VOLUNTEER PARADE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13858, 22 March 1907, Page 3

VOLUNTEER PARADE.

NO. 1 RIFLE BATTALION. A A r oluntcer parade was _ held last evening, tho men assembling in tho Garrison Hall prior to tho march out, in order to attend the presentation of tho ladies' challenge shield, tlio battalion challenge shield, and tho challenge cup. Colonel Stoncham explained that tho idea of holding a combined parade was to enable tho presentations to bo made—tho Ladies' Challenge Shield to the Dunedin Engineers, the Battalion Shield to the City ltifles, and t.ho Defence Battalion Challenge Cup to the Engineer Cadet Corps. The Mayor had been asked to present tho Ladies' Challenge Shield, but was unable fo be present, and Cr Walker 'haul kindly undertaken the duty. Cr J. 11. Walker said it was with extreme regret that the Mayor had found himself unable to' bo present, owing to an engagement made some three or four weeks ago. In connection with the presentation, ho would like to say he thought the Volunteers of Dunedin were, to bo congratulated upon flic creditable appearancc they made, and that too little was made of them in Dunedin. _ Ho thought, tho authorities might give greater facilities and help Volunteers in a greater degree than was done at present, and he specially mentioned the desirableness of an arrangement being comc to with the civic authorities for carrying Volunteers in uniform on tho city trams. Tho movement to initiate the Ladies' Challenge Shield wti6 started in 1873, and the first, competition was held in 1875, when tho City Guards wero the winners. This year it had been won 'by the Dunedin Engineers, and he had much pleasure in handing the shield over to tho winning team. In t.Se first, competition the entries had numbered 13, and eight- o[ these corps wero now defunct. This time the entries also numbered 13. Tho Hon. J. B. Callan, M.L.C., in presenting the Battalion Challenge. Shield, referred fo the. absence from the. Volunteers of many old familiar faces. Most of tlicso had fallen out of the ranks, but some, such as Mo-srs .Stavely, Walc6, and Gordon, had answered their last roll call. However, they had to deal with the present. 110 was glad to he able to inform the ln.ltalia.ii that, steps were being taken to obtain Jand and erect upon it a larger and more commodious hall for the purposes of drill. This would take time, but the movement was at present, on foot. Ho had much pleasure in handing the shield over. Colonel Smyth, the Officer Commanding tlio District, spoke a few words of congratidafion to the winning teams. Colonel Stoncham, (.he Officer Commanding the Battalion, made the third presentation to the Engineer Cadets, which he pointed out. had won the cup twice out of the three times it had been competed for. This concluded the presentations, and tho men were marched out. The following was the parade state:— ; District Staff: Colonel Smyth, Major Bcal, Surgeon Lieutenant-colonel Will, and Corporal Trask. Battalion Stuff: Colonel Stoncham, Major Crawford, Captain-adjutant Barclay, Lieutenant Q.M. Moncricff, Sergeant-major Benfell. No. 2 Company N.Vi. Engineers: 13 officers and 27 men;—lotal 40. Dunedin Engineer Cadets! 11 officers and 39 men;—total 30. Garrison Band: l officers and 21 bandsmen; —total 28, * Dunedin City Guards: 7 officers and 10 moillotal 17. JJortli Dunedin Rifles: G officers and II men;—total 20. Dunedin Highland Rifles: 9 officers and 16 men;—trial 25. Dunedin City Rifles: 9 officers and 19 men; —total 23. Dunedin Rifles: 9 officers and 13 men;— total 24. Wokari Rifles: 8 officers and 10 men;— total 27. Cavcrsham Rifles: 10 officers and 16 men;— total 2G. Green Island Rifles: 6 officers and 13 men; —total W. Total on parade: ahout 300.