EAST COAST MOUNTED RIFLES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1621, 8 December 1905, Page 3

EAST COAST MOUNTED RIFLES.

SMOKE CONCERT.

An iosf cction parade of the Ea t Mounted Rifles was hill before Major Winter last evening, there boing a very fair mustor. ~ , .. After parade the corps, headel by tbo Oily Band, marched to Wbioray’s Hall, whoro a sumptuous sit-down supper was prepared by Mrs Rrekino, A very successful smoke concert followed, at winch the prizts won by members of the squadron wore prosonied. After the usual patriotic toast. The King,” had been honored, Captain bourne proposed tbo health of their gu* st, tbo Hou. James Carroll. In doing so he Baid u was the first t : mo ho had had tbo pleasure of proposing the health of a 'Minister of tho Crown. Thoy wore

tbo first to publicly congratulate their mombor upon his toing elected io PiUliammt. Ho complained of the delay experienced through tho slow manner in which the department attended to any emrespondence upon volunteering matters, and he was glad that Mr Carroll was present that evening to assist them. He wa< sure that Mr Carroll would attend to their requirements, as well as ho attended to tho wants of tho district. (Applause) In replying, Mr Carroll said it afforded him tho highest degree of pleasuro to bo present as their guest that evening. Vo'untcoring was ono of the elements that must bo kept alive. A nation to be a nation, an Empire to bo an Empire mutt cultivate their volunteers and contribute

tts tho strength of their army and navy Ho appoelod strongly to tho patriotism ol thoso present, and statod that tho Go* vfrnmont must reoogniso tbo util’ty ol their voluntoor service, and rondo? it every nrsistanoo iu tholr powor. As Now Zraland was ahoad In many ma'tors it should bo ahoad in voluntooring also. Had tboy not won tho Kolaporo Clip, and they had fought well for it last yoar. In concluding, ho said that they would always find a rosponsivo ohord in him, and ho would always bo ploasod lo glvo them assiataneo. Lieutenant Hutohinaon proposed tho toast “ Major Winter,” whioh wob drunk with musical honors. Major Winter suitably replied. Olhor toasts woro :—" Our Comrados in Arm?,” proposed by Lieutenant Tombleson, and respondod to by Captains Warren and Boore. The prizes won by tho oorps waro then projected by Major Winlor. The Battalion Cup, presented by Surgeon Oaplain

DoLislo, to bo competed for by tho squadrons of tho East Coast Battalion, was sooured by Sergeant Morrisoo. The Mafoking Oup, proaentod by Mr SKolloa, to bo won throe timos, wont to SergeantMajor Evan?, Lieutenant Tombloson

boing presented with ft gold medal a winnor of the one lost year* Mr William

son’s trophy went to Sergeant Pirie. Sorgsant Witters rooeivod a cheque for T3O for his wins in the Lloyd-Lindsay

competitions at the Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne shows. A pair of field-g'asses, prosontod by Mr Aoland Hood, were woo by Mr Tomblcson, and Batlalion-Qua'. terroaster Eliott’s trophy went to Sergeant Ellis. For passing their sergeant’s examination, certificates wore presented to J. Pirie, G. Morrison, J. Poynter, J. W. Fairlie, aud A. Zaohariah ; also Lieutenant Tombloson a oaptain's oorliSoeto. Lieutenant Tomblofon reoeived a prize for the highest aggregate, and Sergeant Hamilton one for tbo second highest nggroga'e, in tbo competition for Mr Walter Barker’s oup. Range prizes wero also presented to Sergeant Hamilton and Sergeant Zaobariah in this competition. Captain Coleman stated that the oharnri~n belt would be firod for by February, aud tboy also intended to send a team down to Napier to compete for the Coleman Shield. Songs were contributed by the follow' iDg : Mr F. Teat, “ For the King ” ; Sergeant Zaohariah, “Down where the Waohberger flows ” and “ Any Raga ” ; Trooper Barlow, 11 Remembor me no more ”; Qnartormaster-Sergeant Evaus, “ Mother England”; Mr F. Teat, “ Out on tbo Deep ” and “Asleep in the Deep.” Mr Carroll gavo a recitation. The singing of " God Save the King” brought the concert to a cl.se.