ARTILLERY BATTERY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5091, 18 July 1877, Page 3

ARTILLERY BATTERY.

ANNUAL meeting and dinner.

The annual meeting and dinner in connection with the Wellington Artillery Volunteers was held last evening. At the annual meeting, held in the Central Fire Brigade hall, there was a good attendance o£ members of the battery, Lieut. Fox in the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the chairman stated that none of those present not on the roll would be entitled to vote. BALANCE-SHEET. The Secretary, Mr. Garrard, then read the balance-sheet for the year, which showed a balance to the credit of the company of £l2O 3s. ELECTION op officers. In answer to Mr. McCredie, Mr Garrard stated that it was not his intention to accept office again as secretary—a position he had occupied for some years during which the financial position of the company had been greatly improved. Sergeant TjYON regretted the decision that the quartermaster-sergeant had arrived at, forasmuch as he had fulfilled the duties of his office in a manner which not only reflected credit upon himself, but had added materially to the prosperity of the cempany. He (Sergeant Lyon) concluded by nominating Gunner Scott as secretary, a position which he had temporarily filled with great satisfaction during the indisposition of Quartermaster-Sergeant Garrard. Gunner Van Heythdysen seconded the motion, which was unanimously carried. Gunner Scott was therefore declared elected to the office of secretary to the company. The following committee wap elected : Bandmaster Cimino, Gunner Grimstone, Ser-geant-Major Book, Sergeant Bussell, Corporal Diamond, Gunner Salmon, and Gunner Van Heythuysen t , Sergeant Mason proposed that an extra honorarium of ten guineas be awarded to the late secretary, Mr. Garrard, who had fulfilled his duties in a manner for which he should receive the grateful thanks of the battery. The motion, which found a hearty seconder in Sergeant-Major Bock, was unanimously carried. Mr. Garrard responded in suitable terms. NEW MEMBERS. Certain new members were proposed and elected without opposition. ' The'meeting then adjourned, and the company having “ formed,’ ’ proceeded to the Occidental Hotel, where Mr. Coker, the host, had by instructions provided THE DINNER, Which, as may be imagined, was of the most elaborate description, no pains having been spared by that well-known caterer to sustain his reputation, the result being that the spread was everything that could be desired. Lieut. Fox occupied the chair. Hewas supported by George Hunter, Esq., M.H.8., his Worship the Mayor, Major Lockett, Captain Crowe, and Captain Beat. The vice-chairs were occupied by Lieutenant McCredie, SergeantMajor Dock, and Bandmaster Cimino. Mr. Moss was present as a guest, Mr. Travers had been invited, but was unavoidably absent. The viands having received ample justice, the usual loyal and patriotic toasts were proposed and duly honored. Major Lockett responding for The Army and Navy.” Song—“ Death of Nelson,” by Gunner W. P. Bryant, whose rendering of this, one of the songs most popular among Englishman, was received with deserved applause, for it was a piece of vocalisation well worth the praise bestowed upon it. Lieut. McCredie proposed as the next toast “ Our City Members,” and referred to Captain Pearce, who had held a scat in the General Assembly. He (the speaker) exceedingly regretted that Mr, Pearce had felt it necessary through different circumstances to resign his command of the Wellington Artillery Volunteers. Since his departure, and the loss of the shed (which Mr. Pearce had been unable longer to place at their disposal) the corps had, however, managed to maintain their position as a company of volunteers, and the numbers, he might state, had considerably increased. Mr. G. Hunter, in responding to the toast just proposed, would first thank the members of the Artillery Company for having kindly invited him to be present, and in the second place thanked the company for the manner in which they had received the toast of the city members. He begged to assure them that he syrnpathased with the remarks that had fallen from the last speaker. It was a long time since he had actively engaged in such movements as that in the celebration of which the present meeting was being held, but be might state that he had the honor of belonging to one of the first volunteer corps ever established in New Zealand, and ho was for a long time the right hand man of that company in days gone by. He had always taken a great interest in the volunteer movement, and had in past years striven to obtain proficiency in the positionjjhe occupied in the force. He could quite understand how gratified ,Mr. Pearce, their late commander, would have been to be present at that meeting, and know that the battery was maintaining that position of honor in the colony to which it had become justly entitled. Ho was glad to hear that the captaincy of tho corps was still vacant, for he sincerely hoped to see Mr. Pearce return and take up the position as a volunteer in tho future which he had so ably filled in the

past. He would not trench upon political ground, but he might say that Mr. Pearce and he had worked in unison in the various matters affecting the colony and the province, the volunteer movement not being excluded from the subjects which had demanded their earnest attention, and he felt confident in assuring the meeting that Mr. Travers and himself would use their best endeavors on behalf of the volunteers during the session to come. (Applause.) Song—“ The Scout,” by Gunner Scott. The Chairman proposed, “ The Mayor and Corporation.” His Worship the Mayor responded, thanking those present most sincerely for the manner in which they had drunk the toast. He felt that the volunteer movement was an excellent institution, and one becoming the race inhabiting the British possessions. He agreed with what Mr. Hunter had said with regard to the benefit which as a physical exercise the volunteer movement was calculated to exercise. The City Council had done what they could to advance the interests of the volunteers, having offered the Market Reserve as a site for a drillshed ; but the Government having once written to say that they approved of the terms proposed by the Council, had made no further advances. However, he could assure them that the volunteers of Wellington would always have his most earnest good wishes and support. Lieutenant Pox proposed the health of Major Pearce, whose absence he regretted, and to whose return he looked forward with pleasure. Sergeant Lyon responded on behalf of Major Pearce, and remarked that the position he was thus placed in, as one of the oldest members of the corps, was one of which he had great reason to he proud. On behalf of their absent commander, he thanked the company very heartily for the manner in which they had received the toast j ust proposed. Comic Medley Quartermaster Garrard. This performance was of great length, and was received with “ thunders of applause.” “ Our Guests” was the toast next proposed, coupled with the name of Captain Moss, who had been kind enough to place the hall of the Central Brigade at the service of the Artillery Company. Captain Moss responded in suitable terms, remarking that being a volunteer himself as a fireman, he felt it a duty to assist other volunteers, notwithstanding that their efforts might be engaged in a different direction. The remaining toasts were the “ Parliament of New Zealand,” the “ Officers of the Company,” the “ Non-commissioned Officers,” the “ Late Secretary and Treasurer,” the “ Drill Instructor,” the “ Band,” the “ Press,” and the “ Ladies.”