TARANAKI RIFLES' REUNION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81845, 12 September 1906, Page 3

TARANAKI RIFLES' REUNION.

The annual re-union of the Taranaki Rifle Vo'unteers was celebrated at the Central Coffee Palace on Tuesday night There were present: Lieul-Coloncl Okey, Colonel Ellis, Major Ma'one, Capt.-Adjutant Weston, Capt.-Quarter-master Cock, Major Chaplain Evans (Battalion Staff), Capt. Okey presiding. Lieutenant Lever, Lieutenant Bellringer, Major Armitage, Ser-geant-Bugler Hopkins, and about titty non-commissioned officers, privates, and visiting volunteers. On the chairmen's -igbt were His Wotsbip the Mayor (Mr E. Dockiill), Messrs R. Cock, and C. W. Govett (bonorary members). After a strenuous effort to deplete the commissariat department so excellently slocked by Mr Arrowsmith, tobacco-smoke commenced to fill i.he air, and an enjoyable piogramme of son;*, and toasts was commenced. " The King" was proposed by Capt. Okey. His Worship the Mayor proposed " The Army and Navy." His Worship regretted that Earl Eoberts' advice to encourage rifle-shootiDg had not been supported bearti'y by the nation, in order to be fully prepared for war should it occur.

Colonel Ellis, in replying, mentioned that he had donned the Queen's uniform 48 years ago. He considered more attention should be given to Lord Roberts' words. There was strong criticism of the action of the Home War Office in reducing the strength of the standing army. The Br'tish Gov. ernmenl's decision not to build any more " Dreadnoughts" had been altered, in answer to strong criticism and three were to be ordered; but Germany was ordering six. The speaker did not favor this policy, and asked the colonials to see that we haye within onr borders arms and ammunition, and places for manufacturing supplies of war material. Mr B. Cock proposed "The Taranaki Battalion," and complimented I he Rifles, the oldest company in the Battalion, on keeping together so well. He, himself, had served W'ih the company in years gone by. He urged the necessity for more Government assistance in r,fle-shooling. Lieut.-Colonel Okey, in replying, said the Battalion was handicapped by distance between the various companies, which had never been together as a battalion except when they v'sited Christchurch together. The Government did not seem to encourage the battalion, and battalion drill was rare. But he was proud of tbe shooting of Ue Fourth Battalion under serviia jondilioos, the ranges being unknown. The, percentage of hits was very high (22 per cejf) perhaps the highest in New Zealand under similar conditions.

Major Malone passed on his »harg of the reply to Capi.-Adjutant Weston, who replied in a hi'irorous vein. Major-Chaplain Evans proposed " The Taranaki Uiflcs " and urged the necessity for the cadet and volunteer movements as agents in disciplining ch.iracler. Capt. Okey, in his reply, said Colonel Ellis had captained the company whetl he had joined the Rifles about 213 , years ago. I Lieutenants Lever and Bcllringer also responded. Captain Okey, amidst great enthusiasm, proposed the toast of QuarterMaster Cock who had been with the company" for ever so long." He referrel to the recipient as one of the To'ttUMrs who had no right to grow old. After s«f>h sterling service the company could not allow bun to leave without some memento, and he agkcd Captain Cock to accept a handsome illuminated address.

Lieu..-Colonel Okey, on behalf of the ollicers of the Fourth Battalion, after referring to the willing and ungrudging way in which Capt. Cock had done his work, presented him with a very handsome silver rake basket, suitably inscribed. Col. Uktsy referred to the regularity and enthusiasm displayed at all times by the recipient. Whatever else was left undone, ilie Quartermaster's work was always done, and well dona. (Applause). Colonel Ellis endorsed all that had been said, and whilst he wan commanding the battalion Quartermaster Cock bad rendered bim signal assistance. Quaritrmaster Cock feelingly replied, tracing his career f'om the time be joinsd at 15* old through his aerrire alongside the I uperial troops, his service w tji flol .ntecrs in Timaru, and his rejoin pg ilie Taranaki Hides a year later. He flad taken some of his dwll in the long room of the old News oak*, down near the beach. Ho was sorry .that fce was too old 10 continue. Tfce presents lie had just received tO*W be highly valued as bringing j -t many pleasant recolleotions of his volu, foy*Oth '*°* 3i ' s »«*:—'* The Honorary Members, " J™*"* by Lever and l ""Ponded to lij Messrs C w T„!' 1 * # CVI[ ;" 'n* ? tMS " "The Ladies," tßi our Host *° d "songswere S "? e * nt - Major Armitage, Bugle. --Sergeant Hopkins, Privates Clarke anu' Coo^- ] '** d | a recitation by Bugler-Sert,™ 1 " ?°Pfau. Mr W. Perry Bt the piano throughout,