TARANAKI RIFLES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 197, 24 September 1909, Page 3

TARANAKI RIFLES.

'PROMOTIONS AND PRESENTATIONS A very pleasant function was held by the Taranaki Rille Volunteers in the orderly room last night, tendered as a compliment to their late captain ami senior lieutenant, and color-sergeant (Captain F. T. lMlringer, Lieut. C. 15. Lever, and Color-Serge. Lister). Captain Fletcher presided. On his right were Lieut-Colonel Okev, Y.D.. Ailjuiant and Captain Jlcllriiiger, slai* ollie.rs, and cx-Lienlcuaui U-vcr ami Chaplain-Major Evans; on his hit cxCapiain 11. Eyre-Kenny (Taranaki Rides), Colonel Ellis, V.D., ex-Adjutant-Captain C. 11. Weston, cx-Quarterniustcr Captain Geo. Cock, V.D., cx-Quarter-master-Captain F. W. Okey, Major Sandford, V.D., and ex-Lieutenant A. L. Humphries. Lieutenant J. lioon (Tara-

naki Guards), Captain S. D. Pope aid Lieut. Klenncr (Waitara Rillre). Lieut. Willis (Taranaki Rillcs), Stail'-Sergt.-Major Sanderson, Color-Sergeant Arniitage, and Quartermaster-Sergeant Lister

were amongst the oflicers present. The chairman proposed "The King," I and his Majesty's health was duly honored. Colonel Ellis proposed "The Navy and Army." Ex-Captain Eyre-Kenny replied. He referred to the reported statement of Lord Roberts, that "the British Army is a sham." The remark, he said, niusli not be understood to mean that any branch of the service was a sliam, but that the liritish Army was a sham in that there were too few men under arms and that the training given wis insufficient to enable them to meet a Continental army upon equal terms. Despite that speech, and despite the Hon'. R. McNab's recent regrettably depreciatory'remarks concerning the Army, he believed the British Army had never been more efficient since the days of the

Peninsular War. As for the physique, whilst there were, of course, some nv-a not remarkable for their physical development, the fact remained that thenwere some grand specimens of manhood in the ranks and some of the besttrained generals in the world were at present in the Empire's service. As proof of the physique he had merely lo quote that some of the greatest marching feats ever recorded of infantry were made by our troops during the South African war under the most harassing conditions.

Major Sandford proposed "The Taranaki Battalion." Referring to the physique of the volunteers, he said that the

volunteer force was essentially a juv.-a. ile force, and when they grew up into manhood and family life they found other uses for (heir spare time. He warmly complimented the battalion upon the performance at the recent Easter Encampment, and their excellent behaviour.

Lieutenant-Colonel Okoy rcspondei. In the course of his remarks he said he would always feci proud of having commanded the Taranaki battalion on the night march in Wellington, which had stamped the Taranaki men as men of the right calibre for soldiers. He remarked also that, under the regulations, he would shortly retire from the command of the battalion, his five years' term having almost expired. Lieutenant-Colonel Okey proposed the health of "Our Guests." and made til ■> presentations. He said he did this with some regret, for the Rillcs were losing Once excellent men. Captain Be'.iringer and Color-Sergt. Lister had received well-earned promotion to the staff, so that they were not altogether lost to the company. Unfortunate'y, however, Lieut. Lever was compelled, owing to his leaving the district, to *cver bis connection with volunteering locally. He had hoped that Lieut. Lever was going to remain long enough in the company to earn his V.D., which was the highest honor that a volunteer could attain. Colonel Okey said lie could fully endorse the sentiments engrossed on the presentations, for Captain Bellringcr had done much to raise his company to a very high state of .'ffi ciency, and the work of Lieut. Levnand Color-Sergt. Lister could only he described as "good." He then ha'mhd to each of the guests a handsomelyframed and beautifully embellished photograph of the Rifles," the ornamentations including perfectly painted miniatures of the company's historic colors. The photographs bore inscriptions as follow:—Presented to Captain ]■'. T. Bellringer by the officers, non-coms.' and men'of the Taranaki Rifle Volunteers, 011 his promotion to Captain-Adjutant of the 4th Wellington (Taranaki) Battalion, in recognition of his' valuable services whilst captain of the corps. Presented to Color-Sergeant E. ?. lister, By the .officers, non-coms., and

men of the Taranaki Rifle Volunteers, on his promotion to Quartermaster-Ser-geant of the 4th Wellington (Taranak.) Battalion, as a mark of esteemed ser-

vice. Enrolled March 12th. 18!)4, promoted bugler IBfld, promoted ror.pnr.il 1890. promoted sergeant 181(7. promotr-d color-sergeant 1006. Presented to Lieutenant C. B. Lever, by the office's--, non-coms, and men of th:- Tnrannlii "Rifle Volunteers, on liis resignation from the corps, as a mark of esteem. Service enrolled .10th January, 1S!I2, promoted sergeant 1804, promoted colorsergeant 1002. elected lieutenant 2nl March. 1006>" Secretary from .lanuaiy, 1803, to September, 1000. Captain Bellringer, in reply, said that It was with mixed feelings that he faced the company. The feelings of regret at severing his connection villi the corps were tempered with pleasure at the very complimentary remarks made by the proposer of'the toast, the very handsome present they had .just given him, and also by the fact that lie had been able to hand over the charge of the com,pany to such an mTieient officer as Captain Fletcher. The four years- he had commanded the company had been a period of great pleasure, for <his relations with his officers and men had always beeu very pleasant, although he had' not always seen eye to them, and had once or twice to exercise his power of veto against the opinion of the majority of the company, but on each occasion only after a great deal of careful thought and in the best interests of Hie company. Captain Bcllringer said there were one or two matters he would have liked to see completed before leaving his company, notably the history of the Taranak'i Rifles, which Mr. Penn had given him to understand would be ready for issue shortly. He was glad to have been in some measure instrumental in having the words 'South Africa" embodied in the company's colors in recognition of its having contributed its quota of 25 men to the \ew Zealand contingents in South Africa, thus showing that the sons "f those men who had- won those colors in the "Maori war were not unmindful of the honor handwljlown to them. Tie believed that the company- based its excellent conduct on the hiih standard of the Taranaki Rifles in the past. Lieutenant Lever said that he "felt it a bit of a blow" to leave the corps after so many years' connection with it, but he had been compelled by circumstances to do *o. ITe had ever found it a pleasure lo do what he could do

for volunteering, especially for the Rifles. He had been fortunate in having served under excellent officers, who had given him every assistance and encouragement.

Quartermaster-Sergeant Lister hriofly returned thankx. Captain Rvro-Konnv proposed the toast of 'The Taranakl Rifles." He stated thai if there was one volunteer coip= of which tho people of the Dominion had ii right to lie proud, that company was (lie Taranaki Rifle Volunteers. The company was unique iji several respects. First of nil, it was the

first volunteer corps formed in Xew ' Zealand. Then it was at first drilled by an old Waterloo veteran, Major Lloyd, a comrade of the speaker's father. Then, without doubt it was Ilie first volunteer company in the Empire to meet an enemy in action, though Hi" mounted men were in action just hefore them at "L" pah. The fa.ranaki Rifles were the only company in Xew Zealand that had Xew Zealand battle honors Inscribed on its colors. He had wondered why the colors did not bear the word "Mnhoctaha," for the Rifles tt"cre engaged in that engagement, but Captain Ttellringoir had told him lie was taking stops to have that added when -the words "South Africa" were inscribed. In other points the Rifles bad an excellent record. The officers had always been keen at muster, the

men zealous, at their work, and regular in attendance at drill. Ho, had seen the corps at work ,of late, <md be had seen no sign of that physical deterioration llittt some people, were fond of airing. He was of opinion that volunteering would be better than compulsory military service if volunteering could continue, but the numbers were too few. Compulsory service would give them the numbers, but it would not give >vflieiency. The first great principlo of soldiering was discipline, unquestioning obedience to orders; the s,-»ond, espii't de corps. These two features wvo strong points in the company under notice. He referred to a remark of Major Samdford's Mat the volunteer service mas a great nursery for training men, n-nd he felt sure that if trouble arose those men who had passed through the volunteer service would soon be back in the ranks. Supposing compulsory service were instituted, where would the Government look for officers bu*t for the work of the volunteers, apd where for the nou-conjs,? He

i thought those people who deprecated and sneered at the volunteers might well find something better to do. Ha concluded with some personal reminiseenses of his active, service with the company. '

Captain Fletcher responded, and hoped that compulsory military service [would not wipe out the present volunteer companies, with whom so many men wen- proudly connected. (Captain •;ellring;r .-iilmeqnrntl.v explained th.lt the companies .would still remain, perhaps dill'crently numbered). Other toasts weir: "The Visitors," proposed by Lieutenant Willis, and ..o<q<onled lo by Captain Weston and Captain Pope; "The first com-andiii" officer ni the 4th Wellington ('! rannki? Battalion, Colonel Ell'."" proposed by the chairman, and rcspdn- bv Clonal ™«i "The fro-." ,*„!«,., ,!,„. Q,,...,, .Mlnn.-cv; "The Ladies.'' proposed by Chaplain-Major Evans, r,-ponse by Caplam Cock. -

The follow-in-; wn-- tVc mimical pro-sramme:-QuartU!e, jTuiv'naki Gar--'--on Band; song, "Oni-cn en' I In- Iv-ri'n" 'encore. '-T.ti Cellar Cnol''), Mr. Hashuii; .-one;. "The Volunteers'' (encore. "An Snglishinai's Hom--"i. Mr. '!'. Womllrd; recitation. "Lou !, :"(pii, ore "Th • Bootblacks"), Livu'. W-- ■' ' son" TThrce .for Jack" (encore "Parlcd" 1 " Sergeant E. E. Clarke: recitation "Irish Philosophv" (encore -'110ir.,,.'. Mare"), I'rivntc' Stokes: s<i„,r -r n ,o vill Death." Mr. lMslam; „m<?. "Moby Malone" (,-nc-orc "Will ~' the Wi*p"' : vnlor-Sergeant Armilage; -on" "lime oid Pioneers" (encore. "The' Cautious Lov-r"). Mr. T. Woodnrd: son«, Mr. stokes, s ong. "Tin- Gallants of En«by Lieut. Willis. Mr. K. A. Goblinactcd as accompanist. ° "God Save the King" and "Auld Lang Syne, concluded, Hie proceedings.