VOLUNTEER NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 17, 21 January 1902, Page 2

VOLUNTEER NEWS.

The local companies were out early on I Monday morning and put in gome useful woik, but the attendances were only small. In tbe evening, however, the men mustered up better. The battalion officers present were Lieu-tenant-Colonel Ellis, Major Okey, and Adjutant-Captain Taunton. Captain Major (Hawera Rifles) and Lieutenant Whitlock (Stratford R'fls)were also in attendance, and the latter was put through the practical part of his examination for his commission. Prior to tbe commencement of drill a pleasant little incident was witnessed. Both corps and the Garrison Band were paraded, and LieutenantColonel Kilis, in a neat little speech, called upon Mr Coker and expressed the thanks of the officers and men to him for having placed at their disposal I the piece of land on which the camp ; had been set up for the several years since the annual camp had bten instituted. He askf'd Mr Coker to accept a small souvenir of the officers' esteem, and handed him a handsome case of pipe?. Mr Coker, in returning thanks., siid that as an old volunteer he always took a keen interest in volunteering,, and was alwiys pleased tp he ahje to d,Q anything to asnst the oau?e. Ag Mr Coker retired the hand struck up "For he's a jjlly go-d fellow." After parade to-night a concert will be held in the large mess ten', to which all interested in the volunteers are cordially invited.

! OFFIOKHS' DINNER. A very pleasant reunion took place at the volunteer camp on Monday evening, when a number of otfioers of the Taranaki Battalion were entertained

at the officers' mess by the headquarters' staff and the officers of the corps (the Rifles and Guards) in camp. Lieutenant-Colonel Ellis occupied the chair, and CaptainOkey, acting major, the vice-chair. Bis Worship the i Mayor, Mr Coker, Captain Hood, the ■ editors of the Herald and the News ; were also present by invitation. Be- i sides Captain Taunton (acting adju- ( tant), Surgeon -Captain Home, and ! the officers of the local corps, Captain j Major (Hawera- Rifles), Lieutenants ' Velvin (Eltham), Whitloek (Stratford*, i Leech and Patterson (Inglewood), i Dansey (Waitara), Weston (Christchurch), and Bandmaster Haigh were present. After justice had been done to the capital spread provided by Mr i A. Lealand, the camp caterer, during ' which some beautiful music was ran-J dered by the Battalion Band, Lieu-' 1 tenant Colonel Ellis proposed " The ' King," which was very heartily drunk, ' the band playing the National Anthem. Colonel Ellis then proposed ' « The Navy," the band playing " Rule \ Britannia." The toost was responded i to in an eloquent speech by Captain | Hood, Captain Okey then proposed I " His Worship the Mayor," referring / to the good services rendered to the town and the volunteers by both. Mr and Mrs Dockrill. After a song and j banjo solo by Captain Taunton, Mr Dookrill responded in a fervid Bpeech,, in the course of which he eulogised the I volunteers and the hearty manner I they had responded to the call! for men for South Africa. Captain! Major then proposed "THe Battalion Band," and said on the occasion of the Duke of York's visit every man from Taranaki was proud to he led by such an efficient band. He hoped to see them successful at the coming band contest, and hoped every corps in the Battalion would give the band a hearty support. After another selection by Captain Taunton Bandmaster Haigh replied in a few well chosen remarks. Colonel Ellis then proposed " The Press " in a few kindly and complimentary remarks. The toast was drunk with musical honours, and replied to by Messrs W. Penn and E. CI. Allswortb. .Captain Okey then proposed Mr Coker's health, and spoke of trie indebtedness ef the corps to him for the use of his ground as a site for the camp. ' The toast was drunk with musical honours, and replied to by Mr Oeker, who said it gave him great pleasure to ' give the site, and be hoped to see it ' used for many years. The singing of " Auld Lang Syne " concluded the proceedings.

A BAD ACOIDBNT. PBB PBWW ABSOOIAHOV. Feildino, January 20. During a night attack on Saturday night on the camp of instruction one of the Manchester Bines, a volunteer, named Percy Crawford, aged 17, was shot dead by one of the attacking party, who by misadventure substituted iA ball for a blank cartridge. Deceased was io a tent alone at the time. The body was not discovered until five o'olock yesterday morning: An inquest will be held to-day. Deceossd was the son of Mr B. I Crawford, blacksmith.