CHRIST'S COLLEGE EIFLES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6137, 25 March 1898, Page 1

CHRIST'S COLLEGE EIFLES.

The fifteenth annual meeting of tlie Christ's College Rifles ■ was held at their orderly-room - last night.. There was ti good attendance, and Lieutenant Smith, commanding offiaer of the company, presided. The Committee reported that, after all liabilities had beeu paid off, a credit balance of £72 3s 9d, would remain. The strength of the company during the past year had been -maintained at practically the maximum. On Feb. 28 last the total strength was sixty, out of which fifty-five were efficients. The corps had during the past yeai* lost tho services of their lato captain, owing to his promotion to the Battalion Staff; also those of Sergeant Gibson, who had been removed from Christchurch. Attention of all members ' was drawn* to the frequent bad attendances at parades. As efficiency could only be created and maintained by strict attention to drill, it was essential that an improvement should be made in this direction. Shooting, generally speaking, had considerably improved, and the next season should see the corps in possassion of a strong representative team. This year the corps had received the third prize for the district volley firing. During the past year the company had held two private camps, one during Easter at Akaroa, and the annual summer camp at Snmner. The usual squad competitions had been most beneficial. The competition had been won by Sergeant Gibson's squad. Since last annual meeting the corps had been successful in winning the two route marching competitions. During the year the orderly-room had been altered and renovated. The new field service caps had been obtained. The capitation account showed receipts _£225 17s lOd, including £22 18s 7d.in hand at the beginning of the year, and expenditure £218 12s 3d, leaving a balance at the bank of £7 5s 7d. The general account showed receipts £89 ISs 7d, including £21 12s ld balance brought forward, and disbursements £64 13s 6d, leaving a balance at the bank of £25 5s Id. The assets were £180 19s ld and the liabilities nil. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The report of the Firing Committee stated that the company had won one of the three Associated Corps' Shield matches in which it had fired. There had been a great improvement in the shooting, attributable to the great assistance of Sergeant Wakelin as coach. The committee suggested that it should retire at the close of the firing year, instead of the end of the financial year. The report was adopted. The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year: — Honorary secretary, Colour-sergeant Curry ; honorary treasurer, Lieutenant Smith ex officio; assistanthonorary treasurer, Corporal Evans ; finance committee, the officers and Sergeant Hartland and Corporal Inglis ; firing committee, Lieutenant Merton ex officio, Corporal Evans, Lance-corporal Marsh, Privates Moir, Dixon and Moore ; custodians of arms and uniforms, Corporals Inglis and Carew ; custodian of the orderly room, Private Cox ; recruiting committee, Lance-Corporals Marsh and March and Private Middleton. Votes of thanks were passed to Sergeant Wakelin, to the outgoing office-bearers, to the auditor (Mr J. F. Gi'iefson), and to Mr Homan, for the assistance he had rendered in connection with the accounts, and to the Press. Mr Homan was also elected an honorary member for the year. It was decided to recommend the General Committee to allocate £50 to the Firing Committee for the year.

The annual meeting of the Canterbury Engineers will be held on Tuesday next. The Honorary Eeserve Corps is making arrangements for the annual field day at the Cashmere range on Easter Monday. There are to be three matches — one of seven shots at 200, 500, and GOOyds, a handicap of ten shots at f.OO and 600 yds, and a champion match of ten shots at 700 yds. There was a muster of forty rank and file at the Government ■ parade of the Eangiora Eifles last evening, and ordinary company drill was gone through. Five recruits were elected, bringing the strength of the company up to fifty-six. Atthe end of the year there were fifty-seven on j tho roll, but some of the members resigned. The first dismounted drill of the proposed Christchurcli Cycling Corps was held on Tuesday evening at i'ord's Buildings. A. telogram' to the Premier, as to when the services of the corps would be accepted, evoked the reply that the matter had been placed before, the Minister of Defence, who luid been requested to give it iminediato attention. .