THE VOLUNTEERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6436, 16 March 1899, Page 2

THE VOLUNTEERS.

RANGIORA RIFLES. The twelfth annual meeting of the Rangiora Rifles was held in the drillshed, after parade, last night. There was an attendance of thirty. Captain Helmore presided. TJie annual report, prepared by the secretary, Sergeant A. Smith, spoke very favourably of the condition of the company. It recommended the institution of squad competitions to increase the interest in the drill, and more attention, to target practice. Congratulations were offered at the corps coming out third in the volley-tiring, thereby securing a prize of £13; and at the success which attended the team sent to the Dunedin Military Tournament. The great success which attended the private camp was referred to. It was suggested that an attempt should be made to' obtain honorary members, as a means of improving the financiaPposition of the corps, and enabling the erection of ante-rooms to the hall, to make it more suitable for entertainment purposes. The balance-sheet showed receipts £168 14s 7d, including capitation allowance £105, grant for private camp £17 9s 6d, and" third prize in the volley-firing, £13. The expenditure was £172 .12s, the principal item being £45 16s, balance for uniforms. The assets of the corps were reported to be £663 10s and the liabilities £322 13s lOd, leaving a credit-balance of £340 -os 2d, including £127 10s, capitation allowance for fiftyone men. for 1898-99. 'lhe report and bal-ance-sheet were adopted.. Officers for the year were elected as follows: — Secretary, Sergeant A. Smith (re-elected for the fifth year in succession) ; committee, ColourSergeant B. d Auvergne, bergeant H. Gulliver, Corporals Bell, Tolputt and Humphreys, Privates Downing, G. Bell, Geddis and Clark ; Finance Committee, Colour-Ser-geant d* Auvergne 1 and Sergeant Smith ; Firing Committee, Lieutenant d'Auvergne, Colour - Sergeant d'Auvergne, Sergeant Smith, Corporals Bell, Humphreys, Tolputt, Privates Geddis, G. Bell and Downing ; auditors, Messrs J. B. Wilson and C. I. Jennings. Votes of thanks 'were accorded to Mr Reeves, for the gift of illustrated papers for the orderly room; to the Brass Band for services willingly given on many occasions ; to Mr C. W. Bell for acting as ammunition custodian; to Sergeant Smith, the secretary, accompanied by an honorarium of a guinea; and to the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association for the use of the show grounds for the camp. A guinea was. voted to Mr W. Bevington for granting the use of Ms stable and field at the range; and a guinea to the funds of the Brass Band. On the motion of Colour-Sergeant d'Auvergne, seconded by Corporal Bell, Sergeant A. Smith ■was elected junior lieutenant. A hearty vote of thanks waa passed to Drs Volckman and Cook for instructing the ambulance class. The Firing Committee was recommended to allot a sum of money to encourage firing competitions. Captain. Helmore promised that the matter of providing, a challenge belt should receive attention. It was resolved to admit honorary members to the corps at an annual subscription of half a guinea, the General Committee to elect the same. Captain Helmore announced his intention to resign from the company at an early date, his business preventing him from giving the time necessary. Lieutenant d'Auvergne ex-' pressed the regret that would .be. felt at; losing Captain Helmore from the company.. Sergeant Smith suggested that with the view of retaining the captain's services, an assistant treasurer be appointed to relieve him of part of his duties. This was agreed to and Sergeant H. J- Gulliver was appointed. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the officers for tEeir services during the year, and also to the Press. A challenge was accepted from past members of the company to fire a match, ten men a side, on March 23.