VOLUNTEERING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 76, 19 March 1908, Page 3

VOLUNTEERING.

TARANAKI RIFLES. ' The annual meeting of the Taranaki Rifles was held last night in the com- ( pany's orderly-room, and was largely attended. Captain F. T. Bellringer presided. ( Thabalauce sheet showed the finances to lie in a very satisfactory condition. t Captain Bellringer gave a brief survey of the work of the year, and of the ', prospects for the ensuing year. He expressed his appreciation of the keen in- * icrest taken by individual incniiiers in I ' the welfare of the company. If that in- \'! terest were continued they need have I

no fear for the future of the corps. The attendances at company and battalion parades had been excellent. There were. of course, as in most other companies, some members who were not as regular a- they might l>e. but it was hoped tint those members would turn over a newleaf. Every man should make up his mind that the company had to tie ihe best in the servifce, and should tlo all j in his power, by regular attendance at [ parades and interest in bis drill, 10 make it so. if this spirit became infiied into the whole of the members there should soon be an exceptionally efficient company. Notwithstanding tite fact that several trophies had lieen obtained for company shooting, members r..id not taken sufch interest as was desirable, j Owing to the so very few third-class shots that division had to be merged into the second-class. It was., however, verv pleasing to be able to note that the" Rifles team had won the teams match at the recent Kitle Association**-, meeting, and that Sergt. Bruce tied for first place in the grand aggregate, tlreat interest continued to be taken in the orderly-room, and the records and furniture were being added to from time to time. Increased accommodation had liecn provided, and an immense improvement effected. Thanks to the efforts of Out. Humphries, who made the canvass, and to the generosity of several supporters, a full-sized billiard table had lately been installed. When a few other improvements had been eflfcted, this , would be one of the moat up-to-date orderly rooms in the Dominion. The com- ( mittee was deserving of congratulation j for the results achieved. The report , al-u referred to th e history of the comlianv now in course of compilation by Mr." W. J. I'enn. The monthly aoeial and instructive gatherings of the company were proving very successful. New overcoats were expected to arrive in the colonv from Home this month. Signalling classes had been very successful during the year, under the supervision of Sergt. Bruce. H was trusted that thw class would be immediately resumed, as the service of signaller- were likely to be in great demand at the foster manoeuvres. Classes for instruction, held by Scrgt.-Major Armitage, had been c irried on, but retoeived unsatisfactory support. The following committee were elected: Finance, Col.-Sergeant Lister, Private Buxton, and the officer.-; shooting, Corporal A 31arett, Privates T. Marett, Davies, Bacon, and Whitmore; amusement committee, Corp. A. Marett, Privates J. Smith, J. Ward, L. C. Wood, W. Woods, and hon. member Little. It was decided to hold the annual ball as usual, -Mrs. Dockrill and the ladies' j committee will be thanked for their efforts last year, and asked to again undertake the arrangements. The following committee was appointed from the company :-Sergt. Clarke, Sergt.-Buglor Hopkins, Lance-Corporal Ward, Privates Bacon, Joseph, Nesbit, and with power to add to their number. CoL-Sergeant Lister was appointed custodian of the orderly room in addition to his duties as color sergeant, and an honorarium will be paid as last year. The finance committee was authorised to erpend up to £lO on the orderly room. It was mentioned that Dr. Walker, the company's surgeon, was willing to give ambulance instruction if a class were formed, and it «as unanimously decided to ask tlie secretary to make the necessary arrangements. A recommendation will be made to the Drill Hall trustees to improve the ventilation of the orderly room. I Letters of thanks will be sent to Capt. ' .1. C. Davies and Mr. I.angdon, of the Taran.iki veterans, for their presenta- • lion of a gun taken in the battle of ■ Mahoetahi. i i A statements of account- of the ori i derly room showed that the committee , I had' expended £llß lus 2d, of which i i only XI lis 8d had come out of the - j company'-i funds. 1 A vote of thanks was accorded to i I Sergt.-Major Armitage for conducting ! clases of instruction, and he will be askI ed to conduct another class this year. RIFLE SHOOTING.

The following handicaps have been de.lareil for th.-'OuanK trophy shoot, | wh'i.-h take plac, to-dav and Sahnd iv: 1 , lir-t eb--: 001.-Sergi. Hurtuell. l'ri-I van- V. T. Nh-Eweii. Nitliolls, and Kid- I die- st-r.. Sergt. (.(liver >, Lieut. JSoon, Sorgt. Evan*, "and Private Hill 3, Corp. Bent 4. Lieut. Beadle o, Private A. T. McKwen 7. Sergt. Arnold and Private Blanchard's, Captain Mills, Corp. Lewis, Corp. Lobb, and Private Lamb 12. Second class: Private Gray scr., Private Berndtseii 2, Privates Drhikwater I ami Kurta 4. remainder of company 8.