CHRISTCHURCH RESERVE CORPS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 7562, 29 May 1885, Page 6

CHRISTCHURCH RESERVE CORPS.

A general meeting of the members of the Christchurch Reserve Corps was held at the City Council Chamber yesterday evening. About fifty gentlemen were preOn the motion of the Hon Colonel Brett, seconded by Mr Harman, his Worship the Mayor was voted to the chair. He said ' that the business of the meeting was to elect a Managing Committee, to decide on an alteration in the uniform if_ it were, thought necessary, and to consider the questions of future parades and rifle pracA letter had been received from Sir Julius Vogel, in reply to a communication urging the necessity of a more convenient rifle range, stating that the Hon Mr Ballance was, very anxious to meet the wishes of the corps in the matter. Mr Cooper moved—“ That the Committee of Management of the Canterbury Reserve Corps consist of the officers, non-commis-sioned officers, the honorary Treasurer (Mr C. P. Hulbert), and privates Cooper, Ehind, Mitchell and Haskins.” The motion was seconded by Mr Urquhart, and carried ncm con. Mr Garrick moved—“ That the question of uniform be referred to the Committee to report within one week.” Mr Cooper seconded the motion, which, after a brief discussion, was carried. The Hon Colonel Brett, referring to the question of future drills, said that, honestly and candidly, he could tell the corps that they had attained a creditable state of proficiency, considering the short time they had been at work. Still, there were some gentlemen who were , deficient, and it was necessary that all should keep their knowledge of drill up. Sir George Whitmore would probably be here after the meeting of Parliament, and would inspect the corps. He (Colonel Brett) had sent a report to the Government on the state of the corps, and he would be sorry if another report, and one of an unfavourable character, should have to be made. In order to keep up the efficiency of the corps, at least one drill a week was necessary; and he would earnestly ask the members to decide to have one, or two if possible. Mr E. C. Bishop suggested that two drills should be held each week, one on •Tuesday afternoons from 4 to 5 o’clock, in plain clothes; and the other, in uniform, on Friday evenings at 7.30 o’clock. A monthly inspection parade would be advisable ; and it would also be well to secure the services of Sergeant-Major Finn, if possible. Mr Harman suggested that the services of Sergeant-Major Finn should be obtained for two drills a month. After a brief discussion as to the time of commencing' the afternoon parade, it was decided that a parade should be held every Tuesday, at 4 p.m., at the drillshed, and an evening parade on Fridays at 7.45 p.m., the question of whether members should appear'in uniform being left to the discretion of the commanding officer. The Chairman stated that there was every probability of the corps being able to get a suitable room for the evening drills. Mr Harman pointed out the necessity of every member making himself proficient in rifle practice. To do this it would be necessary/to go through a certain course, -and:he hoped that all would do so. (Hear, hear.) The Hon Colonel Brett said that this question would also receive' the attention of the Committee. .

On the motion of Mr W. S. King, seconded by the Hon Colonel Brett, the following gentlemen were elected honorary members of the corps:—The Hons J. T. Peacock, E. C. J. Stevens,. Messrs G. Gould, L. Harper, E. G. Wright. L. Walker, T. W. Maude, F. J. Garrick, W. P, Cowlishaw, E. D. Thomas, M. Bowroh, O. B. Blakiston, D; Caro, P. Trent, A. E. G. Ehodes, J. Ollivier, T. A. Bullock, T. Acland, W. Moor, Drs Irving and Ned will.

Dr Irving explained that he wished to go on the honorary list, as he had been elected surgeon of another corps, the Mounted Eifles. The Hon Colonel Brett moved— f ‘ That the thanks of the corps be given to Mr Haskins, and the officers of the City Council." Without the assistance of these gentlemen, he remarked, it would have been simply impossible to have carried on the work of the corps. They had cleaned and issued, arms and accoutrements, conducted all the correspondence, kept the accounts, paid the bills, and worked in the hardest, manner for the sake of the corps, so that very great credit was due to them. (Hear, hear.) Mr K. C. Bishop seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr Haskins briefly thanked the members of the corps for their kind expression of opinion. Mr Harman moved a cordial vote of thanks to the Hon J. T. Peacock for allowing the corps the use of his paddock on the Queen’s Birthday. Mr Khind seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr F. H. Barns moved —“ That the annnal subscription of the corps be 10s 6d."

Mr A. Garrick seconded the motion, which was agreed to. In answer to Mr W. S. King,, the Chairman said that he could not tell exactly' when ' the Martini-Henry rifles would arrive- The Government had ordered them five weeks ago. ' In answer to Mr E. A. Loughnan, the Chairman said that the weapon to be obtained was the Martini-Henry, with all the latest improvements, not the MartiniEnfield, which even the British Army could not procure yet. Colonel Eeader, it would be remembered, had strongly urged the desirability of the corps being armed with the same weapons as the rest of the Volunteers. A vote of thanks to the Chairman and to the Hon Colonel’ Brett terminated the proceedings.