GERALDINE RIFLES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 5990, 30 March 1911, Page 3

GERALDINE RIFLES.

* A.NAUAL MEETIAG. Ihe annual meeting of the Gcraldiue ltilles Coml'any was held on Tuesday night after parade, when there was a' good muster and Captain Greshatn pre sided. Captain Gresham said he was pleased to report that the Company had closed the year in a very sound financial position. They commenced thd year with a credit balance of ill! Is lid. The Battalion stall' held .CSS lus in trust for the Company for new uniforms, and the men had earned m capitation IT-11, thus making the pre .-eat credit balance .C;il3 ills lid. 1'lu: >-ompauy had perhaps been a little extravagant in their expenditure on : shooting during the year, but they were in a. better jposition now than they had over been before. (Applause) It was decided last year to go in for a number of aperture .sights for shoot ing. Uu apologised for the absence of Lieutenants Fyte and Twigg and Coltiergeant Martin that night, and re. gretted that several of the older members of the Company were absentThe latter were under a misapprehension. I hey seemed to think that now

the Defence Act had fixed the ages of those joining the Territorials, that the services of those over ago would no longer be required. This Was not so. The Defence Department were anxious that men over the age-limit i.hoiild remain in the companies, for it wad recognised that the old hands were always the backbone of volunteering. This was the lirst year that lleraldine had sent a rifle team to Trent-ham, and he was well satisfied with the result. They had succeeded in beating every team in Canterbury, and the greater number in Otago. (Applause.) This showed that Gcraldiue, although they had lost the ' South Canterbury shield this year, were still in the lead, and their loss '

must have been attributable to the weather. (Laughter.). He was quite certain that the money spent in aperture sights and sending the team to frenfcham had not been wasted. Besides their credit balance, the Company had very decent uniforms and equipment, and a most comfortable orderly room with billiard tabic, etc. After the balance sheet was adopted the election of officers was proceeded with. Sergt. Broad was elected secretary, Corporals Saunders and Baughen were elected a Finance Committee Corpl. Pizzy, Pvts S. R. Smith, L. Bennington, A. Bennington, Corpl. Saunders, Colour-Sergt, Martin, Pvt. J. Sutherland and Sergt. Broad wero elected on the Shooting Committee; Colour-Sergt Martin was re-elected auditor. Captain' Giwhain spoke highly of tho good services rendered as-secretary by Sergt. Broad, who had kept the 'books in up-to-date manner and done his work faithfully and well. He also spoke e.ulogistically of the good work done by Pvt. L. Bennington -«3 secretary of the Shooting Committee. By the liberality of the citizens in presenting trophies for shooting the Com, pany had been saved considerable expenditure. Those trophies would be presented in a month's time would then see the valuable work the secretary had done. On the motion of Pvt. R. Bennington an honorariam of ,C 5 was voted to Sergt. Broad fc» his services as secretary of the company, and one guinea to Private L. Bennington as secretary of the shooting committee. Capt. Gresham proposed a vote of thanks to Sergt. Carver, who had acted as secretary of the Miniature Rifle Club. They had closed the year with a credit balance of £1 10s 6d, which had been paid into the company's fluids. They had a very successful season ami hoped lo have another this year. (Applause.) On the motion of Corporal Saunders the Entertainment Committee of last year was re-elected with the addition of Corporal Pizzey. On the motion of Priv. H. Turner, the Geraldinc School Cadets were voted the usual two guineas for shooting prizes, etc. The non-coms., with Pvt. IT. Turner, were authorised to consider tho question of uniforms and the. supplying of new members. Several new members were elected. I Capt, Givsham stated that Mr Glover had kindly promised a new cloth for the billiard table. (Applause.) Privates L. Bennington, TL Turner, •las. Bennington, and Sergt. Broad were appointed an Orderly Room Committee. Capt. Gresham said an invitation had 'been received from; the Timaru Ri/tes to lire a triangular match with Timaru and Waimate on April Gth. A vole of thanks to the chairman closed the meeting.