THE VOLUNTEERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11537, 25 March 1898, Page 6

THE VOLUNTEERS.

THE CANTERBURY CORPS. The annual returns of the volunteer corps in the Canterbury district show that the total enrolled strength of the force in North and South Canterbury is 1101 officers and men, of whom only eighty-five failed to qualify as efficient. This result is not only highly satisfactory, hut is the best ever obtained in any volunteer year in this district.

The following are the particulars of the various corps:— NORTH CANTERBURY.

CHRIST’S COLLEGE RIFLES. The fifteenth annual meeting of the Christ’s College Rifles was held at their orderly-room last night. There was a good attendance, and Lieutenant Smith, commanding officer of the company, presided. The Committee reported that, after all liabilities had been paid off, a credit balance of £72 3s 9d, would remain. The strength of the company'during the past year had been maintained at practically the maximum. On Feb. 28 last the total strength was sixty, out of which fifty-five were efficients. The corps had during the past year lost the services of their late captain, owing to his promotion to the Battalion Staff; also those of Sergeant Gibson, who had been removed from Christchurch. Attention of all members was drawn to the, frequent bad attendances at parades. As efficiency could only be created and maintained by strict attention to drill, it was essential that an improvement should be made in this direction. Shooting, generally speaking, had considerably improved, and the next season should see the corps in possession of a strong representative ' team. This year the corps had received the third prize for the district volley firing. During the past year the company had held two private camps, one during Easter at Akaroa, and the annual summer camp at Sumner. The usual squad competitions had been most beneficial. The competition had been won by Sergeant Gibson’s squad. Since last annual meeting the corps had been successful in winning the two route marching competitions. During the year the orderly-room had been altered and renovated. The new field service caps had been obtained. The capitation account showed receipts ,£225 17s lOd, including ,£22 18s 7d in hand at the beginning of the year, and expenditure .£2lB 12s 3d, leaving a balance at the bank of £7 6s 7d. The general account showed receipts .£B9 18s 7d, including ,£2l 12s Id balance brought forward, and disbursements .£64 13s 6d, leaving a balance at the bank of £25 5s Id. The assets were £IBO 19s Id and the liabilities nil. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The report of the Firing Committee stated that the company had won one of the three Associated Corps’ Shield matches in which it had fired. There had been a great improvement in the shooting, attributable to the great assistance of Sergeant Wakelin as coach. The committee suggested that it should retire at the close of the firing year, instead of the end of the financial year. The report was adopted. The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year:—Honorary secretary. Colour-sergeant Curry; honorary treasurer. Lieutenant Smith ex officio; assistanthonorary treasurer. Corporal Evans; finance committee, the officers and Sergeant Hartland and Corporal Inglis; firing committee. Lieutenant Merton ex officio, Corporal Evans, Lance-corporal Marsh, Privates Moir, Dixon and Moore ; custddians of arms And uniforms. Corporals Inglis and Carew; custodian of the orderly room. Private Cox ; recruiting committee, Lance-Corporals Marsh and March and Private Middleton. Votes of thanks were passed to Sergeant Wakelin, to the outgoing office-bearers, to the auditor (Mr J. F. Grierson), and to Mr Homan, for the assistance he had rendered in connection with the accounts, and to the Press. Mr Homan was also elected an honorary member for the year. It was decided to recommend the General Committee to allocate £SO to the Firing Committee for the year. “TEMHKA RIFLES. The annual meeting of the Temuka Rifles was held on Wednesday evening, when Captain Findlay presided. The balance-sheet was as follows:—Capitation account—receipts, £l3O Os 4d; expenditure, £129 16s 4d. General account—receipts £143 6s lOd; expenditure, £l2l 7s bd; leaving a credit balance of £2l 19s sd. Eleven members were nominated for a committee of five, and the following were elected by ballot:—Sergeant Clinch, Corporals Pye and Chapman, and Privates M’Callum and Phillips. Sergeants Sim and Clinch, Corporal Chapman and Privates Ayers and Phillips were elected a Shooting Committee. The officers and Sergeant Sim were' re-elected handioappers., Lieutenant' , Whitehead was re - elected secretary 1 and' treasurer. It was. agreed to invite applications, from volunteers only, for the, position of caretaker, rendered vacant by the death of Lieutenant White. Captain Findlay reported that he had purchased a grave plot for the interment of the remains of the late Lieutenant White. This would be vested in the corps, and would be available for the burial of any indigent volunteer. His action was confirmed. It was unanimously resolved —“ That, at this general meeting of the Temuka held on March 23, 1898, the company desire to record their appreciation of the services of”“tho late •Lieutenant White during his active association .with the corps, and also while acting as caretaker of the volunteer buildings. They also wish to convey to his relatives their sincere expression of sympathy at his death.” The officers and Privates Phillips and Webb were appointed a sub-committee to report on range requirements. The sum of £ls was voted for shooting prizes during the year. In reference to an intimation that the facings of the uniforms would have to be changed, Sergeant Sim , moved and it was carried That in view

of the frequent changes of uniform made within the last few years, this corps desires not to alter its facings until the Government has definitely settled what is to be the uniform of the New Zealand volunteers.” A motion by Lieutenant Whitehead, that the sum of =£lo should be voted towards the expenses of two men attending the Rifle Association meeting, was held over for further consideration. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings.

The annual meeting of the Canterbury Engineers will be held on Tuesday next. The Honorary Reserve Corps is making arrangements for the annual field day at the Cashmere range on Easter Monday. There are to be three matches —one of seven shots at 200, 600, and 600yds, a handicap of ten shots at 500 and 600yds, and a champion match of ten shots at 700yds. There was a muster of forty rank and file at the Government parade of the Rangiora Rifles last evening, and ordinary company drill was gone through. Five recruits were elected, bringing the strength of the company -up to fifty-six. At the end of the year there'were fifty-seven on the roll, but some of the members resigned.

The first dismounted:'drill of the; proposed Christchurch Cycling Corps was held on Tuesday evening at Ford’s Buildings. A telegram to the Premier, as to when the services of the corps would be accepted, evoked the reply that the matter had been placed before the Minister of Defence, who had bean requested to give it immediate attention. ,

A ' fl •*£ P § •2 fri 2 fS »(fj m H Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry 53 43 10 Canterbury Mounted Eifles ... 56 49 7* Lyttelton Naval Artillery ... 69 68 1 E Battery 63 57 6 N Battery 52 50 2 Canterbury Engineers... 63 59 4 Christchurch City Guards ... 59 5,9 0 Christ’s College Eifles... 60 55 5 Christchurch City Eifles, ... 62 60 2, Kaiapoi Eifles . ... 60 , • 59 1 Eangibra Eifles 58 42 ' 16 Imperial Eifles ... ... ...jiW ■59 4 North Canterbury Battalion 1 . £' Staff _ ... . .... .... .. ,V 5 ; 50 Total ... ... ■ ... 723 665 58 * Six men joined too late to qualify. SOUTH CANTEEBUBY. Timaru City Eifles 67 65 2 Temuka Eifles 51 50 4 Ashburton Eifles 62 58 4 Timaru Port Guards 65 60 6 Timaru Eifles 68 65 3 Wnimate Eifles 56 47 9 South Canterbury Battalion Staff 6 6 0 Total ... 378 351 27 Total for Canterbury 1,101 1,016 85