B. BATTERY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14784, 17 March 1910, Page 8

B. BATTERY.

The officers and members of B BattorT held a social evening in the W'aratah Tel Hooms, George street, last night. Ther< was a splendid muster of the battery, tcgethsr with a number of visitors, mihtart and civilian. Major .Ritchie occupied th« chair, and was supported by his offieeivs- ■ Captain Roberts, Lieutenant. M'Kenzie and Lieutenant Ewcu. Tho visitors were Lieu-tenant-colonel Stoneham, Major Frederic Major Chalrner, Captain M'lndoc, Captain Monkman, Lieutenant George, Lieutenant H. Morris, and Lieutenant. Baron, Messw Lb 1I - n 1 ' ri l«? 1 '; KC -> L ; W. Harris, F. J. Stilling, G. Webster, and G. W. M'lntosh. baveral apologies 'or non-attendance were, received. Tho toasts of the evening wcrc■•ll* king," "The Visitors," proposed by Majorßitchie and responded to by Captain M'lndoc and Mr J. F. M. Fr J g™ 1 B Buttery, proposed by Colonel Stone' i"'..n r^F° nde ,f t0 b - v Ma J or Hitchie; and Our Officers proposed by Sergeant! major Miller, and responded to by Major Ritchie, Captain Roberts, Lieutenant M kenzic, and Lieutenant Ewcn.' The speeches of the evening were not jiunierpus, tho greater part of the time being given up to music, recitation, and other forms of entertainment. Major Kitchip mentioned that he had received a telegram from Captain Stewart, of the Kelso Mounted Hides, statin- that Easter would suit his men for the shootin" match. Tins announcement was received with applause. Speaking of tho new defence conditions, he _ expressed the opinion that universal training, which he regarded as a. step in the right direction,-should.have been enforced botwesri the ages of 18 and 25, instead of as proposed, 18 lo 21.-(Applause.) Later in the evening | 16 mentioned that ho hoped this year to form a reserve corps for men who had put in five, years' service in the battery. He had also some words to say in praise of the work, so willingly and so heartily done from year to yeai by the men of the battery. He trusted that the new regulations would admit of' their continiuV then- training on present lines.-(Applausc!) If so, ho was confident the majority of tho men would remain, in the battery. Fully 80 per cent.' of tho members.had attended regularly at tho Wednesday parad.s through out the ycur.-(Applausc) He further expressed the .belief that When tho shootiii" results came to hand B Battery would be found somewhere near the top.-fApplauee.) liirther. Major Ritchio hoped that in the 1 financial appropriations under the iicw defence system provision would be made for. tho battery securing, at an early date, a, better stamp of horses than it at present pos6essed.-(Applause.) The other speeches were to the point. Captain M'lndoe paid a tribute of praise to tho work of the battery, at the same time adding a word for the branch iwith which he is more immediately connected. Mr Fraser, as a civilian, spoke o,f the interest which tho public (took in' defence matters, especially in the work of tho Held gunner. Ho hoped the battery would bo spared for many yeare to maintain its identity, and that (or many years it might have its present officers.—(Applause.) Lieutenant-colonel Stoneham referred to the important part which the infantry performed in an engagement, and to the valuable assistance given to it by the artillery. With Major Ritchie, ho hoped that the stamp of horses would be improved, and that a supply of reserve horses would also be provided—(Applause.) Sergeant-major Miller paid a neat compliment to tho efficiency of the officers, and to the very willing service the men were prepared to give under them. During the evening the following gontlemen oontributtd to the entertainment:— Bombadier Thomson, Gunner Stewart, Far-ricr-driver .Kerr, Dr. Donaldson, Q.M.S. Black, ex-Corporal Gray, Messrs Noel Smith, J. H. Brennan, Michelle,-Brown, Morgan, and Graham (songs), Lieutenant George (clarionet), and Raymond (conjuror).