THE VOLUNTEERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2058, 26 July 1867, Page 2

THE VOLUNTEERS.

A specinl meeting of the General Volunteer Committee was held last night at the Criterion Hotel. Present—Captains Lean and Hawkos, Kuaign Ulakiiton, Sergeant-Major Urquhart, ; olor Sergeant Wallis, Sergeant Packard, Private* Uibbs and Mallard, and Mr Tippetts. tho Hon. Sol.', Jinsign Ulakiiton occupied the elmir.

The minutea of luat meeting were road und confirmed.

Tho yt'erotary reported that ho had not yet sen Messrs Holmes and Co. on the subject of the resolution adopted at tho last meoting, but that'he would do so. Private Mallard stated that he had Beon Mr I Mine-ill during tho last week, and that that Oenilonum had told him he was unwilling to give tho accommodation he had promised the volunteers at Hillsborough, unless ho and they could " come to terniß." He believe I that Mr Dunonn would require p lyment for tho use of his land. Mr Tippetts said that Messrs. Holmes had formerly g Yen Mr Duncan permission to turn bin emtio into their paddock during tho xlmoting, and that the liny of nine or ten acres hud been thus consumed.

i apt tin Hawkes said that he had somo time B'tioe beon informed by Mr Duncan tliat his ground was at the service of the volunteers, ami he understood tlmt no payment woiiM be ikiiniimled. , 'ihi Secretary thou read tho following

annual report, and the documents referred to in it were laid on the table:—

To tho Chairman and Members of the Genoral Committoo of Canterbury Volunteors. I Gentlemen,—Your lub-oommittee, appointed to 1 draw up tho annual report of proceedings, &c., of tho genoral cnmmitteo for tho sossion 1866*7, bog to Bubmit m follows: 1 1. That tho. averago attendance of roprosentalives from tho several companies of Volunteers has boon good, For particulars wo refer you to annoxed statement (A..) which also includes the number of ordinary and special meetings held. 2. Dili first action taken at tho commencement of the session was tho establishment of a range committee for tho purposo of keeping tho rango at Hillsborough in orilor, providing paint, brushes, ®c.; and though in the absencu of any convenionco on tho ground for tho safe keeping of material), aomo littlo irregularity has occasionally occurred, On the whole this committoo Icel that what has boen dono ha? been a great convenience to tho Volunteer body, and would suggest to their successors in oflico tho necossity of kcoping up this very useful committee. 3. An attempt to establish a Volunteer Accident Jiundhastor tho presont fa 1,.n through, principally, your committeo bolievo, through the withdrawal from thii Council of tho promoters, Mews Allison and Barnes. Your committee think that the idea 19 well worthy of consideration at a futuro timo, 4; Tho intercolonial match with Dunedin and Wanganui, tho idea of which emanated from the Council, was arranged and brought to a successful issuo ontirelj by tho oxertions of members of the Council; and although not resulting in a victory for Canterbury, tho difference between Dunedin (the champion province) and ourselves is small onough (81) to afford matter for congratulation. 6. A series of thrco concorts established under the auspices of the Council, in aid of their funds, was patronised very liberally by the public; but on account of the very heavy expenses a small amount only was realised. 6. The matches for cups given by tho Chairmen of tho City Council (E. B. Bishop, Esq., and Isaac Luck, Esq.) were arranged and satisfactorily completed by the Council, 50. 1 Company finally winning Mr Luck's cup and the Engineers ho cling that of Mr Bishop. 7. A considerable debt still remaining due to Messrs Holmes and Co., and othors on account of the last encampment, the Council took steps to liquidate tho same, and your committee are happy to say that thewholo sum was cleared off somo timo since, Tor particulars your committee refer the Council to statement B, 8. Tho Council finding that the payment of the Gai Company's bill for lighting the Drill-shed pressed heavily on the Council in quite exhausting their available funds, applied through the proper channel to the Provincial Government to light the shed, and requesting that the gum so expended might (if necessary) be charged against the sum voted for volunteer purposes. The Government, however, declined to accede to their riquest, 9. The Eifle Association having been mainly started by the instrumentality of the Council, or individual members of it, your committee beg to congratulate the Council on the very successful operation of that popular body. 10. The visit of his Excellency Sir George Grey to thia province, giving the volunteers an opportunity of displaying their loyalty to the throne, the Council used every endeavour to assist the authorities in providing that the duties usually perfoimed by the military on such occasions should be performed, as far as practicable by the volunteers, and have pleasure in stating that on a.l occasions the call for volunteers was cheerfully responded to. And the committee cannot let this subject pass without congratulating the whole force on the very creditable way in which they mustered on the occasion of the roview held in Hagley Park, in honour of his Excellency; and this credit is due more particularly to the outlying companies. The thanks of the volunteers are also due to the Provincial Government for their liberality in finding necessary funds for providing refreshments, &c,, &c. 11. Advantage was also taken during hii Excellency's visit by the Council to organise con. certs under his patronage, which, thanks to the assistance kindly volunteered by several ladies and 1 gentlemen, were highly successful, 12. Your committee have to report that consider- ! able inconvenience anddissatisfaction having arisen 1 as to the first regulations with regard to firing for I colonial and district prizes, the Council took step) to represent the matter in its proper light to the commanding officer, and have pleasure in stating that in consequence of their recommendations he . was pleased to so far alter the terms as to enable ' each company to fire on its own range. 13. The Kifle Association having applied to the Council for the loan of the targets from Hillsborough for use at the late meeting at the Sand Hills; leave wai granted, but in consequence of some inadvertence, the targets were removed without consulting Messrs Holmes and Co., who have for to long a time liberally provided a'range for the volunteers; and your committee are sorry to say that in consequence a slight misunderstanding has arisen, which it has been, up to the present time, impossible to adjust satisfactorily j but they trust that ore long the sub-committee appointed for the purpose will be enabled to announce that the range is again available, as Messrs Holmes and Co have expressed their willingness to accord the same privileges as heretofore. 11. The attempt to procure a new range at Wilson's Bridge, has proved unsuccessful, in consequence of the enormous price asked for the land —a sum of £4OOO, or a rental of £IOO per annum, being asked for the strip of land required. No other available spot has at present been indicated. 16. It is with great regret that your committee learn that the Provincial Council have withdrann the usual capitation allowance, feeling that such a step is a great slight to tho force, and also tending to damp the energy of a movement which, if fostered, might prove of great service to the province, should necessity arise, Your committee cannot close this report without expressing their rogret at having lost the valuable services of the following gontlemenCaptains Moore, Cook, and Steward; Lieutenant Crosbie, and Ensign Tippetts, who were over foremost in promoting the welfare of the volunteer movement. It was moved by Private Ballard, and seconded by Sergeant-Major Urquhart, that j the report be received, and the resolution was carried. It was moved by Captain Lean, and j seconded by Captain Hawkes, and resolved, that the thanks of the committee be given to , Knsign Blnkiston, the chairman. j It win moved by Private Ballard, and I seconded by Sergeant-Major Urquhart, that the tiianks of the committee be given to Mr Tippetts, for his services as secretary. Both gentlemen returned thanks, and the meeting broke up.