THE RIFLE CHAMPION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1095, 24 February 1893, Page 42

THE RIFLE CHAMPION.

BANQUET TO PRIVATE A. BALLINGER. Private Arthur Ballinger, the champion rifle shot of the Colony for 1893, was entertained on Monday at a banquetin the Oriental Hotel by his ooarades of the Wellington Guards, in recognition of the distinction ho achieved for tho city, the corps and himself at the recent colonial prize firing. Captain Pateraon, of the Guards, presided, supported on the right by tho guest of the evening (wearing the Champion Belt) and His Worship the Mayor (Mr H. D. Bell) and Colonel Fox (Commandant of the Forces), and on the left by the Hon R. J. Seddon (Defence Minister) and Colonel Newali ( fficer in charge of the Wellington Volunteer district). Lieutenants Porritt and McAlister, of the Guards, filled the vice-chairs. There were also present Messrs Geo. Fisher, M.H.R., J. Duthie, M.H.R, and W. McLean, M.H.R., Major Quick, Major Messenger, Captain Coleman and Lieutenant Hume (Permanent Force), Captain Collins (City Riflos), Captain Loveday and Lieutenant Purdy (Heretaunga Mounted Infantry), Captain Brandon (Wellington Rifles), Lieutenant-Commander Dunoau and Lieutenant Bell (Wellington Naval*) Lieutenant Kirk (Petone Navala), and Lieutenant Russell (Wanganui Navals. Ex champions W, H. Ballinger (1879) and Williams (1S90), and Bombardier Howe (winner of the Carbine and Union Company’s belts), were likewise present, the two lastnamed wearing the champion belts of the Wellington Navals and D Battery reapeo tively. Apologies for absenoe were reoelved from Colonel Hume, Dr Newman, M.H.R., ex Lieutenant Stratton Royle, LieutenantCommander Davy, and others. The Wellington Guards were of course present in great force, and as fall dross uniform was de rigueur for both officers and men, the glitter and sheen of lace and buttons, contrasting with the warm colouring of Bcarlet coats, produced a very striking and animated effeot. Tho banquet was served in a stylo that reflected great credit upon the resources of Mrs Ormsbee’s cuisine, and the manner in which it was attacked left no doubt that the guests had passed favourable judgment upon it. After the toast of ‘The Queen ’ had been loyally honoured His Worship the Mayor proposed * Her Majesty’s Defence Foroes of the Colony,’ coupled with the name of the Hon Mr Seddon. He was glad to have the opportunity to express to Private A. Ballinger on behalf of all citizens the pride that the oity of Wellington had In his achievement, and to explain to him that if he harl won his trophy anywhere else the oitizens would have reoeived him with the saokbut and the psaltery and all manner of muaio. But as no man was a prophet in hia own country, and more especially as Private Ballinger arrived in thia city immediately after winning the belt, his fellow citizens had no opportunity of receiving him with that honour which would have been shown him bad he arrived from foreign parts, while that evening the officers and man of the champion’s own corps had taken the duty out of the city’s hands. When he was asked to propose this toast he thought there was a little unfairness about it, because he was not at all experienced in after-dinneL speaking, while Lie gentleman with whose name it was coupled was in many respects the champion banquettee of the Colony. (Laughter and cheers.) Nor had he the Volunteer experience whioh would enable him to do justice to the toast. It was more than 30 years Binoe he was an officer of Volunteers, and his experience of late had been confined to granting permission to Captiin Loveday and his troop to perform in Newtown Park—(laughter)—and to functions of that kind. But there xas a serious aspeot to it. When he spoke of the defences of the Colony his first thought was of the first line of defence that tho Australian Colonies and New Zealand now had by reason of their contributions to the Navy of the Empire, and that when we saw the white ensign floating ia our waters the sign and symbol of Britain's power, and might, we were proud to have a direot and close interest in this first line of our defenoes. (Cheer 3 ) He did not think either that the civilians forgot that it would be impossible for the permanent foroe of the Colony to maintain the defence even of the forts without tho support which was given by the Volunteers, who formed the infantry that was really tho defence of the Colony. (Cheers.) Despite any light talk that might be heard .to the contrary outside, there was a very real sense among civilians — and he spoke now for tbs citizens of Wellington—of the service which the Volunteers were doing for the oountry, end a very real desire that they should receive due recogni. tion and support from the Parliament of the oountry. (Loud cheers.) Mr Seddon would not forget that the Premier, who was his chief, when there was a real danger, either imminent or anticipated for the Colony, was ft member of the Government which took

upon themselves the risk, without ft vote of Parliament, of providing a very large sum of money for the immediate neoessary defence of the Colony. (Cheers.) That was a matter of which the Hon Mr Ballance and his associates might well be proud, and that was a matter for which men of all parties had always been ready to give the btout Government credit. (Cheers.) The toast was drunk with musical honours, followed by cheers for Mr Seddon. The Minister for Defence expressed his pleasure at being present, and referred to the faot that he had also attended a similar gathering in Auckland last year to pay a like honour to the theo champion, S*rgt, Doughty. It was quite right that the Volunteers of any city when one of their numbor had achieved the distinction won by Private Arthur Ballinger should meot, and welcome, and felicitate him upon his success. (Cheers.) Ha congratulated the Mayor upon being able to bo present that evenieg. Ha would have thought that couoern for the Faculty and Mrs Longahcre-Potfcs threatened to be too much for him, but having survived that experience so readily, he thought His Worship would also survive anything he (Mr Seddon) had to say, (Laughter and cheers ) In acknowledging the tribute paid to his chief, the Minister went on to say that he felt sure one and all would be delighted to hear that t'ne health of the Premier bad greatly improved. (Loud cheers.) He felt that whatever rtiffirences of opinion there might be amongst the people of the Colony, they would all be pleased to know that theie was a bright prospect of the Premier’s being able to take bis plaoe as the head of this nation for some time to come. (Cheers.) Alter aa allusion to the war sca-e of 18S5 and the expression of the hope that we might not have such another score, with so much money thrown away, Mr Seddon added that, at any rate, it taught a lesson that was fraught with benefit to tho Colony. It was to the Volunteers of the country that we had to look for our defence. (Cheers,) He said, train our youths when they are at school and then when they had attained to man’s estate let them join our Volunteer forces, and when they perhaps got a little too old for that let them join a rifla olub. (Laughter and cheers ) Compared with the results the expense incidental to the maintenance of a Volunteer foroe was very small, and he was only sorry that the funds of the Colony would not permit of more money being granted them. He had recently reoeived the report of Colonel Fox on the defences of the Colony, and as there was a great deal of curiosity abroad as to its oon tents he might say that it would speak for itself. It was the report of one well able to judge, and one who fairly and impartially will have put the condition of the defenoes of the Colony before the country. It was to it they must look, and not expect him to say anything more about it that evening. (‘Oh.’; The Government had sueoeeiled in winning the confidence of the Volunteers ; that at any rate had ever been his desire os Defence Minister, (Cheers.) Mr Seddon proceeded to dwell on the imp irtanoe of accuracy in rifle shooting. The Volunteer foroe had gone somewhat behind, but something must be done to bring it forward. That he thought could be done, and tho first money that could be expondad would be expended in the purchase of a modern arm so that the Volunteers shall be in the same position as many of the rifle clubs are in. (Load cheers.) Mr Seddon oenoludel by returning thanks for the manner in which the toast had been received. The Chairman, in a capital speech, proposed the health of the guest of the evening, the Champion of 1893, Private Arthur Ballinger. He proceeded to show that England’s military prowess had been largely due to the accurate shooting of her arohers in mediteval times, and in more recent days to the equal proficiency of her soldiery with modern arms. He also mentioned as a curious coincidence the fact that the winner of the Queen’s Prize this year was a member of his old corps, the Queen’s Rifle Volunteer Brigade of the Royal Soots, wh le he had now the honour of commanding tho corps to which belonged the ohampion shot of New Zealand. (Cheers.) The Chairman then paid a very warm tribute of praise to Private A. Ballinger. He was not only a steady aud consistent marksman, but he had won the esteem, goodwill and affection of his comrades of all ranks, for he had all the virtues that could be expected of anyone serving in the racks, and many natural gifts aa well. The Chairman then gave the resume we published some weeks ago of Private Ba'linger’s career as a marksman from the time he joined the Te Aro Cadets at the age of II until his latest and greatest achievement with the rifle. In conclusion he presented the Champion, on behalf of his corps, with a portrait of himself (Ballinger) in a gilded frame, bearing a silver plate suitably inscribed. The toast was drunk with musioal honours, followed by oheers. The Champion acknowledged the toast and presentation in a neat and modest little speeoh, during whioh he referred to the steady and consistent shooting of his old comrade and schoolfellow, Bombardier Howe. He would do his very best next year to maintain the position he now ocopied, and if he was not successful be hoped some other Wellington competitor would be. (Loud cheers.) Tho remaining toasts were ' The Visitors,’ ooupled with the names of the city members, proposed by Major Quick, and responded to by Messrs G. Fisher, M.H.R., J. Duthie, M.H.R , and W. McLean, M.H.R. ; ‘ The ex-Champions,’ proposod by Lieutenant Kirk and responded to by P.O. Williams (Wellington Navalsi and Mr W. H. Ballinger (Petone Rifle Olub); and ‘ The Chairman,’ proposed by the Hon Mr Ssddon and responded to by Captaiu Paterson, The gathering broke up at 11.30 p.m. with the singing of * Auld Laug Syne.’ Between the speeches songs were rendered by Mr Geo. Munt and Lieutenants Hume and Kirk, ar.d recitations wore contributed by Lieutenant Purdy, Sergeant Halo (Wellington Guards) and Captain Paterson.