VOLUNTEER RECEPTION BANQUET.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 5308, 14 March 1884, Page 2

VOLUNTEER RECEPTION BANQUET.

Acting on the resolution carried at the pul lie meeting held about ton days ago, to consider the question of the reception of the champion rifle shot and the other representatives from Wanganui at tho late prize-firing in Auckland, a banquet was held in the Drill Hall last evening. The attendance was not as large as might have been ex-" pected on such an important occasion, the proportion of civilians present being, comparatively speaking, very small. Decoration of the hall had not been attempted beyond the placing of some evergreens round the walls and a display of flags across the hall. A little after 8 o'clock His Worship the Mayor took the chair, being supported on his right by the champion (Volunteer Churton), Captain Watt, Volunteer Hughes, Major Neill, Captain Sommerville, Major Noake, and Surgeon Tripe. On his left were Major Stapp, Cr Manson, and Messrs John Ballance, A. Laird, W. Armstrong, and E. Howe. The vicechaHHnen were— Colonel McDonnell, Captain Hutchison, Lieutenant Cross, and Mr R. Pharazyn. About 100 sat down to the first-class spread provided by Mr Dustin, who had secured the services of Mr Jensen, and a small army of waiters to attend to those present. After ample justice had been done to the eatables, the chairman called on those present to give the usual loyal % toasts, adding that in consequence of his beine a blue ribbon man, the audience would have to excuse his asking them to fill their glasses. " The Queen," " Royal Family," and "Governor" having ,been duly honored, ' ' ' ' Colonel McDonnell proposed, in a few suitable remarks, " The" General Assembly," coupled with the name of Mr J. Ballance. Mr Ballance, in/response, said' that in the unavoidable absence of their member, he had consented, with pleasure, to reply. He was at some disadvantage, as his experience was not of a recent date ; but it had been said that onlookers '"were, -better-able to judge a body than "those interested, and he thought" the General Assembly entitled to the inspect of the country. He could bear evidence to the patriotism and zeal of the great majority of the members of both Houses. IV was generally admitted that their Assembly compared favorably with the legislative bodies of other places. With respect to the deterioration of Parliaments, he thought that as the character of the people was, so would the character of the Assembly be. What the people are, Parliament must be. From what he could see' the present Parliament had, not shown any signs of deterioration. The present Parliament was the first under the, new system of manhood suffrage. He had watched its proceedings with interest, and could not find any signs of deterioration arising from this fact. (Applause).

r The Mayor, in (proposing the toaat of the evening, "The champion rifle shot of New Zealand "for 1884," wasgreeted with rounds of applause. His Worship felt that he could hardly put the same enthusiasm into his words 'that a crack shot could have done, had- the latter . occupied t . his place. He had never won a prize with a rifle, but he had, at any rate, seen active service, and had scored points, when people were too busy to mark the shots. He remembered lying behind a tree once for an hour firing at occasional blankets; 'whether he had hit or not he could not say, but at the end of the affair there were 14 less of their opponents than at the beginning. Looking back all. these years, he felt some interest in the volunteer movement. "The colony was at one time glad to know it could depehdon them. The militia took weeks of drilling to be of use, but the volunteers were ready at a moment's notice. The colony were glad to know of these drilled men, but they recognised that the men required t"o be able to use their rifles. The Assembly had therefore voted large sums of money to produce marksmen, and aS'they had thought it important to do this, the least the residents of Wanganui could do was on this occasion to recognise the efficiency of their representatives. (Loud applause.) Prior to the 'firing people up north knew but little of Wanganui, but when the qu~stion was asked one day who was leading, for the Belt, and the reply came Churton, Ihey aaked whence he came from, and were told Wanganui. asking for the second, third, fourth, and fifth men, they received the same answer, ,and later on coming to know that "the three highest for the belt all came from Wanganui, enquiries were made about this little district. (Loud and continued applause.) They should say " Well done " now the belt had been brought back ; for years they had been close to it, and this year he believed that the representatives went away with a determination to bring back the belt, and if Churton hadnot done so.Purnell would, and, if he had not, Hughes would. He hoped it would remain her c now for some time. ( Cheers. ) He had pleasure in asking them to drink the health of volunteer Churton, the champion shot of New Zealand for 1881. Loud applause, the band playing "See the Conquering Hero comes,", and "He's a jolly good Fellow." Three hearty cheers were given, and with musical honors the toast was drunk.— Prior to the reply by the champion, tho Mayor informed those present amidst great applause that "our boys!" in the rowing interests, had carried off all tho prizes at the Foxton Regatta.

The champion on rising to respond, was received with hearty and long applause. He ' said he was proud of the manner in which they had received him on coming back from Auckland. He had never been called on before to make a speech before so large an assembly. (A voice: "Never mind, you • won the belt "). He went to try and win it, to do his best to bring it back, and now that . it was here, he hoped it would be kept here' for many years. ( Hear, hear). After again ] returning thanks, he resumed his seat amidst great cheering. Mr Pharazyn proposed the toast of " The other representatives. He did not wish to detract from the honor showji to the champion, but he considered that those who nearly approached the championship, shared equally with Volunteer Churton, the honors of being the best shots in the colony. (Hear hear.) He coupled the toast with the names' of Lieutenant Purnell, Volunteer Hughes, and Petty Officer Stitt. The toast was received with musical honors and cheers.

Lieutenant Purnell, on behalf of "The other representatives," returned thanks. They were glad to have upheld the honor of Wanganui as they had done, and this result he thought had been attained by the total, absence of envy amongst the local shots., (Hear hear.) Each assisted the others, and, as far as the infantry was concerned, he could' say that the Wanganui and City Rifle repre-' sentatives worked well together. (Applause. ) , With regard to the winner of the Belt, he , considered Churton deserved it, as having made the most steady shooting throughout; the meeting, Reference had been made to the Government assistance to the Rifle Association. Well, eight or ten years ago when conducted under the old system, the Association cost from £4000 to £5000 a year ; now the amount received direct amounted only to £500. He thought another £500 might be obtained by members of the House, making the grant £1000. The volunteer movement depended greatly on the success of the Association, all volunteers looking forward to the time when they could represent their district. The average expense of a representative was from £12 to £16, and the smallncss of the prizes did not enable men to ■ clear their expenses. Referring to the question of movable meetings, he said that the general opinion seemed to be that they should hold one meeting more either in Wanganui or Wellington, and then fix it either at Nelson or some pla^e where the Association would be able to carry on.

Soug by Voluntebr Turner. Surgeon Tripe proposed the " Army and Navy." After referring to the extremely low rate of deaths, as recorded in the mortality returns of the British Navy, he refsrred to the action of the Army laetly and at present in Egypt. The part taken by the Navy at Alexandria contrasted favourably with soldiers under under Charles 11. Their New Zealand Navy had not seen service, but boats were coming out for the colony which would be of use. He coupled the names of Major Noake and Lieutenant Cross with the toast.

The toast was received warmly, and M ijor Noake warmly applauded. He considered the Army should have been mentioned as their volunteers, for that force was the New Zealand Army. They were the first to be called on in cases of emergency, and it would always be so in this colony. The Govern-

ment did not appreciate the force as they should do ; lb was the most economical force tho colony could have. A little more money spent would improvo the force and make it thoroughly efficient. He felt it an honor to have been associated with the Imperial Army, in which he had spent some of the pleasantest days of hia life (Applause.)

Licutei^aut Ccoss responded, briefly forthe Navy, sxieaking of their services at Alexandria aud Tel el Keber.__ Should the occasion require, the Naval a\,wpuld do good service in the future.

Song by 'Lieutenant 'Flyger. '-

Mr J. Ballance proposed "The Volunteers," and in doing so he recorded his satisfaction at the position taken by Warisauui men. He was very glad to see so many volunteers present, but would have liked to have seen more black coats. Referring to the qualities of volunteers as compared with the Imperial forces ; they had stoo"d side by side, and when they had met a foe of great endurance, courage, and skill, the volunteers had borne their part honorably and acquitted themselves well. (Hear, hear). On all occasions they had acquitted themselves jn r ,aa -distinguishing a manner as the Imperial forces, and on some occasions had borne off the honors of the field. Judging from their services in th« past, he thought that the volunteers could be relied on in the future, as in the past they had met the danger from within, so they would respond to the call of their country for its defence in the future. In the event of the speedy dissolution of the A.C. force, he thought the volunteers might be called upon very soon to accept the post of being the sole defenders of the colony. With regard to the fairness or unfairness with which volunteers had been treated by the Government, he said that sometimes Government had been compelled to show rigid economy, though there was no want of appreciation by the great majority of the people. He had been a volunteer once, and seen service, for which he had earned a medal, but now he was getting too old for volunteering. He was pleased to associate the name of Major Stapp, the officer commanding the district, with the toast. This officer deserved well of his country and the colony generally for his services. (Cheers).

The toast was given with musical honors. Major Stapp, as one of the oldest volunteer officers in the colony, thanked them for the toast. The remarks of both Major Noake and Mr Ballance were, though seemingly flattering, very just. In New Zealand, volunteers had been called upon to perform duties seldom required in any of the other colonies, and the duties had been well performed. He had taken an interest in Volunteer Churton for years back, having sesn him at various prize firings, and on the occasion of his winning the belt, had telegraphed to him immediately. He hoped the belt would remain' here. (Applause).

Sons by Trooper Chaldicott.

Major Noake proposed the New Zealand Rifle Association, which he considered required more liberal encouragement from the Government. The Association was conducive for good to the movement ; its meetings brought volunteers together, creating a feeling both of competition and good fellowship amongst all volunteers throughout the colony. He had great pleasure in coupling with the toast the name of Captain Sommerville (applause), one of the oldest members of the Association, who, though he had not brought back the Belt back, had been second for it. The Rifle Belt, Wanganui should have had for the last few years back, and he hoped they would stick to it now. (Loud applause. )

The toast having been received with musical honors, Captain Pommerville responded. Speaking of the management of the association, they could hardly say it had been bad, as that would reflect on themselves for not electing better officers, still it might be greatly improved. As a volunteer he thought the Government had not encouraged the association as they might have done, but as a settler he was not sure but what they had done all the funds of the colony would permit. As to the question of the next meeting being held here, he would like much to see it,- but there were many difficulties in the way of collecting money, etc. He' thought if the meeting was held here, the belt would-be retained, and perhaps the carbine belt would come here too. He had had a hobby for 24 or 25 years, and that hobby was rifle . shooting, and he could say that if no worse hobby than that was indulged in by his family, he would not interfera. Referring tc the blue-ribbon remarks of the chairman, he could say it was impossible for a crack shot to be a drunkard. A good shot has to use his judgment and his memory, without which he could never succeed. Wanganui had hard lines for the belt in the past, they had been three times second, in one person Lieutenant Purnell, (loud applause). He considered the man that could go three times second, consecutively, is just about equal to the men who took first place. For the Carbine Belt since the Association was formed 5 years ago, Wanganui had four seconds. He hoped the Wanganui shots would make up their minds to do as the Thames shots had done with the Carbine Belt, make up their minds to have it, and win year after year, till it was finally left in' the district. Captain Sommerville resumed his seat amidst great applause.

Captain Hutchison gave The Mayor and Borough Councillors. He had taken Colonel McDonnell's place, and though there might seem something ironical in his being asked to give the toast, they would kindly imagine he was Colonel McDonnell. Speaking of the Mayor and the members of that " happy family," he said their management of finance had caused some criticism, but over this, and the Copeland street affair they had come out, standing resplendent that evening, in the glory of their achievements. As a volunteer he responded to the call of duty, and asked' to drink the health of "The Mayor and Borough Conncillors." The toast was received with musical honors.

Duet by the Brothers Mooseman.

His Worship in response took the remarks in the same warm spirit" in which they had been made, they were expected to take for gospel everything said at meetings like these, and as he was sure that th 6 last speaker was accustomed to say nothing but what he believed to be true. He would aways be prepared, as Mayor, to do what he could in the interests of the town, - and in the matter for which they were gathered together, he thought he had only done his duty. Song by Surgeon Tripe. Lieut. Cross, in a humorous speech, proposed " The Ladies," and Volunteer Rodwell responded in an appropriate manner. " The Press " was propoaed by Captain Watt, who remarked that the local papers took. a great interest in volunteering matteis. The toast waa responded to by Messrs Epps (Chronicle) and Wilkinson (Herald.) The band then played " Hands all round," after which Major' Neill proposed a vote of thanks to the chair, and the party dispersed at midnight, having spent a pleasant evening.