Mounted Bifles.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7181, 16 January 1892, Page 1

Mounted Bifles.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Canterbury Mounted Bifles was held at the orderlyroom yestetday evening. There was a good attendance. Captain Eeece presided, and Major Slater, Surgeon Irving and Lieuts. Palairet and Garland and Mr Eilgour, formerly Lieutenant of the corps, were present. The Secretary and Treasurer, Corporal Pavitt, read the annual balance sheet, which shewed receipts JE7S 6a sd, expenses £56 83 Sd, leaving a credit balance of £18 18s. The capitation received for 1891 amounted to £44. The total assets were £103 12s, and the liabilities £38 12s, leaving a crodit balance of .£65. The cash available for the forthcoming year was £id 7a. The report of the Firing Committee stated that daring the present season the troop had fired six matches with ether corps, but with little success. It must be borne in mind, however, that many of the matches had been against corps armed with rifles, and that many of the carbines of the Mounted Bifles were practically worn out. Two members had gained marksmen's badges— Corporal Pavitt, rifle and three stars; and Trooper Cooksley, rifle and two stars. The corps wrb to be congratulated on having won a prize in the volley firing. The prizes presented by the officers had been won &% follows : — First class— Trooper Cooksley 1, Corporal Pavitt 2; second class— Trooper Fergusson 1, Trooper Slater 2; third class— Trooper Hawkins 1, Trooper Hackett 2. The Committee thanked Major Slater, Captain Eeece, Lieutenants Palairet and Garland and Surgeon Irving for donations. Captain Eeece congratulated the corps on its financial position and efficiency. The capitation money, he pointed out, might have been larger had some of the members been more anxious to pub in their drills before the end of the year. He hoped that in the forthcoming year greater attention would be given to shooting, as without efficiency in that the corps would be practically useless. The condition of volunteering generally might not, perhaps, be altogether satisfactory, but Volunteers must remember that making it satisfactory depended to a great extent upon themselves* The force would shortly have a new commandant, and he was, according to all accounts, an exceedingly good officer. Under him, no doubt, the Volunteers would be in a satisfactory condition. Captain Eeeoe then announced that a variety of circumstanoes had rendered it necessary for him to resign his commission. He much regretted this, and had to thank the officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the corps for the manner in which they had supported him during the time he had held the position of its captain. He concluded by moving the adoption of the report and balancesheet. Lieutenant Palairet seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Major Slater expressed his very great regret that the Corps was losing Captain Eeece, whom, he said, he had found to be one of the best Volunteer officers he hadever known ; one who had always done his duty with all his heart, and in a thoroughly common-sense and efficient manner. Major Slater complimented the corps on the way in which it had done its work at the Oamaru camp and elsewhere, and pointed out how very important that work was. He urged the members to stand by the corp3, and to make every effort to improve their shooting. The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year : — Secretary and Treasurer, Corporal Pavitt ; GeneralCommittee, Sergeant-Major Snow, Farriers Sergeant King, Sergeant Berland, Troopers Slater and Knott ; Firing Committee, Sergeant-Major Snow, Troopers Cooksley and Slater. . Lieutenant Palairet expressed the deep regret of all the member a of the corps at the resignation of Captain Keece, than whom, he said, it was impossible to find a better officer. The corps would keep the captaincy open, in the hopes that it might have Captain Eeece'a services again. Meantime the members would try to keep the corps as efficient as possible. Lieutenant Garland briefly endorsed the remarks of Lieutenant Palairet. Captain Eeece thanked his officers for their kind expression of opinion. Hearty votes of thanks were accorded to the Fixing and General Committees, and to the hon secretary and treasurer. Captain Eeece was unanimously elected an honorary life member of the corps. He returned thanks for the honour, and said that he would always take a great interest in the corp3, and would do his best to advance its interests. The officers of the corps expressed their intention of repeating their donations to the shooting prize fund. It was decided to present Corporal Pavitt, hon secretary and treasurer, with a trophy, value £3 3s, in recognition of his services. Captain Eeece presented Trooper Hanson with the whip given by Sergeant-Major Snow, as a prize for the member making the most attendances at parade during the year. The meeting then closed.