GISBORNE RIFLES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10965, 7 May 1907, Page 4

GISBORNE RIFLES.

A pleasant reunion of members of the Gisborne ; Rifles, and friends was held last evening in the City Band room. The gathering took tlio form of a smoke concert .tendered to donors of prizes to the corps for competition during the .year. There were forty, to fifty visitors present, thp former attending in uniform. Criptain Beere presided. Apologies for absence were received from his- Worship the Mayor, ColoneJ Whiter, Mr R. Robertson, "and Captain Cowari. Lieutenant Coleniai*. said he had a vory pleasing duty to- perform, and tliat was to propose the toast of the donors of prizes. -It -was necessary that volunteers should be induced to take a keen interest in shooting, and prizes wero the means bf making the competitions more keenly contested. - Of course they could not all expect to win trophies, but those who failed should determine to have a trynext year. He was sorry to say that in shooting at the ranges this year most of the bullets had found* New Zealand instead of the target, but he would continue practice till an improvement was made. In conclusion, Lieutenant Coleman again thanked the donors of prizes for their liberal gifts, which had given much encouragement to shooting, and produced a keener interest in the corps. Mr W. F. Crawford, as the senior prize donor present replied on behalf of the givers "of trophies. Hc was an old volunteer, and 65 years"* ago was in No. 2 Naval Company, Auckland. Tlie experience he had enjoyed, and he could sympathise with Lieutenant Coleman in his remarks that he had found New Zealand so often. The first time he tried to take up a piece of native land was when he endeavored to hit the target. (Laughter.) In those days they shot with muzzle-loaders. Afterwards .they got the old Snider. 'Mr Crawford gave interesting reminiscences of the early days, and said that he had a great interest in all volunteer movements in this district, although he had not taken a prominent part lately. In conclusion, he would like to propose the health of the Gisborne Rifles, coupled with Captain Beere' s name. He wished theni eveiy prosperity and advancement. Xhe volunteer was the most useful mail in the community, as they would admit when a war scare came. In acknowledging the toa- 3 *-- Captain Beere said the corps were very thankful to the prize donors for the trophies given. Tlie company had been very fortunate in • this respect, and the residents had given liberally. To a certain extent volunteers j felt thev were working in the dark, and they would liko the public to take more interest in the corps. Many people thought volunteering an easy thing, but tlie men had to go down night after night to parade, often when they had other mat- j ters claiming their attention. He hoped' they would not have another war scare, , but the corps was embodied for that purpose., and if it did come th. two main ' things were to know how to hold the rifle to phoofc straight. It was a serious

thing to have lo say so, but none the less true, and that was that they liad to be . able to pot their man. It had been Cap- I tain Becre's aim- since he took the corps i over to encourage shooting, which was the : foundation. Thero were many ways in ; which the public might assist without i feeling it. People might, for instance, visit Hie range and try a shot or two, and they would find their interest in volunteering increase Any man with a steady ( nerve and good eye would make a shot : with practice. Shooting should be looked on with as much interest as a football ,-| match. To have a keen eye and steady nerve a man. must not "booze," although j the funny thing was tliat sometimes the , "boozers" came out on top. Captain Beere related an instance of a man wlvo at the last Rifle Association meeting nt Trentham was carried to his tent drunk on Tuesday night. Next morning tliis man put ori the possible at tlie first range, and one or two short of tlie possible at the second and' third ranges. This case j was an exception, however, and it was best for a man to have restraint on himself. Captain Beere thanked the visitors sincerely for the kind wishes expressed. During the evening songs were rendered by Messre Dudley Trent, T. Dalrymple, HaAvkwood, and Dustin, pianoforte selections were given by Dr. Schumacher and Mr Von Loube, a whistling . £010 by Mr W. L. Clayton, and recitation's by Mr Oliver and Oolor-Sergt. McKerras. A number of excellent selections were played by gramaphones kindly lent by Captain Beere and Mr. Fielder. . In thanking visitors for their attendance Captain Beere said volunteers hoped to have a drillshed at an early date, and he 'trusted they would then have another pleasant evening to mark its opening. Thanks were due to the press 1 for tlteir generosity in giving information as to the doings of volunteere, and to thc City ' Band for the use of their band-room that evening. * ■ "Auld Lang Syne" and "God Save the King" brought the proceedings to a close. Mr Dustin catered for the gathering, and the committee carrying.' out the arrangemerits comprised Color-Sergt. McKerras, Sergeant J. V. Scott (secretary). Sergeant Somervell, Corporals Holmes, Rait, and Breingan.