THE DINNER.

Southland Times, Issue 945, 4 May 1868, Page 3

THE DINNER.

The Invcrcargill Company gave a return dinner to their Rfvcrton friends in the evening lit the Prince of Wales Hotel. The chair was occupied by Captain lustone , and the vice-chair by Captain " Harvey. Between thirty and forty gentleaion sat down to an excellent repast thut did credit to the caterer, Air G. Smith. Every delicacy of the Beason was in profusion, After full justice had been done to tho dinner, the table ! was cleared, and the convivialities of the evening commenced. The Chairman proposed '. the Queen.' He did not deem it necessary to make any remarks, as he was confident that it would be freely responded to by every individual present. Enthuastically responded to by all present. The Vxce-Chaiumak, in proposing the health of the 'Royal Family' said -On this occasion I couple this toast with the name of the Duke of Edinburgh. The recent cowardly attempt upon his life by the man O'JFarrell, was to be execrated by every one, and he was certain that there was not one present who would not sympathise with the Prince and his Royal Mother, not one who would not testify his loyalty and attachment to the British Crown by drinking to the health of the Royal Family, coupled with the name of Prince Alfred. Ail must feel thankful thac His Royal Highness so speedily recovered from the wound received. While deeply regretting and deuouncing th.-.? act that had prevented his visiting this colony, he would call upon them ♦« make this a bumper toast. Responded to with loud cheering. The .Chaibman proposed, ' His Honor the Superintendent.' It was received with applause. The ViCB-CnAiBMAy proposed the • Army and Navy,' coupled with the name of Mr Longuet. He said tho sut cess of tho Volunteer movement had been greatly facilitated by what might be termed a contingent or reserve force. He alluded to tile honorary members, who, by their contributions, aided in securing the efficiency of the regular corps, and were prepared to join their associates if necessity arose for active service. ' (Cheers.) Mr Lonotet, in replying, expressed a Kleep interest in the Volunteer movement, and although owing to circurastauces lie could not be an active member of the company to which he was attached, it would receive his hearty support, and he would be in the ranks when wanted. The Chairman then proposed — ' The Successful Competitors,? coupled with the name of. Captain Harvey. He .freely and heartily asked the toast an enthusiastic reception. Ho must confess that he was disappointed at the result, never having thought (hat his men would have been thrashed ; they had been, however, and he was not altogether sorry for it. »It would tend to form a spirit of friendly emulation between the two companies, it would induce more constant and steady practice, Jbo a spur to desire to excel, and also bring them into more frequent intercourse and honorable competition. He congratulated the Invercargll Riflemen upon their triumph, and hoped to meet them at Riverton soon, when he hoped the position woald be reversed. Ho could not help saying that the adoption of the Hythe position somewhat unfavorable to his men, who had chiefly practiced the laying-down position. (Applmse.) Captain Habyey, in reply, expressed the extreme gratification he felt in meeting so many of the Riverton Volunteers on this occasion. He freely reciprocated the sentiments of friendship, and trusted, whether they won or lost, the same kindly spirit that had been manifested" by both companies during the day would ever be maintained. He congratulated the Invercargill ten for the victory they had achieved. Ho was not .disposed to crow notwithstanding. He could not take any part of the triumph to have arisen from his skill in shooting, unless making the very smallest score entitled to honoi*. Ho could not say that ho did not strive to exed ; ho did, and did his best to make a high score, and failed. To fail some times is a healthy restorative : it serves to remind you that to do anything well you must never neglect it, that to be a crack rifle shot constant practice is required. He, however, could tell them that the position he held as the smallest scorer might have been a case of mistaken confidence. To use a colonial phrase, he had been "sold" by a friend, who, not • liking the look of his rifle, induced him (Captain Harvey) to cast lots as to which of the two should test its capabilities, and it fell to his lot to do so, and he claimed the charitablo belief that it was the rifle and not the man. that caused the bullets to mia3. He felt almost Borry that Invercargill had won. He had

1 been writing to the General Government, repre< sonting, in strong terms, the indifferent character of the rifles supplied to his company, and he was afraid that the news that Inve 'cargill Riflemen, with their much-worn medium rifles had beaten tho Riverton Volunteers with their superior long Enfields, that he might fail in obtaining for tho Invercargill Corps similar weapons to those 'supplied to the llivcrton Company. He hoped, however, such would net be the c : a«e. He again ) thanked the Rmrton men for the hearty manner . in which they had responds.! to Hie toast, and the unmistakeable spirit of honorable and friendly competition tlia 1 " had been displayed on this occasion ; that it may long last, and be tile "'means of establishing frequent re-unions of a like character, that other companies might be forded, and the Southland Volunteers reach a state of efficiency, that will not only render them renowned through-out.-the colony as -crack shots, but become, what they should all aim to bcome, thorough soldiers, ready to defend their country with courage and science if called into active service, (^heers.) The ViCE-CHiiKJiAN then proposed 'The Unsuccessful Competitors,' coupled with the name of Captain Instone. Captain Instone said ho conld endc rje the sentiments of his brother officer, and ho felt assured that when the next match camo off at Riverton it would be found that tho ; : samo honorable competition 'would bo maintained, tho same Men Uy feeling would be displayed, and if his m>n. were again beaten, ho did not think they would be, the defeat would be taken in the same good temper as had bae'n hitherto maintained, They had un,-; expoctedly been placed in the position of the uuSuccessful competitors, but ho believed that ho gave expression to the opinions of all wher. he said, if you do beat us next timo it will be a wonder to vs — if constant practice will gain the diy it shall hi adopted. He was graffied to find the Invercargill Company so far adva ice.l and he believed that this mooting would «ivo an impetus to the movement of a most beneficial nature. On behalf of tho Riverton Volunteers he returned thanks for tho cnthuslasti; way in which the toast has been responded to. ll'* hoped that at no distant day to have tho pleasure of proposing instead of responding to the toast of the unsuccessful competitors. (Coatiuued cheering ) TheViCE-OjiAiuMAN said the next toast ho had to propose was one that he know would bo drank in a bumper, it was ' the Champi-;u Shot of Southland, Mr Crisp.' In proposing this toast he had to express deep regret that this "cntleincn had missed the steamor in which he was to proceed to" Wellington to compete at the Annual Colonial Match as the representative of the Volunteers of this province. Ho felt that, had not that unforeseen accident occurred Southland might. . have walkod off with one of the first prizes. From the 'reports" of the district' matches in tho other provinces, with the exception of Otago, no competition had arisen likely to prove superior to the gentlemen mentioned. However, that could not now bo helped, and he hoped that when the time arrived for firing the next Colonial Match, Southland would be able to send not only Mr Crisp but other comrades well qualified to contest for he championship of the ■colony. (Great cheering.) Mr Cbisp in a few appropriate remarks returned thanks. He certainly did regret that owing to imperfect information a3 to the time of the sailing of the vessel in which he should have sailed for Wellington, to be in time for the Colonial Match, he had lost the opportunity of bringing to Southland some trophy of victory. Sfcill lie would porsevore and by hard practice Bt -ive to bo prepared on the next occasion to go with even greater confluence in his success than he had on the occasion alluded to, and hoped he might have Southland companions equal to himself. Ho thanked them for the handsome manner in which the toast had been, drunk. (Cheers ) The CnAiKKiy proposed the ' Volunteer Ofll- . cers of Southland ' coupled with tho name of Lieutenant Giesosv. He said all would acknowledge that gentleman to be an active and efficient soldier. He had evinced an interest; in the volunteer movement, that displayed an indomitable determination on his part to make the company to which he was attached all that volunteers should be. Tho invitation was responded to amidst great c jeering. • ' " : Lieutenant Geisow in reply said — I thank you for the honor you have done mo. I have done 'my best to merit jour good, opinion, and am happy that I have succeeded in doing so. Frequently I have found great difficulty in finding time to do all that I could desire.; It has often happened that on such occasions as the one wo now commomorate I have had to ride all night to enable me to be present, but have seldom failed to be at my post. I thank you all for the expression of good will towards me. (Cheers.) Ensign Wade proposed the ! Officers of the Riverton Company ' He hoped that the good feeling now "existing between the two companies would never be disturbed, ,but that each succeeding match might servo to 'cement the unity of interests that existed. He would couple it with the name of Ensign Reed. - (Cheers.) Ensign Rued, in an appropriate speech, replied. He hoped that unity, combined with friendly rivalry would be the motto of all, and that each year would increase the efficient setivity of all connected with the volunteer movement. (Cheers.) . Tho CHATRiiiif proposed ' Tho Highest Scorer of the Invercargill Ten.' Mr Geohgs Reese responded. Th,e Vice- Chairman said the next toast ho had to propose was one that every Volunteer would heartily drink, viz., ' The Press.' To the support of the Press throughout the whole of the British . dominions might be attributed in a great measure tho success of the Volunteer movement, and certainly in Southland it had done good service in in aiding and "encouraging those desirous of promoting its advancement whenever an opportunity arose.- The support the -Press had given them every Volunteer should acknowledge as valuable, and warmly acknowledge it. (Applause.) Mr Ham {" Southland Times"), in responding, said that out of the many times he had been called upon to respond to ' The Press,' ho had never done so with more pleasure; than he did on this occasion. Ho believed that ' Volunteers did not underrate the services rendered in the creation and progress .of a movement j that has made England almost Livincibb with a comparatively small standing army; that had rendered the British Colonies able to dispense with the presence of Imperial soldiers without diminishing the power to resist aggression should such be attempted. In New Zonlaud this had been especially conspicuous. For years a largo Imperial military force was kept up, at a cost that speedily created a debt, tho leaden, weight of which threatened if longer continued to plunge the. Colony into extreme poverty. It was by the persistent efforts of the press to evoke a spirit of self-reliance that mainly led to the Volunteer movement in this Colony — :i movement that has relieved the colonists from a great burden, and placed it in the proud position of being able to fight its own battles with its own Volunteers, and that more^successfully than when it had to have thousands of 'Imperial soldiers to do' it for them. He and those aispcialed with him felt a deep interest in the Volunteer movement, and had, ho was proud to say, given it unswerving* support. Individually, he would say that so deep was the interest he took in training our youth to become men, not effeminate representatives of men, that he would assert that if in writing or working he could promote the cause ho would never be found wanting. (Cheers.) : The toasts of ' Sweethearts and Wives,' and ! ' Our Absent Members," ' The Gueßts of the Evening,' was next proposed, and appropriately responded to. „ .--. _ •.., Mr G. Reese said he had a toast to propose, and although coming about la9t, he did not think it should be deemed least. It was ' Our Host.' He did not think that there was a single one present but what felt [agreeably surprised at the spread that had been placed before them, considering the short time given Mr Smith for making his 'arrangements. Thero had been everything eatable and drinkable that man could desire placed before them in splendid style ; in fact the

whole affair had . been managed in a manner that reflected the highest credit upon Mr Smith. (Applause.) Mr Geoeg-b Smith, in responding, said it afforded him great pleasure to find that his effovts to place before them as good a spread a 9 possible had succeeded ■in eliciting; an expression of approbation. Ho regretted that the short time he had to prepare it prevented him making it all he could have desired. He had dpnp his . beat , under the circumstances and lie thanked them for tho satisfaction expressed. (Applause.') Most of the toasts were accompanied with ( the chorus of " he's a jolly good fellow " &c. During the evening Captain Harvey, G. Reese, | Piston, F. Ilendgrson, Wilson, and others' sung j popular songs ; indeed, everything went off; /with the greatest eclat. The entertainment concluded a little before eleven o'clock by the whole company joining in singing the National Anthem.