The Manchester Rifles

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 39, 11 September 1886, Page 2

The Manchester Rifles

V The abore corps paraded on Thursday night for Government Inspection by Lieutenant-Colonel Stapp. Thirty six non-commissioned officers and men were present. Lieutenant Pleasants drilled the compauy for about an hour, and Sergeant Ashworth put the men through the manual and platooa exercise. Colonel Stapp then instructed them in the new formation of attack by fours. At the conclusion of the parade a meeting of the oorps was held. Captain Macarthur read out the clauses of the new Act, bearing especially on country corps. He drew attention to the necessity for regular attendance at the Government parades in order to prevent loss to the funds of the corps by failure to qualify for the capitation grant. He said Colonel Stapp had arranged to have a parade every month this year, so that they could make up the necessary number of parades (eight). Under these circumstances, he did n»t think it would be necessary to call any Captain's parades. He then invited nominations for the vacant Lieutenancy. Corporal Kirton and Sergeant Ashwere proposed and seconded, and on the ballot being taken Corporal Kirton was declared duly elected by the required majority of two-thirds. The j officers did not vote, in order to leave j the election entirely in the hands of : the men. The men were then dismissed.