ANNUAL MEETING OF THE WELLINGTON CITY RIFLES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8010, 15 February 1887, Page 2

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE WELLINGTON CITY RIFLES.

The twentieth annual meeting of the above corps took place last evening at tbo Volunteer Drillshed. The attendance was very good, over fifty members being present. Captain Collins occupied the chair ; lieu* tenant Thompson was also present. The minutes of former meeting having been read and confirmed, the balance-sheet and auditor’s report for JBS6 was read, the finances of the corps being in a most satisfactory condition. Captain Collins, in moving the adoption of the report, congratulated the members on the very .satisfactory position of the corps, and reviewed at some length the results of the past year. Daring the past year the formation of the Kifle Corps with a battalion deprived them of the services of one who had been ia command for many years. With credit to himself and the corps; and it was only natural that he (Captain Collins) should have hesitated to accept the command when he was selected to succeed Major Crowe; but having done so he did not regret it, as the loyal support and assistance that had been accorded to him by alt ranks had made the duties exceedingly light and a source of great pleasure to him. As regards the financial position, the corps started the year with a cash balance of £B7 0a Sd. The receipts for 1886 amounted to £270 7s 7d, made up as follows : —Capitation (63 efficients), £lB9 ; refund of Customs duty paid on uniforms, £3l 7s; subscriptions from members, £34 18a 6d ; entrance fees, £$ 7s ; other receipts, £l6 15a 2d, making a total of £357 Sa ' 3d, of which sum £244 19s was expended, the chief items of expenditure being —Great coats (C 3), £Bllßs ; ammunition for rlfie practice, £32; completion of rifie range, £l7 ; rifle-jshooting expenses, £24 14a lOd; encampment expenses, £l2 ISs fid; gas,£lO Is lid ; Secretary's, salary, £lO, leaving a credit cash balance in hand of £ll2 9s 3d, The statement of assets and liabilities shows a balance on the right tide of £244 10s 3d. During the year 32 new members were enrolled, 1 transferred to the Wellington Guards, UL struck off for frequent absence from drill, I dismissed, and ~6 rc*

signed, the total strength of tho cofpi ' Bn the 31st of December being 04, of vFnoin 62 were present at the annual inspection, ield by Major-General \?bitmore. Tho attendance of.. tho members lit drill was exoap’ionally good. Tho number (it parades, held were 46, at which tho average att&uUucb was 44 all and us will lie seen.by the Balanoelslioet the corps qualified 63 for capitation, Teh qf ( £T e l°b were offered (or tKe ten Lest atteiidhavS/ iiua it is worthy of remark that two of.the pr,23< takers attended every parade, while three others only missed ono each. The winners were :—Private Arthur Guise, 46 ; Private George Harris, 46; Private S. Prioat, 4n; Corporal Jairisifri; 43 J, Private Arnold, 45 ; Private John Rankin, 43; Kogler Ayies, 43 J Private Petberick, 43 ; Private Cole, 42 ; Privates McGregor and Henry Palmer, 41 each (divided). A similar number of prizes of same amount will be granted this year. Rifle shooting had been'Carried on with more than usual vigor, and though -unsuccessful in several matches with other corps in the early part of last year, still soirte very good work Svhs done individually.’ gating tnelpresent season a marked improvement lia't t!*k«jU place in the shooting, and with a view to encourage tho younger shots of the corps to practice, the members have been divided into three classes for the purpose, and the result so far has been exceedingly satisfactory, more than half the company haring been induced to compete. Every Thursday morning a competition is held for a special trophy presented by the company, and every third Saturday the trophies for the different classes, including ammunition prizes, are offered forcompetition, while Hobson’s silvercnpis Qredfor at intervals. Nearly £4O has been expended by the company in connection with rifle shooting du-ing the year. It is proposed to hold a special competition for B and C classes evety Monday morning, as the number of competitors are now 100 many for tho Cue morning. The (aggregate modal for 1883-6 was won by Sergeaut Burton, the secoiid class oiip was finally won by Cnlor-Seigcaat liavio, add tho 'OOmpauy’e telescope by Private Cato, The balance-sheet afid .auditors’ repo-t was Adopted’. Captain Collins considered that with.such a favorable balance-sheet the subscriptions paid by members for the past year Should be refunded to them, which met with general approval; and it was understood that the same privilege should bo granted next year to all men who earned their capitation. It was decided that new trousers for each member be obtained, as soon as possible, also fiavorsnokk, coat’straps, and waterproof sheets for free issue to each man for encampments. The corps having resolved to attend the Easter encampment at Taranaki, ail expenses in connection therewith will be borne from the funds as heretofore.

The following members were elected as a General Committee for the current year : Officers ex officio; Sergeants Mcßean, Madely, Burton, and Roberta, Corporal Jackson, Privates Cato and Valentine, Color-Sergeant Davis was unanimously reelected, Secretary. Privates Cato and M'pQre,'Were elected audito s. The junior lieutenancy of tbo corps being vacant, Mr ,"Vlr. Hi Clarke, formerly a lieutenant in the Queenstown Hide Volunteers, was nominated for the position, and unanimously elected. Captain Collins intimated that the officers had decided ou presenting a handsome marble clock to be shot for by the members of the carps, to be won twice in succession or three times at intervals before becoming the property of a competitor. The company decided to enter a team in the Teams’ Match at the Now Zealand Rifle Association meeting. Arrangements were made for holding a special prize meeting in March, and a committee appointed to carry it out. The question of obtaining a new undress uniform was deferred, to see if the battalion was likely to adopt same uniformity in that respect. The meeting closed with the customary compliment to the chair and three cheers for the officers.