OUR VOLUNTEERS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11643, 22 August 1905, Page 6

OUR VOLUNTEERS.

WANGANUI EIFLES.

, Last evening the Wanganui Rifles held a ' snzako concert at the "Silver Grid," the 1 comfortable liall at which was well filled with members of the company and Uieir friends, and an exceedingly pleasant time was spent. Host Hodson had provided an excellent spread, and needless to say full justice was done thereto. • The social committee had arranged a capital programme of musical items, songs, recitations, etc, and these were v interspersed with the toasts incidental to such a gathering. Captain > Redmond having proposed the usual loyal toast of "The King" and the company honoured the same, Lieutenant Hogan. proposed "The Army, Navy, and Volunteers," in a brief but happy speech, Colour-Ser-geant -Scott and Corporal Tremewan making a few appropriate remarks in responding. • Captain Redmond then proposed "The -Donors of Trophies to the Company/ and took occasion to heartily thank those gentlemen who had so kindly presented trophies to the company during the last season. The next toast, 'that of "Our Shooting Team," was proposed by Lieutenant ,Cox, who referred to the fact that the shooting of the members had. shown much improvement during the past season, and expressed the hope that before long the company would again occupy the unique position it held a, few years ago, when it was recognised as possessing absolutely the best team in the colony. Responding, Lieutenant Hogan. mentioned that there was every reason to anticipate that the improvement noted would be maintained and pointing out that the members had laboured for some years under the great drawback of having no range at which to practice. UndeV such circumstances it is not to be wondered at that the high stank dard of their shooting had not been maintained, but there were a lot of young shots coming on who promised to do great things for the company in the near future. Ho referred with pride to the victory gained by their team, the previous week o.ver the Irish Rifles, who, by their splen- ' did performances during the last few years had ea'fned the title of the crack shooting corps of the Battalion. Colour-Sergeant Scott also responded in a few words'. Other tpasts proposed were — "The Press," by ' Corporal Smithies, responded to by Mr W. S. Corby ("Herald"): "The Ladies,'; by Sergt. G. Brown, and "Our Host" (Mr J. Hodson) by Captain Redmond, who paid a deserved tribute to the excellence of the spread provided and the arrangements. At aai interval during the .evening Captain Redmond presented the prizes won at the shooting competitions during last season. He specially, complimented Sergeant J. Harris6h, l of : the"A" Class on winning the Qrand' Aggregate Challenge Shield for the second year in succession, and also on the fact that he had proved successful in the - competition for the very handsome gold medal presented by Mr Geo. Smithies, besides several other prizes. Sergt. G. Harrison carried off Mr N. Meulr's handsome silver cup, while Corporal Smithies and . Sergeant Scott were amongst those who se- , cured several prizes. In the "B" Class Mr Yoyce's silver cup fell to Volunteer C. Arnold, who also .won the company trophy, a, set of razors. Several others were also presented with prizes. Captain Redmond, Lieut, Hogan, Sergt. G. Harrison, S[ergt. Brown, Corpqral Smithies, Volunteers Lockyer, and McCarthy, and Messrs Winstone, Copley (2), Mailman, Glasgow, and others contributed to the harmony of the evening, a most enjoyable function terminating at midnight with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne."