J BATTERY N. Z. ARTILLERY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 86, 11 March 1884, Page 2

J BATTERY N. Z. ARTILLERY.

The adjourned meeting of the members of the above corps took place last Saturday evening in the Orderly Room, Customhouse Street. Owing to the inclement state of the weather the attendance was rather limited. Sergeant Major Featon, on being called to the chair, read the minutes of the last meeting and explained the object of calling the members together—viz. to inaugurate some permanent annual affair for the amusement of the members of the corps. With this view a committee had been formed for the purpose of carrying out the requisite arrangements necessary for holding a series of events consisting, amongst other things, of carbine tournaments and shooting at the running deer, flying birds, running mon, and other novelties of the same description. The prizes would be as miscellaneous and numerous as possible, lie would mention a few events which had been decided upon, such as tradesmen’s prizes, for which the tradespeople of the town would be asked to subscribe to by giving any little article from their stock. He remembered once taking part in one of these competitions when great amusement was occasioned by the peculiar prizes which some of the competitors won. Sometimes it would be a log of mutton, then a box of collars, a sucking pig, a half-a-lr.indrod weight of coals, a pair of trousers, a bag of (lour, n hat, a whip, a “auc »pan, an I h lik ■ i.; : - - > is article These things were as eagerly competed for, ! and pave far more ai;insei ; j >n*. than more ' variable prizes. Thon there woul I be a Pub’i i’ Pure, to whi hall the hotelkeepers would be asked to subscribe, a Solicitors’ Pui;,c, which it had been suggested should be called the “ Devil’s own prize,” and a Ladies’

Prize. With respect to the latter he had little doubt but what, providing she were asked, Mrs. Rees would take this matter in hand, in the same generous manner in which she had previously acted with respect to their colors. Then there would be a District Trophy, the winners of which were to represent the Battery at the next Association Meeting. Major Finn and Captain Kenny had promised substantial assistance in their usual liberal manner. The programme would terminate with a Consolation Stakes. The first thing for the meeting to do would be to appoint a secretary for the purpose of keeping a record of all the proceedings, and also entering accounts, &c. On the motion of Gunner Hanson, Corporal Pavitt was unanimously elected Secretary. It was then resolved that the fAte extend over two days, viz., Good Friday and Easter Monday. Gunner Willoughby thought a special prize should be given for competition by th? Band, as the majority of its members could nor reasonably hope to successfully compete with the effective members of the corps. Sergeant-major Featon thought the Band would object to such an arrangement, as he had always understood that a special request had been "made by the bandmaster that they should at all times be treated as an integral part of the Battery, and not as a separate body. Gunner Allom thought it advisable that civilians should be permitted to take part in the proceedings, and he would venture to suggest that an all-comers match be added to the list of events. Corporal Pavitt said this could be considered when compiling the programme. During a discussion as to the best mechanical means of working the targets, Sergeant-major Featon said he had made arrangements for electrical-bell communication with the targets for the purpose of recording the marking. The following members were then appointed as a target committee, for the purpose of ascertaining the best means of obtaining the requisite motive power, cost of erection, and other necessary data, to be laid before the next meeting Featon, Warren, Fison, Turton, and Willoughby. The Canvassing Committee elected is as follows: — Featon, Pavitt, O’Meara, and U’Ren (for the country). During the course of the proceedings a discussion took place re recruiting for new members, it being the general opinion of the members present that, providing something was not done to make volunteering more popular and amusing, it would be found impossible to keep the corps up to its regulation strength; that they had been harder drilled during the past year than any Militia corps or Armed Constabulary force. The meeting then adjourned until Thursday evening next.