were inhabited, as against 12,635 on Ist January, 1908,,, The number of stores and warehouses in tho cityiwaa augmented by 74 during last yeui.

A rather significant indication of the falling-off in the building trade is the fact that on the Ist of this year there were only 89 buildings in course of erection, as compared with 161 on Ist January, 1908. A PATHETIC CEREMONY. NEW PLYMOUTH, 14th Jan. One of the most pathetic ceremonies that has ever been witnessed in New Plymouth took place this afternoon, when the remains of twenty-one of Taranaki's early settlers, militia and regulars, men who took part in Maori wars, and several of whom were killed in action, were removed from the old Catholic burial ground in the centre of the town, where they had reposed for the last half-century, to Te Henui cemetery for reinterment. The bodies were identified by nameplates, etc., which were in a good state of preservation. Many of the remains revealed tomahawk and bullet wounds received in battle. PRIMITIVE METHODIST CONFERENCE. AUCKLAND, 14th January. At to-day's sitting of the Primitive Methodist Conference it was decided that the conference of 1910 be held at Timaru. It was resolved that a circular setting forth the needs of the Home Mission Fund be distributed in the various circuits by the ministers and officials of the Church. The president elected for the Ladies' Auxiliary Missionary League was Mrs. Wright, and the secretary Mrs. Laycock.