TARANAKI RIFLE VOLUNTEERS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 55, 30 March 1909, Page 3

TARANAKI RIFLE VOLUNTEERS

ANNUAL MEETING. Dcpitc the extremely inclement weather last night, there was a fair niiisIT at the annual meeting of the above company j„ u, O jjnii Hall '•'si night, captain E. T. Bellring.-r presided, and gave a review ul the year',- operations (inter alia) as follow,,;— '

•11. lIILKK UK THE COMPANY. The company attained its jubilee on Hie Dttli oi .lamiary last and'the occasion was lifting.y celebrated bv a ban'l»el in Hi,, Drill Hall, when "amongst ol hers th,. chief of the General Stall'. Colonel Robin, and several of the members of the original corps and a large number of visitors and friends were present, lie hoped shortly t 0 be able to announce th,. completion of the ollicial history now being compiled by .Mr, I'enn. The cont of producing a lithographic copy of the colors „s a frontispiece of tiie history had been provided by a siib-eription taken up by (.'apt. Isaac Bayly, one of the members of the original corps. When this was being printed a number ol postcards were printed containing a replica of the colors, one of which was handed to each •member of the corps.

lIOXOUS SOUTH AFRICA. He al-o had pleasure in announcing that permission had at hist been given to add the words "South Africa" to the colors in addition to the word "Waireka." ATTENDANCK AT' PAJSADKS. During the past year the battalion parades and company parades had been well attended, but at the same time could have been b.'tter. Unless the attendance was good at every parade the company could not maintain such a high standard of efficiency as is required from the senior company of a battalion. Every member should bear in mind that this company was the senior company, and should do all in his power by regular attendance at parades and interest in his drill to make it the most efficient. If the spirit became infused into th; 1 whole of til,, company—non-commission-ed officers as well as privates—they should soon he an exceptionally efficient corps.

SHOOTING. Trophy shooting hail taken place from time to time during the year, but there was room for more interest to be taken in Hie matter. The majority of ths members of the corps seemed to take very little interest in shooting. If the shooting committee were to arrange for more teams' matches with neighboring volunteer corps and rifle clubs it would be found that a great deal more interest would be taken by the members. The championship of the corps for the year was won by Private T. A. Marrett, and the recruits' shooting prize by Private 0. E. Pepperell.

RECRI!ITIX T G. The prize offered for introducing the most new members during the year was won by Private Blaekett, who proposed considerably morn than any other member. Tin- company was now over full strength, but if a few more good men joined the officers intended proceed to do a 111 tie "weeding out" of the worst altenilers. ORDERLY ROOM. Members still continued their interest in lite orderlv room, and tiie records were being added to as opportunity offered.

ANXTTAL BALL. The usual annual ball was held, and owing mainly to the strenuous efforts of Mrs. Doekrill and her ladies' committee, was a great success. The thanks o'f the corps were due. to the ladies for the time they devoted and the trouble ttiey took each year with this function. SIGXALLIXT! CLASSES.

For some reason the signalling classes have been discontinued for some tim" past. These classes should shortly be revived. CLASSES OF IX T STRUCTION T .

During the year the ballalion sergt.major devoted n considerable amount of time to a class of instruction in flic various duties of the N.C.O.'s. many of whom availed themselves of the opportunity offered to them, and the thanks of the coi]i were due to the sergt.-major fo r his trouble.

The conclusion of the report extended the thanks of the corps to nil who ill any way assisted Hie company during the past year, including the Press, for the publicity given by them to all matters o'f interest to volunteers. ELFCTfON OF COMMITTEES.

The election of committees resulted as follows:—Finance cvim.mittee:CohlOt as follows: Finance Committee: The officers and Col.-Sergt. Lister and Sergt. E. E. Clarke.

Sliootiiis Committee: Lieut. Flotolror, Col.-Ser»t'. Lister. Ser<_'t. A. Marett Corp. Arinitasre. Lanee-Corp. Davis. Privates 11. Willis and T. A. Alnrelt.

Ball Committee: The officers. Kcrjrf. Joseph. Marett, Lanee-Corp. Wood, Privates lilnekctt. Ilnc-oii, lloswell Southam. Hujrlev-S.-.rt. llnpUins. anil Corp. Ward. (It v - resolved to hold llif annual l.all on 24th May). Amnsi'ineiil Committee: C'i)l.-Scr{rt, Li-ter. Serjil. A. Marett. Corp. Ward. Lanee-Corp. Wood. Privates Noutlinm W. ('. Woods. W. P,ielianK 11. Willis and lion, niemlier Little.

The following were appointed a re cruitini board: Col-Scr»t. Lister. Scrpft.. U. ,T. Clarke. Coin. Ward. Private lilaekett, and Private Paeon.

Tlie Following promotions were notified:- -Corp. Pveeroll to be La-iei-Spi-jit.; Lam-e-Corporal.s Wnr.l. Wood and Davics to lie corporals: Privates lilaekett. Knutliani. Tavlor and Wliitniore to be l.an<v-Corporals. v

HASTKi: CAMP. Captain Tlcllriiwci- -n- particulars of tli,. forlhcoininfr Ka-' v encampment. Tie staled lie did not think I'liere would be a-ny niiht. bivouaein l ;. owinjr to tlie plans of campaign covering a very small area of country.