Manchester Rifles.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 288, 11 June 1897, Page 2

Manchester Rifles.

The nonual meeting of the Corps was held after parade lust evening. Captain Kirton in tho chuir. T h <• rninnt™ of the previous annual meeting w?ro read and confirmed. The balance sheet and report for volunteer yetr 1896 7 were road. Tlia following is a s-umuiary : — Recpipis— C'ipitatioii for 189.5 C, Ll2O 19* Id; grant for ll'He Range, HO; rent of Drill Hall, L-l-1 7s 6d. Expenditure— Drill Hall, Lll9 11s; gem-ral expenses, which anm includes overdraft at Bank L 62 Os Id, uniforms L 9 I-js 9. advertising, lighting, and cut todion. The Assets of the Company are : Hall, L 541 ); furniture), L6i3 6s 2d ; uniforms, etc., LI O2 lls Gd ; Morris tubeo, etc.. L 9 3«. Liabilities : B.ink, Ll7 o.* 7d ; deb; on Hall, D)9'2 17s 7d ; outstanding ac counts, L 77 17s sd. The bnlance in fovnr of the company i« L 324 15s 2d. In tho Rfipo'rt read by ths Chairman it wp.s stated tho financial position wa» highly sati-f-icfory. Mlhough th* amount of capitation earned in 1800-7 win small, owing to the continued absence of certain of the members from capitation parades, yet owing ( o the influx of a very good clasH of recruits iinco the beginning of the year, the capitation lobe earned this 3'ear '.vould amount to not less than Ll'2o, »nd thn r.-m from the Hall was certain not to be left than L-10. Last year the Cmupinj' won the gold and silver medals for the North Island, but it is to be regretted tbat the winners Yols. G. H. Say well and Richards bavo since severed their connection with the corps. However, against tbat loss Vol. Parker has a fair chance of winning a medal tbis sea son. In concluding the cbairmau said it was an undoubted fact that the failure of tbc three last Easter Encampments, owing to bad weather, bad bad a do pressing influence on the minds of not only the members of tbe Manchester Rifles but of every other corps in the colouy ; but there are better times in tbe near future, and under the new regime it is safe to predict a revival of all matters relating to the Volunteers of tbe colony, which is certain to exercise a beneficial influence over tbe destiny of tbe Manchester Rifles. After discussion it was decided that all those volunteers who did not earn capitation last year should be requested to pay tbe amount due to tbe corps, at once. Resolved, That a recommendation be made to tbe Finance Committee to provide three prizes for those who attend the most parades dnriDg the present year. Col.-Sergt Milson, Sergt. Aitken, VolsA. Wilson, O'Brien, and Pleasants were elected members of the Finance Committee. Vol. E. H. Fisher was elected hon. secretary. The reports and balance sheet were then adopted, and payment authorised as funds are available. It was a suggestion to the Finance Committee that two cupboards be put in the orderly room for ammunition etc, that it may be under proper control. Cost not to exceed £2. It was decided that a church parade be held on Sunday, Jnne 20, at St. John's, Feilding. It was suggested that a medal bo obtained for the champion shot of the corps. The chairmam reported that Mr R. F. Haybittlo had promised tho Feilding Baud would play tho company to and from church A hearty vote of thanks was passed to those who generously provided prizes to be fired for on Queen's Birthday, also to those who had rlouatod prizes to bo competed for during tbe past season. The chairman stated that Dr Sorley bad promised a. trophy to be iired for next shooting season. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated tbe meeting. Thiß morning Captain Kirton received from Wanganui an invitation for the Corps to go to Wanganui on Tuesday, June 22nd, to assist at the Jubilee Demonstration. It is understood the invitation will be accepted.