Wallace Mounted Rifles

Southland Times, Issue 19116, 5 August 1903, Page 3

Wallace Mounted Rifles

-♦ Tho annual muster parade of tint . tf.pnulron was held in Kelly's horsi . bazaar on Friday, when there was ti totaj of 1.") rank und file on parade, . under Captain Saunders. Lieutenants Newton, Taylor and Blatcb. Colonel Kobin, CD., attended by Lieut. - Q..M. Uichards and Staff Sergt-Jlajor Grant, was the inspecting ollicer, and it was to be regretted that a 'jotter muster was not on parade on the occasion of thu Colonel's lirst inspection o_ the .squadron . Of the twe.-ity nien absent, eleven wore prevented I from attending by the snow up country, live wore .sick, one out of the district ; three absent without leavo have been fined £1 by the O.C. Alter n careful examination of ihe arms and accoutrements by the C.0.1), the men were complimented by that officer on the excellent state in which he had found all arms, 'ihe non-coms, were exercised in manual and bring exercises'. At first each of. them was nervous, but after a. few reassuring remarks from Col. Itobin they improved in their commands immensely, one or two being especially good. At. the conclusion of tbe parade the Colonel in addressing the men congratulated them ou tbe muster, which, considering the snow, which hud boon falling throughout the day, and the distance many of them had to ride, he considered a good, proof of the interest they took in the service iv general and Humown squadron in particular. He emphasised the fact that .the Motherland was never in more urgent reed of volunteers than at the present time, not that he anticipated another great war. but there was no knowing the moment that we wc<nld have to defend ourselves. He was pleased with the general appearance and physique cf the men. He knew they were all expert horsemen, and he trusted in a few days to be able to place' in their hands a drill bock that would make them eflicient soldiers. The rifle they had was perhaps the best in the world, there was certainly none better, and with care and practice there was no reason against their becoming expert marksmen. He t misted to ''see them for two or three days during their camp, , when ho hoped to see as good progress as had been made since their hist camp. After tho parade a nu'cling was held to discuss the place of camp, and it was almost unanimously decided to hold the next camp near Otautau, either the best week in November or the last week in January. The date will be decided by a ballot taken through the post. After the meeting a social was held in the Town Hall, at which there were nearly two hundred persons present. On Saturday evening a team of civilians, captained by Mr Joseph Swap, held a Morris tube match against the Otautau troop and were beaten by 81 points. For the winners Trooper James and hc-n. member Crawford put on 32 e.uch, while Messrs Swap 28 and Scatter 24 were the highest scorers for the losers. In a. handicap sweepstake match afterwards Lieut. Taylor (scr) 34, Q.M.Sergt. Matheson (scr) 84, Corpl. Tavlor (4) 84, Mr M. Affleck (8) 34, and Mr E. Hamer (8) 34, divided the prize money.