The Rifle and Carbine Champions Banquetted.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 95, 28 March 1885, Page 3

The Rifle and Carbine Champions Banquetted.

Meshrs Parslow and Lucas, the carbine and rifle champions, were banquetted at Robeons Commercial Dining Kooins last evening. The attendance was large, upwards of 100 persons partaking of an admirably-pre-pared and sumptuous repast. Major Shepherd presided, and was supported by the champions, while Captain Dignan occupied the vice - chair. The usual loyal and patriotic toasts were enthusiastically drunk. Mr P. J. Moss, M.H.R., responded to the toast of the New Zealand Parliament. He said that twenty-three years ago, when Mr Parslow was a child in knicker-bockere, he (Mr Moss) was a senior captain of Volunteers in the Middle Island, and at that time New Zealand was bo insufficiently provided with the means of defence that his company had to send their rifles to those engaged in the Taranaki war, and drill themselves with broomsticks. He spoke in congratulatory terms of the progress that had since been made, and urged the necessity for prompt and effective measures of local defence. Speaking on the authority of the " Artny and Navy Gazette " of two months ago, he said that Russia had a more powerful fleet in the Pacific than England. The Mayor, in propping the " Army, Navy, and Volunteers, predicted that if the necessity arose the Volunteers would be found prepared to do their duty. Major Ureer responded for the Army, Dr. Tennent for the Navy, and Cap" tain Mahon for the Volunteers. Captain Dignan proposed the Mayor, and Lieuta. Connolly and Clifton responded. Major Shepherd gave the toast of the evening, 11 The Rifle and Carbine Champions." He said they had brought back £200 in money, and had stripped the meeting of nearly all the trophies. The champions, Lucas and Parslow, had told him that they fired with the straight fear, which he always advocated, as any man who had chosen it could fire with it in any weather, and by its use he had seen his company, and the regiment to which he belonged, made the best in India. He wanted his district to lick creation (cheers), and he asked them to try this straight bar. Lieut. Lucas and Gunner Parslow briefly responded, and, on behalf of the Thames representatives, the former thanked Captain Mahon, to whose presence at the competition they considered a great deal of their success was due. Captain Mahon, whoso health was also drunk, said the Auckland and Thames I men were 27 against 203, and they had acquitted themselves splendidly. Gunner i Parslow, he considered, was the life and ! soul of the meeting, and every man, North and South alike, was proud that he was champion. Other toasts followed, and the I gathering broke up before midnight.