THE TARANAKI RIFLES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 13 August 1907, Page 3

THE TARANAKI RIFLES.

The concert recently given by I lie T.ir.ui.iki Itilli— resulted i'n aboil . Clthohig secured in aid or tin' furnishing fund of til*' company's orderly room. A "Mowi" reporter vi-itcd tip' room the oilier ilny, and '.vie* surprised at tinvast improvement ctVecAcd recently. 'I'll" orderly room is 0111: of which 111.- lii.lcnmy well bo proud. The dimensions an- dolt liy HJl't. The conspicuous feature on these winter evenings is the. large fireplace, which lends ;i home-like air. 'l'ht! Iloor is covered wills linoleum, mid tile papering is of a quel tint, with dark-painted dado. The place is like ;l portrait gallery. lint let us Infill at beginning. 11l re is a co]iy 1 tk" proclamation by Coventor Core-lloowne. authorising tin" formation of the company on I:2th January, ISj'J. An interesting photograph is that of the preH'nwtiou of the colors on Poverty Flat in Isiil. showing tin- old "V" lints anil the Mat-land Hill barracks in the background. The company was formed by Major l.loyd in ItCiX, and accepted in I*ll. but in the meantime its, members had seen active senicc at I'arihaka in l u i.i>. S'nuics ~f the soldiers; of those d-tys are found in tin: framed roll of the

Tiivanaki Mounted liilles in lHijil-IStfi. and in tho li-t of liic members of (he Turnnaki liilles. Copies of the despatches bearing le-timoiiy to the gal-

lanlrv .0" Captain Mace. N.Z.0., and Aulniiii, Kodrigii'-z. N.Z.C.give the i.lea

that the Briti!i aullcriiic. were not blow to ivcocnise the de-erving colonial vi.luiUecr soldiers. Foiu' photographs that are of great hislmical interest are I lio.e of the forces iii camp ai I'arihaka.

th- .Vaircka veterans, the Mm,;\ ConrlaliuliTV al I'ukeariihe. mid Hie ollii. r- .•■..ti.eriioil ill Ihe capture of the le.'cl rebel chief 'l'e Kooti. Color i-

ifiv.'ip 1.. Ih.. scene br die halehmeiils p.iitrte.! and presented by Sergt. ISl.iek. Hie arms, clot's, and .'ichievimicnts of (he varh.ii- (cocci:,! rc-imonls which look ■art in Ih" Taranaki Maori war. Among-; the purl rails of former capt lins ~i iho liilles ..re those of Captain V. L WclHlcr. Captain T. Cood. Captain Jonas. Captain Ilowan, Captain 11. Eyre-

, Kenny , Captain .1. Ellis, Captain E. X. L. Okey and Captain Cock. Others have been promised b.v the retired ollicers, or their friends, and these will be placed in position as they come to hand. Two presentation photographs, the property of the late Colonel Stapp, occupy prominent places, and a colored plate of the "New Zealand Hill" fight in 1(100 finds a place. Amongst the old rifles and bayuin-ts which decorate one wall is one taken from the Maoris in ]SSfJ.! Photographs of the company at dlll'erent periods, and of Devon street at the time of the formation of the company must prove interesting alike to oil and new residents of the. town, whilst there are also pictures of riflemen and teams who

from time to time-have brought honors to the corps. Turning from these decorative and historic articles to the furnishing of the m-ilerly-i-oom the billiard and card-taliics come in for notice. The more finibitious members have in view the purchase of a piano and a full-sized billiard table. The Rifles certainly deserve to be commended for the in 4 crest taken in the room, which gives promise of becoming the finest in the colony. The committee in charge will be pleased to receive donations of old arms or things military that will add to the charm «nd comfort of the orderly room.