A VOLUNTEER FUNCTION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14018, 24 September 1909, Page 1

A VOLUNTEER FUNCTION.

SMOKE CONCERT AM) PRESENTATIONS. A very epioyable evening was spent •>v the Turnnaki RiflcH last night, when {lie. cm {Hi gathered at a smoke concert in the orderly room to present Captain nrnl Adjutai. F. T. Bellringer, Lieutenant C. B. .ever, and QuartermasterSergeant E. '•*. Lister with handsomely I mined and 1 lountcd photographs ot the company. T*«<' photographs were bcatttiltiily decora Unl with reproductions of tho company colours. Captain Fletcher presided. Among the gtwbts, besides the particular guchtb <>i the evening, were Colonel Ellis, I.Mutenaiit-ColoiH'l Okey, V.D., Captain H. Eyre-Kenny (at one time oilicer commanding the corps). Chaplain -Major Evan*, Major fiandford, V.D., Captain li. Cock, V.D., Captain F. \V. Okc-j, Captain C. H. Woston, Cuptain Pope, ami Lieutenant Klenner (ot the Waitara Hilles), Lieutenant Boon ((iu.irds), and ex-Lieutenant A. Humphries. '" j)rescntationB were made by Lieu-tenant-Colonel Okoy. The pleasure he had in proposing the toasts of the guests ot the evening was mingled with some regret, he said. While the corps was losing the services of these gentlemen, it was not altogether losing thorn. In tho cases of Captain Bellringer and , Quartermaster^SJergeant Lister, their I leaving meant' well-earned promotion. J He much regretted that the rorpb was i losing Lieutenunt Lever altogether, as Ihe was leaving the district. Captain Bellringer had raised the corps to a ' very high state of efficiency. Lieu-tenant-Colonel Okey also eulogised the services of Lieutenant Lever and Quar- , termabtor-Sergeant Lister. | In returning thanks, Captain Bellringer remarked that the keen regrets he felt at leaving the corps was tempered to some extent by the exceedingly pleasant remarks that had been made by Lieutenant-Colonel Okey, the reception he had received, and by the fact that he had handed over the command of the corps to such an efficient officer as Captain Fletcher. He dwelt upon the exceedingly pleasant relations that had always existed between him and the company. He keenly regretted having to leave the corps. Lieutenant Lever and QuartermasterSorgoant Lister also suitably responded. The inscriptions borne by the photographs were as follow: "Presented to Captain F. T. Bellringer by- th# officers, non-coms, and men of the T^anaki Rifle Volunteers, on his promv ;>n to Captain-Adjutant of the 4th \WHington (Taranaki) Battalion, in recognition of his valuable tervices whilst, raptain of the corps." j "Presented to Lieutenant C. B. ! Lever by the officers, non-coms, and men of the Taranaki Rifle Volunteers on his resignation from the corps, as a mark of esteem. Service enrolled 30th January, 18927 promoted sergeant 1894, promoted Colour-Sergeant 1902, elected lieutenant 2nd March, 1904. Secretary from January, 1893, to September, 1909." "Presented to Colour-Sergeant E. P. Lister, by th# officers, non-coms, and men of the Taranaki Rifle Volunteers, on his promotion to QuartermasterSergeant of tbr 4th Wellington (Taranaki) Battalioi. as a mark of esteem. Service: Eurofi^d March 12, 1894, promoted btrg'^f 1895, promoted corporal 189$, p.lmtfted sergeant 1897, promoted cbloy^sergeant 1906." The toast list wafc as follows: — The King; "Th» Navy and Army." proposed by Liarttenant-Colonel EHlis and responded to by Captain Eyre-Kenny ; "The Fourth Wellington (Taranaki) Rifle Battalion, 1 proposed by Major ■Sandfoafc and responded to by LieutenauPKriojjpl E. N. L. Okey; "The jJiiests of toe Evening," proposed by Cleutenant-Cilonel Okey and responded :o by Captaljn Bellringer, Lieutenant' [*ever and '* '" Quartermaster-Sergeant liister; "The -Taranaki Rifles," proposed by Captain Eyre-Kenny, and ' esponded to -by- Captain Fletcher ; '()ur Friends," proposed by Lieutenant IVillis, and responded to by Captain SVeston and Captain Pope; "Colonel Cilia, the first commanding officer of he Fourth Wellington Rifle Battnion," proposed by Captain Fletcher; 'The Press." proposed by Captain Bell■inger; "The Ladies," proposed by I'haplain-Major Evans and responded to >y Captain Cock. The instrumental and vocal programme was a distinctly good one. A quartette was contributed by the Harrison Band ; songs were given by [legimental Sergeant-Major Armitage, Sergeant Clarke, and Messrs. Woodird, Haslam and Stokes, and recitations >y Lieutenant Willis and Private ■stokes. Ewry item was encored. Mr. !£. A. Goldiug was accompanist.