THE LAST NIGHT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7849, 11 July 1911, Page 6

THE LAST NIGHT

ZEALANDIA RIFLES REUNION. CORPS LOSES ITS IDENTITY. The Zcalaudia Rifles corps like other companies of the "Wellington battalio'n, now Known under the new defence scheme as liie Fifth Regiment, has lost its identity, and will In future bo known as the *x“ Company of the regiment. To mark the mergings process a reunion of past and present members was hold at Godber’s last night, the function taking the form of a dinner. There was a very largo attendance, presided over by Captain A. A. Corrigan. Amongst those present were: Colonel Collins, C.M.G.; Colonel Campbell, Commander of the Wellington Division Garrison Artillery; Colonel Purdy, Director of Medical Services; Lieut.-Cokmel Du this. Commander Filth Regiment; Major Turner,, Fifth Regiment; (Captain C. B. Mori&on, the. company’s first captain; Captain Hobbs. wno had command of the corps from 1933 to 1904; and Captain K^soii. SOME PAST 1 DISTORT. In proposing "Past and present members of the Zealandia Rifles/’ Colonel Collins eaid he was present at the birth of the corps. He had scon it through its Infancy, Us boyhood, and its manhood. The ■ Roll of Honour/' "Founders’ Roil,” and "Present Roil” snowed what the company had bfion, and every member of the corpshad just cause to be proud of the company. During tile thirteen years the com- | pany had been in existence no fewer than Si)4 members hud passed through its ranks. : He harked back to the early days of volunteering in Wellington, stating that the first Wellington Rifle battalion was formed in 1885, and existed lor three years. From 1889 to 1390 there were only two infantry companies in Wellington, the City Ritics and the Wellington Guards. They carried on until 1898 when the i’ashodiv incident occurred, and there was a general call to arms, ami companies sprung up like mushrooms. He recalled all the onicers of the Zoaliifdia Rifles—Captain C. B. Morison, vho commanded the company from 1393 1 to 1930; Captain J. Keir. 1900-1903; Captain W. Hobbs, 1903-4; and the present captain, who had boon fn command ever since. The Wellington battalion was known as one of the-beat battalions in New Zealand. The old traditions would be canned into the Fifth Regiment- and under Lieut.-Colonel Duthu* it would do in the future as it iiJways done in the past. (Applause.) “However poorly the people of to-day may regard the old volunteer system,” he continued, "it is not to be disputed that tnoro was a fine influence of patriotism inculcated in the youth of l\ew Zealand. The many hundreds who came within the Jnflueu-.-e of its training and discipline were made better men’ and better citizens. It hud in it a genu of vitality as might well have secured its development. It only needed a greater warmth of public support to energise it into activity. But this was not to bo The time had arrived for a . hangc The volunteer system had come to au end, and in its place was set up a defence scheme in which the manhood of the country would be brought up and educated in their responsibility.” Colonel Collins concluded! “We hope much, of the new order of things We hope most lor U when wo know* that it id built on -what is left of the fmo spirit of ■ the volunteer system, which has paved the way and laid down the foundation for the new force/' (Applause.) THE FIRST CAPTAIN.

'Captain Morison, who was the first to : fvijxHiu, referred to the difficulties thathad to he contended with in the formation ot the corps One thin? he was proud of was that when the Boor war broke out thirty-eight members of the company uad tro-ne to the front. A person had recently written in the press statin? that- he owned no property and therefore ho did not see why ho should register his son.? under the defence scheme as they had nothin? to fight for. He hoped there was only one man in the Dominion holding such views. If a man had no property surely he had «omo national feeling. if he were not worth fighting for himself ‘iuroly he had someone hchm dhim worth striking a blow for- If one had not property to light for he had freedom to speak raid Jive under the British flag Was that not worth fighting for? (Applause.)

Captain Corrigan referred t.o the excellent vork clone by the non-commissioned He said that compulsory training would be :t great advantage to the Dominion, because the young men would bo properly trainej. The work of the officers weuftl be easier and better. instead of spending their time bothering about capitation, maty barrel*:, otc., they would have a colone l and hi« staff to look after these sort of things, -while the real military work v.ould be left to the officers of the v-ompinies. Other toasts honoured were; “Parliament of New Zealand,” "Success to the new Defence Scheme," and "Our Guests." During the evening a very good programme of musical and vocal items was carried nut. The prizes won during the shooting season were presented by Colonel Coliine.