Manchester Rifles

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 62, 3 November 1885, Page 2

Manchester Rifles

Tho Manchester Rifles aaaemblod for church parade on Sunday last under tho command of Captain Macarthur. Thoro was a fair mustor of tho men, and tho band was in fullotrongth. After rotttminf from ohuth boforo diamiaaing the moa, Gap* Maoarthur said he was rery much diaappoinUd with tho small attendance aj the fort. nightly drills. HohadrodueodthenumWr of drills in order that tho men could hare no excuse for not attending them regularly. B*rere2 moa had joined at tho time oHhe Buflnan iou«i&# order to eaeapo tho Militia, and nbw all danger appeared to have gone ' past, thoy aoomed desirous of shirking thoso obligations they had sworn to fulil. For his part ho was determined that he would do his duty, and if tho drills were not better attended ho would revert to the old system of weekly parades, and fine erery absentee unless some reasonable and satisfactory excuse for such absence were given in each case. Sir George Wlutmore might be expected to visit this coast on are official tour oi inspection at an early date, and the men ought to prepare themselves for the visit by close attention to their duties.

They ohdul^remember that the Manchester Rifles had received the encomium of those high in authority already, and they should do their utmost to maintain their reputation. The men were then dismissed. "We may mention tliat the several march tune* playea' "by the band were excellentij jrendered and showed considermbl^impro^ement. -..., „ ' lskeeting 'o.f the Council was held lasV'iugnt' at the ,Stah office. Present — -Clapt liiacarthur,, Lieufcßiackinore, Bergts Nicholas attdEvafis, Vols Kirton, :t Goßling, and' Chamberlain. TM* minutes of the annual general medfing were read. ~, , jfe memo was read from Colonel Sfapp re niouey for prize firing, £5 ss, Laskihg if the Manchester Rifles wished "to amalgamate with the other corps of the> district. ' A ©n the motion of Lieut Blackmore, seconded by Vol Gosling, it was resolved not to amalgamate with the other corps in the district. =.'"■*■. The following is the mode im which the prize money was arranged to be distributed: — ' Ist prize .. .. £115 O 2nd prize. . .. .1' * 0 3rdpnze.. :".-'. ,* ° ° 4th prize.. .. I 2 6 , sth prize: ... 7 6 6th prize.. .. 5 0 At the 200, 300, and 500 yards ranges, five shots at each range. Resolvedi That Saturday, the 14th inst., bethe day on which the firing takes piace, to commence at 1 • clock sharp; ' • . . • This being all the business the meeting then adjourned.