RETURN RIFLE MATCH.

Marlborough Express, Volume XIII, Issue 1065, 28 September 1878, Page 6

RET URN RIFLE MATCH.

The-^Retni-h; Rifle: •■StTatch- ! bet^6art'th% I ,.!Bli(fiheiai iand Renwick volunteers came off at the Vemoh Buttdr-on Thursday last. The weather -itt the eirly morning, was! stormy}, and: fears were entertained that the rain' would necessitate the ofj the match. However the. sky cleared-, ■ and, alioutrhalftpa^t nine o'clock the Blenheiin^coi^petitors ( inarched,to Penney's hotel to meet iheir!. rivals of the. day,, ,bu.t found jthem not tliere, the .raia'.haYing evidently defined

them, they therefore proceeded m traps to the Butts, and with the consent of Captain O'Sullivan, of the Renwick Company, proceeded with the match, trusting their opponents would show up later. After having nearly completed the shooting at the 400 yards range, the Renwick men arrived, and the match was duly won and lost. We append the score, leaving it to speak for itself.

THE DINNER. In the evening about 60 gentlemen sat down to dinner at Mr Lewis's Lyceum Hall, where 9verything was provided with the usual judgment and taste of the caterer. Captain Robinson occupied the chair, and Lieut. Carey the vice-chair. Herr Norberg presided at the piano, and accompanied the vocalists who, on this as other occasions assisted to enliven the proceedings. After the usual loyal toasts had been given from the chair, and duly responded to, The Vice-Chairman proposed the Army, Navy, and Volunteers, coupled with the name of Captain Macklin. Captain Macklin, m responding to the toast alluded to the nniform m which our volunteers had appeared that day, and the efficiency of their drill, which he said was not far short of that of corps that had been formed for years m other parts of the colony. Song and recitation by Corporal Griffiths "The Baby Show." The Chairman then proposed the toast of the evening " The Renwick Company. " In alluding to the past [and the events of the day, he said the Blenheim Volunteers had that day had their favorite winds, otherwise he believed the match would have been much closer. He then briefly sketched the origin of Volunteer corps m Blenheim which was at the time of the commencement of the Maori War, when many settlers went to the Waikato, for the defence of their fellow-settlers, and others organised themselves at home for the protection, if required, of their homes and families. He was older now, and perhaps he did not just then know what his own mind would be ; it might be probable that were such a portion of the history of the colony to be repeated he might not feel the same enthusiasm. He was quite certain of one thing, however, that while his first efforts m volunteering were for the protection of their "hearths and homes," he now felt it to be more for amusement, though never forgetting how useful it would be to "pot" the enemy of their country if they could, and to do that they must all be able to hit the bull's eye. In remarking on the temporary decline of volunteering m this district at one time, he said that he believed it arose from a lack of emulation, and that kind of social meeting they all enjoyed that night — men whom it might be said hardly knew each other before would meet their fellow guests of that evening, and he hoped be able to refer to it with pleasurable feelings. He then gave a high encomium of Captain O'Sullivaa and the Renwicktown Volunteers, whose pluck, he said, must be great to come to Blenheim with their 20 or 22 men to compete against four times their number of volunteers ; and after all it was not such a very great thing for 20 volunteers chosen from a comminity so much larger to beat Captain O'Sullivan's men. With some further remarks, a little personal, sometimes witty but always amusing, the speaker concluded. Song byMrG. Stevenson— " The Old Musketeer." Captain O'Sullivan, m responding, very humorously allnded to the time past when the Renwicktown Volunteers were all they had on this side of the Wairau, though some from Blenheim helped to make up their number. Now he was glad to see that Blenheim had revived as Volunteeis, and took no little credit to the little town of Renwick for its endeavor to keep up the spirit. He also spoke m high praise of the Brass Band under the able leader- - ship of Herr Norberg, and made allusion to some phirge and defence" of a bridge, but whether under "Mars" or "Bacchus," Municipal or Road Boards must for ever remain a profound mystery. Mr Moore then gave a song. Oapt. o 'Sullivan proposed the Blenheim Company. In doing so he briefly alluded to his firs', .-xperiences as a volunteer m the Waimea

(Nelson) and like all other youngsters he said lie ! thought they were not t-> be beaten. But facts were facta, and the Champion Belt of New Zealand went to Picton. To many men m Blen- | heim, their Chairman, Mr Bythell, and others, and to Mr Preeland, Mr Philpots and others m Picton, he' must just say a word as a reminder, I for it became them to remember what hid been I done. He then figuratively represented the Chairman as being the figure-head of the craft they sailed m, and called upon him to respond to the toast. Capt. Robinson, m responding, thought he had been just a little libelled m calling him the "figure-head." His friend on the left had suggested that he had better be the rudder. Well, he did think it was not much use to be an ornament merely, such as a tigure-head, but he did hope to be able to be a little bit of the rudder to keep that good ship Marlborough m its course. Song by Mr Turner, "Oh, dear, what will become t)f me." Mr W. Sinclair proposed the Mayor and Corporation. In doing si) he referred to the father of the present Mayor (Mr Fell), who founded the town which he (the speaker) had seen leap into the fertility and activity of life from the stagnation of a swamp. He must also with pleasure refer to Mr James Robinso^ whom he might term the father of the Corporation, a gentleman who had occupied the honorable position of Councillor from the time the Municipal Corporatiou Act came into force m Blenheim to that day. Private Mark Lodge then sang — " As long as the World goes round." Mr Fell (the Mayor) m responding, remarked on the increase of population and commerce m Blenheim during the last few years. It was not long since that one small ketch did the whole of their carrying trade, but now two steamers could not do it. The population of the Borough had inci-eased from 700 to 1,700, which was a greater increase comparatively than even Wellington had during the period. For the Mayor nnd the Corporation he then thanked them for the hearty manner m which they had responded to the toast. Song by Mr McNab— " The Rhine Wine." Mr Macintosh proposed the "Pastoral, Agricultural and Commercial Interests of Marlborough, to which Mr Gorrie responded. "Mr McNae m proposing "The Press" said that whatever difference there might be m political matters it was their privilege to have a press that would speak out, and was not afraid to express its opinions. - Private Mortimer sang — "The Old Banjo." Mr Johnson m responding, alluded to the 13 years the Marlborough Express had been published m Blenheim, and the interest it had always taken m all matters that concerned not only Blenheim but the whole district of Marlborough, whether volunteering, racing, or cricketing — and more important still to watch over and comment on everything that would affect them politically or- commercially. He gave his sincere thanks for the hearty manner m which the toast had been responded to, and hoped it would always deserve an ch a reception. Mr Rogers proposed " The Ladies " to^which Mr Sinclair responded. Capt. O'Sr/LLiVAN, who with a fork m his hand facetiously called himself an Italian, sang a song truly Hibernian, which was something about "Judy's Black Eyes." Sergeant Griffiths proposed the champion shot of the day, "Mr Peter Martella," and made some humorous remarks about Perseverance, Patience, Pluck and Peter, all beginning with "P ; " to which Mr Gorrie responded m the absence of Mr Martella. The Vice-Chairman .proposed the Markers and Scorers which was responded to by Mr Braid. Lieut. Gee m a neat and appropriate speech proposed " The Visitors" coupled with the name of Sergeant Major Kennedy. Mr O'SnLLIVAN wished, as senior captain, to say a few words as to the services and benefits received from Sergeant; Major Kennedy, who had done all that lay m his power to aid volunteering m Marlborongh. After relating some anecdotes, the speaker went on to say that Mr Kennedy's forte was not to catch prisoners, but to rear up volunteers, working for the honor and glory of Marlborough ; he did the work of secretary for many years, and travelled all over the country to drill them, and he deserved their thanks ; he was now a grey-headed* old man, pointed to as an honor to volunteering. It was not surprising, then, that Picton made him a handsome present, and also Renwick. There it was only a hauble, but it showed the appreciation and respect m which he was held. Sergeant Major.RENNEDY returned thanks for the visitors and himself ; for 17 years he had been their guest at volunteer dinners, and he hoped every volunteer would give him credit for doing his bast ; if he had erred it was from want of knowledge. Now he was going to leave them and this was the last time he should sit ab their board. Mr Macklin proposed " The Blenheim Volunteer Fire Brigade," which he spoke of as a very efficient and useful body of men. He took the opportunity of saying that he had been taken to task by Mr O'Sullivan for the remarks he bad made earlier m the evening, but he had been misunderstood as he meant to praise them ; he admired a volunteer properly dressed and perfect at drill, and bad referred to their own company and not any other. The spirit that animated volunteers was the very spirit they required. A volunteer should be a good shot and a good drill, the last was very important. The Fire Brigade deserved far more consideration than it received and was very efficient m their exercises. He coupled the name of Captain Gorrie with the toast. Lieutenant Dobb responded m "the absence of Captain Gorrie. Captain O'Stjllivan proposed "The Band" m a lengthy and humurous speech, m which he complimented the members, and especially Herr Norberg their leader, who m a brief but eloquent address acknowledged the compliment paid to them,. Mr Mackintosh proposed " The Chairman" m eulogistic terms, and Captain Robinson replied, taking the opportunity of proposing the healths of Lieutenant Oarey and the commissioned officers. Lieutenant Carey responded. Captain O'Sullivan proposed " The next merry meeting

between the two companies," and also "The host and hostess," which brought the proceedings to a close. The. evening was decidedly a pleasant one. " ■ ■

BLENHEIM COMPANY. 300 yds. 400 yds. 500 yds. Tl. Col. Sergt. Dobb ..43222 32332 30002 ... 31 Corp. Rayner ...24233 04234 23032 ... 37 Priv. Parsonage ...04233 00333 22023 .. 30 „ May ...03333 '03334 44324 ... 42 „ Shepheard ...32334 02422 32333 . . 39 „ McKenzie ...23433 33444 02223 ... 42 „ Moore ...22223 02320 00430 . 25 „ Bythell ...0233R 34333 00003 .. 24 „ J. Tait ...20222 33243 33234 ... 38 „ Trevreek ...33243 32423 03243 .. 41 „ Marietta ...30433 44303 43343 ... 44 „ McMillan ...00240 20200 44044 26 „ Penney ...22232 30442 43434 . 42 „ W. Tait ..:32443 03430 33342 41 „ Gorrie ..22233 23334 44044 .. 43 Lieut. Carey ...32332 34424 32043 ... 42 Priv. Turner ...33232 32444 42002 ... 38 Capt. Robinson ...32332, 22340 23434 ... 40 Sergt. Griffiths' ...42432 23343 33032 ... 41 Priv. Maddock ...33232 23432 44032 .40 Total ... — 746 B.ENWICK COMPANY. 300yd8. 400 yds. 500 yds. Tl. Sub. Lieut. Mclvor 33233 23433 20222 , 37 Lieut. Gee . .. 03232 33234 20222 ... 33 Priv. J. Brydon ...20220 33432 02023 .. 28 „ W. McDonald 22223 32443 34234 ... 43 „ T. Jackson ...32032 04334 03034 ... 34 „ R. Mclvor ...32233 03433 04033 ... 36 „ G. Moore ...22334 34244 32223 ... 43 „ Mortimer ..00202 30003 04203 ... 19 Sergt. Tunnncliffe.. 20243 02323 30323 ... 32 Priv. W. Boyle/ .. 24333 42332 23223 .. 41 „ M. Lodge ...22324 03424 02004 ... 32 „ E. Haines ...33222 34333 32020 ... 35 . „ O'Lauchlan ...02302 22403 20032 ... 25 „ E. James ...30422 42442 24342 42 „ G. Gee .. 23224 42334 33044 '.'.'. 43 „ G. Boyce .. 20020 04424 03322 .. 28 „ G. Small ...00230 43223 00032 ... 24 „ C. Eves ...22322 44324 23332 ... 41 „ J. Brydon ...33200 23334 00320 ... 28 Capt. O'Sullivan ...23233 23333 23232 ... 40 Total .. 684