TARANAKI RIFLES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 180, 1 August 1903, Page 2

TARANAKI RIFLES.

ANNUAL, DINNER. The annual dinner cf this veteran Company was held in Jubilee Villa on Friday evenicg, when there was a good a'taiakrce. Captain Wes'on, the officer commacding tha Company, presided, His Worship the Miyor (Mr R, ; 'cck) being oa his right and Colonel Ellis (commanding the Taranaki Infantry Battdion) on his Lift, Mnjor Chaplain Evane, M p jor Okey, Csp'ain Adjutant Tisunton, QuartermaßterOtptain 0 ck, Staff-Sergeant-Major Captain Cook, Lieut. Ho'ra'B (Ttraraki Guards) and several o her visitors were present. A eapit tl table was spread by FTosfc Clarke, eveiy delicacy beiDg prov d d, the table d corations being exceedingly bacdscme. After tho tables hid been cleaved tHe toist cf the " The King " was proposed by the Chairman and h9artily responded to.

"Tho Army and Navy" wss propo ed by the Mayor and responded to 'sy C )lonel Ellis and Chaplain Evans. "His Wo:ship the Mayor" was then proposed by thi Chairman, who Slid both Mr and Mrs Ccck were always ready to help the volunteers. His Worship responded, miking a suitab'e refitot.ee to municipal effiirs and U'gir.g the young men present to aim ht filling the position of mnysr and qualify for the p-sition. Lieutenant Okey proposed "The Stiff," which was responded to by Major Okfy and C'ptain-Adjunct Taunton. The former r ferred to h's long connection with volunteers and ' with the Tarinaki Klfles, who, he said, in spite of ups and downs had a history to be proud of. The latter criticised s mowhat adversely the regulations issued *i h the new drill. He contrasted the conditions with the town and country corps, and eulogised tho country corps for tha way they stuck to their corps in the face of grent difficulties.

His Worship the Mojir prop-sed tho " Tsraceki Riles," his old corps, and gave e most interestiig history of the c.orp3 and some of the amusing incidents which had come under his noticp, He also n ferred to Marker Way and the good s rvice he had rendered in the ear'y days of his corp?. Captain Weston responded ia a cup'til sprecb, in the course of which he mentioned that Lieutenant Hooker had been pi iced on the retired list with ths full rat kcf Lieutenant. He to-k occasion to compliment the volunteers on the total absence of anything in the shape of insubordination, but thought they hardly took the work seriously eneugh, ard claimed it was w:rthy their wholn-hearted support. | M; jor Okey also replied, and referred to tha battle of Wbireka as something ths corps had to be proud of, Quarter mister-Captain Cock proposed "The Lad is," which was r - spoaded to by Lisut. Holmes, who referred to the generous assignee tie ladies bad always giv. n the carps in New Plymouth. I Sergt. Armitaga proposed "The which was responded to by; Mefsrs Pr n (Herald) and AUswortfal (Daily News). | Piivatci Bacon proposed "O ir Hofit," ; which was suitably respouded to by Mr Clarke. I

Cap'ain Weston said they bad overlooked ihe tcast of "Tha Yisitorp," which n responded to by tho Mayor, Duiing the evenirg s ngs were excellently rendered by Messrs So i hj, Blllirgs, Aimitcg', Clmke, Mills, A. J. Mills (Gurison Band), Binniogtoa, Doliamore, r.nd MrLirnin. A s<il r's hornpipe aLd an Irish j'g were con-j ti ihuted l>y Mr Po'tridgp. j Tie whole aff ir was a very rnjcy-J ;tb!e fu!icti.:D, rnnst creditable t > the R fe-, who are to he congratulated on ! its conduct and buobfs?. j

Captain Wts o■> mule an admirable Chfiirmar, and kept the interest up from start to finish in a most satisfactory manner