MARLBOROUGH MOUNTED RIFLES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 103, 2 May 1908, Page 5

MARLBOROUGH MOUNTED RIFLES.

DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES

The above corps held a ball in the Town Hall last evening as a vehicle for the distribution of the shooting prizes won during the year. **■*?■ Tierney had spared no pains to get the hall presentable and the floor in good nick, and the decorations, formed a ecod background to the bright tints of the ladies' dresses. Somewhere about 100 couples took possession ot the floor, and with such music as was afforded by the Spring Creek Orchestra could not .. but enjoy their, dancine Amongst the visitors were cXneft Joyce ((fc.D.) and Chaytor,. Captains Canavan and. Lfeutenants Rogers.; and O'Sulhvan Bandmaster Rose,-and amber of the rank and file of the Waitohi Rifle Corps. Lieutenants Prichard . and Nicholas had charge of the . general arrangements, and carried out .their arduous duties in a courteous and satisfactory manner. The floor stewards were Lieutenant Nicholas and Sergeant Goff, and Mr J. Rothwell had control of the supper arrangements, the excellence of which was remarked1 upon. . During an interval Lieutenant Nicholas paraded the corps in the centre of the hall and congratulated the men on the good work done during: the year. The shooting had been very good, and Marlborough residents had been very liberal with their donations of prizes, and Colonel Chaytor had very generously donated iiu, which had been subsidised to the extent of another £10. He enooined the men to take more interest in thenwork and keep up the standard of their shooting. He then called on Colonel Joyce, who* said those- present did not want to hear a speech from him. They were there to enjoy themselves and not to listen to speech making, and so he would be very brief. He wished the squadron every prosperity for the coming year, and appealed to those who were not mem : bers to join and make up the lull strength of the corps. .It had been said that " we never knew the day we would be called upon to defend our coa;>t&," and when that tome came we should all be ready to take a hand in the defence of our hearths and homes. The position at present was that there were a few of them learning and many standing at the street corners laughing at them. They wanted to stop that. Volunteers were trying their best to "learn the art of defence. It behoved ■ those who were good *shots to teach ! those who were not to become so. He congratulated the priae-winners, and hoped to see a bigger hit next year, lie knew the company would wish him to thank the donors of prizes .i#,?, t,heir generous support, and he ij^ikld conclude by hoping the squadroh would be up to their full strength be 4 fore many weeks had gone by. His Worship the Mayor said he had been taken by surprise in being asked to distribute the prizes, but he assured them all .that it gave him great pleasure to do so. He hoped the ! citizens would take a lively interest jin the squadron and assist them in j keeping up their efficiency status. iHe was honoured in being asked to preside. The Mayor then handed the prizes to the various winners,, as follows:— Priddle Cup to Lieut.-Col. Chaytor, who this year had won the cup out-^ right x and it now." became..his property; Corporal Soper receiving the second prize, and1 Sergeant-Ma jor Stace the third prize.' , The minor prize winners in, this sectioii : w©re, in their order: Corporal Boyce, Captain Watson, Farrier Cresswell, Trooper Gane, Corporal Henderson, Troopers Drew, Farr, and Ward, Sergeant Gane, Trooper Fraser, Q.-M.-S. James, Lieutenant Prichard, Trooper Slattery, Lieutenant Freeth, Trooper Gibson. Company Cup, 1907, was won by Trooper F. ■ Robinson, Farrier Cresswell being second, and Trooper Finlay third. .Other winners: Trooper Nicholas, Corporal Henderson, Colonel Chaytcr, Corporal H. Soper, Trooper Oben, .Lieut. Nicholas, Captain Watjson,, Trooper Ward, Trooper Monro, Q.-M.-S. James, Trooper Gane, Troopers Fraser, Drew and Nicholas. Canavan Cup, won by Q.-M.-S. James, Trooper Finlay second, and i Corporal Boyco third. Other winners: Corporal Henderson, Captain Watson, Sergt.-Majoff " Stace, Corporal H. Soper, Trooper Gane, Sergeant L. Gane, Trooper Drew, Farrier Cresswell, Trooper Stewart, Trooper Marfell, Corporal Peters, Trooper Jenkins, Sergeant Herd, and Bugler Craven. The Martin Cup was won by Trooper Tripe and a Kaiapoi rug was presented to Trooper Drew as runner-up. Captain Falconer's Cup fell to t'ne. lot of Corporal H. Sopor, with Corporal E. W. Soper as runner-up. The prizes were laid out in imposing array at the foot of the stage and created a large amount of interest throughout the evening, the Martin Cup especially being admired, it being a beautiful specimen of the goldsmiths' art. Besides the various cups, the prizes numbered medals, all sorts of E.-P. ware, shaving outfits and smoking companions, brushes, knives, etc., and were tastefully set put for show. After the distribution of prizes the assembled guests' set in to enjoying themselves, and indulged in the light fantastic until the "we sma? 'oors."