AN HISTORIC COMPANY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 321, 12 January 1909, Page 4

AN HISTORIC COMPANY.

TARANAKI RIFLE .VOLUNTEERS' JUBILEE.

The Taranaki Rifle Volunteers celebrate the; jubilee of their formation on •Wednesday, January. 15th. Taranaki , was the first portion of Mew Zealand to ■move in this matter, Auckland following, but-to the latter province belongs I tlte honor of the first enlistment. We give below tlte wording of the proclamation under which were enlisted the first members of the Taranaki Rifles, a company ..which subsequently saw considerable active service, .earning the distinction of being, the •first volunteer corps | under lire, in the British dominions:— | .. . :v " "PROCLAMATION.

"In pursuance of the authority in me invested by 'The Militia- Act, 1858,' 1, Thomas (jure Browne, (governor of the Colony of New Zealand, do hereby make and order the following regulations respecting the training and exercise, arms and accoutrements, clothing and equipments, of a company of volunteers enrolled in the district of Taranaki, under an Order-iu-Council dated , the thirteenth day of January, one thousand eight hundred ami fifty-nine: "1. The company shall he called the

'Taranaki Rille Volunteer Company/ and shall consist of one captain, two lieutenants, four sergeants, four corporals, and'ninety-two privates.

• '-2. The arms- will be a rille and bayonet, with accoutrements to lie is-

sued by the adjutant tu each volunteer, the value of which, for determining the amount to be paid in ease of loss oi damage, is hereby fixed at six pounds six shillings. ".'). The company shall be divided into the following local subdivisions, viz., the Town, Grey, Omata, and Bell and Una,

and each volunteer shall belong to such one of the subdivisions as he shall think

"4. Brill shall be local and general. The several subdivisions shall meet for local drill as follows:—The Town,-at some place within the town of New Plymouth: the drey, at some place within the Grey block; the Omata, at some place within the Omata block; the Hell and Hun, at some place within the Hell or the llua block. Such places of meeting and the times thereof to he from time to time fixed by the captain of the company. ".->. The general drill shall be at such times and place as the captain of the company shall fix for that purpose, 'subject to the approval of the Governor.

■ "0. Provided always that the time required for attendance on general drill shall not exceed forty-two hours within the. year.

"Given under my hand at Government House, at Auckland, this thirteenth day of January, one thousand eight hundred ami tiftv-niue. '•T. GORE BItOWNE." The oath was administered to the volunteers at a public meeting on January 29th, 1850. The. Following officers we're elected at a subsequent meeting: Captain Isaac Watt. Lieutenants James Hirst and Robert Cliisenhall llamerton.

Tile, original roll of the company contained the following names:— Captain 1. X. Watt: Lieutenant .1. Hirst; Ensign R. C. IJamcrlon; ColorSergeant Stevens: Sergeants W. H. Free, E. llollis, P. McCoy, and W. Spurdle; Corporals John Allen, 11. Atkinson, G. Bertrand* and S. Howell; Ruglcr W. Francis.; Drummers W. Black, jun., and W. Lawrence*; Privates Ada nisi Claries Allan. A. Arden, A. Atkinson. W. Atkinson. D. Atkinson. John Autridgc. It. Baker'. 1. Bayly*. G. Ilaylv, 1!. liavlev. I'. Bavlev. W. Mack*. John Black*. W. Brooking*. I!. Brown. Billiald, Hurford. C. Crowhurst, John Carrick. M. Carrick*. G. Curtis 8 . 11. Dixon, fuller, Gardner. YV. I. Grayling, Thomas George*. John Gilniour. I!. W. Greenwood, W. Ginger'. L. A. llamerton*, W. liaise. AV. Hay, CI. B. liaigh, E. Haminoitkl, C. Uambl.vn, G. .Iloby, sen.*, G. 'Holiv. jun.. X. Hooker*. E. L. Humphries, 0. Wilson llurslhuuse*, I. Ibbotson. 11. Jones. G. Jupp*, Thomas Kelly*. John Kellv. C. 11. Lawrence, Leatham, I>. Martin*. C. Messenger. G. Messenger, W. T. Messenger", James Minns, John McDonald*. D. McDonald, E. I'. Morshead*, S. Xash, !•'. Oliver*, T. Patten, R. Phencv, R. Pileaira, John I'ope. It. Pope, V. ltasinon. C. 15. Rawson*, I'. Rawson, 11. Rawson, Richardson, \i. V. Robinson*. John Roberts, Y. Ronalds. W. Handle*, R. Bundle. Slr.q>pee R Smith. S. Percv-Sinith*. Frank Standish. Arthur Standish*, K. St. Geon-e, 11. Skinner, T. Veale*, P. Ver,o.e "\ Vcrcne*. G. I-. Ward. W. I). Webster*, F. L. Webster, Cal. Wilson, W. Weston, G. W. Woon, Charles Wilson. . . . The names of the surviving original members are marked with an asterisk, thus *. A number of these old volunteers Will Ke present at Wednesday night's function, and doubtless their conversation will be of a reminiscent character. Captain Bellringer and the Taranaki Rifles "cnerally are going to considerable trouble ' in arranging this function, ■which shall link the present with the ■past, and the gathering promises to be ■most interesting. Among the exhibit will be a map of the Waireka battle•lield. bearing information compiled ami corrected from the various authenticated works on tbc early troubles of Taranaki. 1 Colonel Bauehope, Officer Commanding the District, has telegraphed to Captain Bellringer that Colonel Robin 'will be present as Chief of Stuff. The Officer-Commanding also telegraphed Ins ■best wishes for the success of the gathering.