HAMILTON.

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 9, 21 May 1872, Page 2

HAMILTON.

[From our owa t Correspondent.] May 20, 1872. There was. a good- mii3ter of the Waikato Rifle Volunteers on. Saturday evening in the hall on Sydney Square; uud'er- the- command of Captain Gumming. The- aompany was put through manual and' platoon exercise; and various, evoliilutions by Sergeant Taylor, A.C., under whose instructions the corps is making rapid progress and reflects great credit on him as a' drillinstructor. Captain Cumming read'on parade an order from, head-quarters here, appointing the hour for parade on the Queen's Birthday, when the company, together with the Constabulary will lire a feu de juie, and Colonel Lyon, will present the prizes won by the members of the corps at the district prize firing ; nine out of the fifteen district prizes in first and. second, sets, falling to their share. Mr. Martin who is- turning out the uniforms in first-class style, will have all ready on that day. Several have been donned, and give the wearers a smart appearance. After parade.the corps formed themselves into a meeting with Captain Cumming in-- the- chair, to- elect a lieutenant in theplace of Lieut. (Joates who had tendered his resignation previous to- leaving for England. Ensign McDonald and J. Highley, Esq., were duly proposed and seconded. Voting by ballot waa then proceeded with, the result being a majority for Ensign McDonald, who was declared by the chairman duly elected. Lieut. McDonald in returning thanks for the honor done him, said that during last session of the- Provincial Council several hundred, pounds had been voted f or the encouragement of voluteering throughout the province, but he was sorry to< say that none of it had been set apart for the Waikato, and he considered it high, time that their officers should see about it and endeavour to obtain- a portion of the grant, for he-was of opinion- that a corps on the frontier such as this was deserving every encourament both General and Provincial Governments could give it, and he. for one. would see- to it. It was considered advisable-to postpone the election of ensign till after parade on Queen's Birthday, and the meeting with a- vote of thank a to the chairman. The Volunteer Ball Committee met immediately j afterwards and advanced matters a stage or two..