STOKE RIFLES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 177, 18 July 1876, Page 2

STOKE RIFLES.

[COMMUNICATED.] The annual meeting of the Stoke Riflea was held in the Agricultural Hsll, Richm >nd on Saturday evenicg last, there being a tilerably good attendance; Captain Barnett in the chair. After the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, Sergeant O'Connell and Private C. ( -hing were appointed to audit the acconnts, which they did at once. The Secretary then read a Statement of receipts and expenditure for the first half-year, which showed a v ery satisfactory balance to credit of the Corps. Part of thin will be expended in refunding to members advances made by them for tneir uniform, and the remain ier in paying for more busbies that are ordered, and in meet ng the general expenres of the Company. On itae motion of Corporal Condell, seconded by Private H. Ching. the statement as read, was adop'ed. The following committeei were then appointed, viz:— the General Management, aud the Firng. The former now consists of Scrgemt o'Connell. Corporal .Beach, and Privates W. Doidge, C. Ching, and H Cbino-, in addition to the Officers, who are ex officio members. On the latter the following members were elected: C ptain Barnett, Lieutenant Paynter, Serg ants Taylor and O'Connell, and Privates Martin, B. Ching, and C. Ching. The lastnamed member was unanimously elected Secretary to tho Company for the present year. The next part of the badness was to e'ect a sub-lieutenant, a vacancy having occurred by the resignation of James 11. Harkmss, who has left tlie Province. Two were nominated, Sergeants Taylor and O'Connell. A ballot was then taken, which resulted in the e'ection of O'Connell by a majority of seven. The senior corporal, W. J*. Condell, was thea promoted to the post of Sergeant. I A discussion then took place on the result of the firing for the first set of Genf-ril Government district prizes. Much dissatisfaction was expressed at the disqualification, through a triSing error on the pare of the officers, of most of the best shots in the province, while the prizes were given to those whose shots were a disgrace to the force. For instance, ono who made the extraordinary scoreof 13, received a prize; whereas all those whose scores ranged from 67 to 58 (of whom there \stre seven in the infantry), were disqualified. Such a state of things, it was argued, doea cot tend either to establish

tlnt-gooi feeling which should exist between the various corps, or encourage members to take the amount of interest in shooting which is neeeeaary to keep up the status of tUe corps or district to they oolong! , The action of the commanding officer of the district ia the matter was unfavorably com minted on. The usual compliment t.j the chairman terminated the proceedings.