TEMUKA RIFLES.

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

TEMUKA RIFLES.

■The parade of the Temuka RUlos lust ccening was called for the purpose of bidding facowell to Staff-Sergit.-iUajor Ihomson, who has been transferred to Blenheim, and also to make a presentation to Lieutenant W. McCallum, who has resigned from the company, after 11 years' service. The function took the form of rf,''social evening, and there Was a large attendance of members of the corps present, and also Captain. Gunnion, and Messrs W. 11. Brown, P. Coira, and G. Levens, of the Defence Rifles. Captain Chapman stated that Se,t#t., Major Thomson had intended to be present that evening, but at the last moment he received Word to report for duty at Blenheim by the Ist April, so could not be present. Captain Chapman had, 'however, gone into Timaru and bid farewell to the Sergt.-Major on Lekilf of the corps. The Sergt.?i!ajoi: had wished them, all farewell, I and also wished them every success in the futue under the new territorial scheme.

Captain Chapman said they had another presentation to make that eveninn-, and that was to Lieut. McCallum, who had resigned from the corps through no fault of his own. He had been connected with the corcrs&ny for over fourteen years, and had joined as a Private in the ranks, and had gone through every step to Lieutenant. Those who had workfcd with him knew

liim to be a hard-working- man, who always had the interest of the corps at heart. Since he had been in command it was only a matter of asking once, and Lieut. McCallum saw the work was done. Those present knew the work lie had done for the Company, both as a Volunteer and on the s o cial side, and no one could say but that his work was carried out well. He was very sorry to lose Lieut. McCal- ! lumis services ; it was like losing a I link in a chain- He regretted that he j was leaving the Company after his lonir service, and the. members of the corps rejrn-t ted it- as much as he did. ITn iiol'cd ho would live many years to fake an interest in his old corps,

and see it advance under the new regulations unlit it was one ot the best corps in Aew Zealand, uaptam Chapman inen presuniL'U i.iciu. .m.u^aUuni n bchali oi the coif*, wuu a uuiu.U- ---.;. siiNcr tea service, consisting of tea 'and collee pots auu miiK. una sugar i u aaius, together wuli a solid oa* tray ■.. eanng the mscripLion, "'.Presented to uicui. \\. MeCaiJum by his old comrades in the TemiiKa miles, as a of esteem alter J.-J. years service. March, 1'Jll." ,ur I'. Uunmon, in proposing the health ot Lieutenant AtcCullum, said k there was a proud man in iemmva thai niigii't it should ijc Lioitleuaiit .uc-Cubum, who had bom honoured uy his old corps in such a lining manner. As a man he was one oi the unite men of TemiiKa, and as a sport lie was one of the best they could liiw. if c\ery there was worit to be done they always fouuu nun where there was most to be -dona, and he had done his share. Jlo hoped the men ot the company would wok to gtielier and bring- the company up to •inch a stale tliat it would be a credit to the colony. 'j.lmj health of Lieutenant UjOallum was then drunk, with musical honour.-,, accompanied by the w,ar cry ui 11) e company. toiour-iSergeant Smith, on behalf oi

the non-coms., said they were aii sorry to lose the services of l.ieulenam McCahnm, and they ail t-ot a siioc.i wlu-u they louiid vo Was ic.-ign-.uj.. ire had been connected with him on company matters lor the past 10 years, aud always found urn willi'-,i to assist the men by every means >l ins power. He endorsed the remiaiks oi previous speakers as to Lieatoaanl iltcUallum a good uiiali/us, and stud the .A.C.l).'s ot the company incer-decl it ..aer of thauits to .ua,;or idiom-son for what i.-j had cone for .... non-coins. Mr n. .11. Brown he was M J jy pkased to> be present rlui is/iiiir. lie iiat! known Lieutenant iLcGallum for

u.uiiy years, and could ted/it/ to »ood work he hud done for >•!■- '-"J-' ll ' "** ... .. .:...„ ... 1.1 I -. ~.,...

i-any. 'At oae time ue W beea connected with the co-nipa-v/, and rould 'testify to the amount >i vnd:. Lieuknant McCallum had Joae fur tL e corps, and was very so.. v «hen I J heard he was leaving) the rid ..•.uuuviy j-ie hoped the present ineci ol th'i ccv, a would stick to it and br'aj; the company to a good state of perfection, and make it one of the ii'ist in the country. Their present that night showed the good feeling which existed between oflicers and men, <md he hoped it would long continue. Lieutenant Puwloim said lie had. not been acquainted very lons w th Lieutenant McCallum, but could appreciate the work he had done for the company. He was one of those men who took an interest in-his work, and was always willing; to -do his utmost for the [rood of the corps. He bad met him '"at several camps, and knew the hard work he bud done to make every lhin« a success. Serjeant McEvoy, as a young- noncom.," said that if any of them were iii difficulties with theii work Lieutenant McCallum was one of the first to show them what to do and how to do it. and he had always endeavoured, to help them in every possible wayLieutenant 'McCallum, who was received with applause and who was very much affected, s-aid he had been taken by surprise that evening. Ho had attended to bid farewell to Staff-Sor.<yt.-Major Thomson,, and had no knowledge that a presentation was to be made to himself. He thanked Captain Chapman -and the others for their kind remarks. He could have joined the Temuka Rifles 25 years ago, •but; would not do so until he found he could attend every parade. That opportunity came about 15 years ago, and sii.ee he had joined there was hardly- a parade that he had missed, and he thought ha had attended more parados than any other member of the corps. He had never missed a company camp, and had only missed two Easter camps, and that through no fault of his own. Anything he had done for the corps had been a pleasure, a r.d had 'been done willingly. Since he had been connected with the corps there had been live captains and he thought their present captain was one of Lie best they had had. Ho ui-ifod members to attend parades regularly, and not bo late for parade, and hoped the company would progross under the new regulations, -and become one of the foromiost in the colonv. (Applause). The' health of Mr .J'. M. Twomey was then drunk. Mr Twomey, in responding, said he was sure that if called upon New Zeala inters would show the metal they were made of. If the day ever came, and he hoped it never would, he knew they would be prepared to defend their hearths and homes, and would do so in the manner their descendants did, and was certain they would exercise their attributes in a maimer creditable Lo their country. ('apt. Chapman said they all knew there was a Morris Tube Club connected with the corps, and the medal presented by the company had fallen to Private McDonald. This medal was given to the best aggregate shot, and he had much pleasure in presenting it. lie hoped to see all the company jom the club next winter. The fee was '■'>/(>, but they had a good deal of amusement, and if the present targets were j not sufficient they would prepare more Lieut. McCallum would present the club with a gold medal for next winter's shooting. Lieut. McCallum proposed the health of the captain in felicitious terms. Capt. Chapman said he had had IU years' service, and roso from the lowest to the highest rung of the ladder. Tie was proud to say he had always o-ood men with him, who worked well together. The corps had the reputation of being one of the best, if not Hii- best, in Canterbury. (Applause.) ' Dui-iiioi the evening several songs and recitations enlivened the procecdmgsl and a most enjoyable night was spent in mutual good fellowship.