TARANAKI RIFLES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 391, 17 May 1910, Page 8

TARANAKI RIFLES

THE AXXUAL MEETING.

j The annual meeting of the Tarawaki 111 i lie Volunteers was held last night in the orderly-room, Captain W. H. Fletcher presiding. There was an attendj ance af over forty members. I COMMANDING OFFICER'S REPORT, j j Captain Fletcher read the following | report: — In presenting the annual balance sheet, I propose to make a brief survey of the work done for the past year, and of the prospects of the corps for the ensuing year. In the first place, I would like to express my appreciation of the keen interest taken by individual members in the welfare of the company. If this interest is continued I think we need have little fear for the future ol the corps. The corps had rather a had start in losing some of its officers, vw., 'Captain Bellringer (promoted to the Battalion Staff as Adjutant), the resignation of Lieut. Lever (who has left [ tlie district after serving eighteen years j as secretary and a member of the corps),' and Color-Sergeant Lister (who was promoted to the Battalion Staff as Battalion Quarter-Master Sergeant.) During the year the following officers were elected: In place of Captain Bellringer, Captain Fletcher; in place of Lieut, i Fletcher, Lieut. Willis; and Lieut. Marrett in place of Lieut. Lever.. Private Buxton was appointed secretary in place of Lieut. Lever, and Corp. Woods custo- 1 dian of the orderly-room m place of Co'i.-Scrgt. Lister. During the past year the company and other parades have been well attended, and useful work has been done.! Whilst it is true that a majority otfj the company have been excellent in ; their attendance, there are, ol course, as in all ot'her companies, a certain mi- 1 nority who are not as regular as they well might be. Those members should make up their minds to foe more regular during the coming year, and see that they carry their good resolutions into effect. Nothing is inore encouraging to the officers, or more conductive to the efficiency of the company, than for the men to take a pride in their, work and make a point of being present as far as possible at every parade. The average attendance on parade is 32, which I consider excellent, but there are a few men who have got into the ha,lrit af attending every battalion parade, but miss all company parades. The attendance at last Easter camp at Oringi was, very good—and also at the camp held at Johnsonville. It was on both occasions the largest company in the battalion, which is very gratifying. The company) at present are over strength, and have been so all the year, which shows that; volunteering is not on the declihe. i —Shooting.— | Notwithstanding the fact that many! trophies were obtained for the company shooting, members have not taken such interest in their shooting as I should have wished. I trust that more atten- : tion will be -given to shooting by some of the young shots who have not availed 1 themselves of the opportunity offered them to improve their shooting. It is very pleasing to (be able to note that the company 'have the champion shot of the district in the Taranaki 'Rifles in the person of Lieut. Marrett, who -won the grand aggregate at the last local meeting. There were other members of the corps who were also able to shoot in the grand aggregate. —Signalling Classes— j During the early part of the past year a signalling class was formed, but owing to the lack of interest taken by some of the members it was allowed to 1 drop. During the current year it is my 1 intention to make two men in every 1 section learn signalling, as the officers' of the Defence Department consider) that ever}' man should know how 1,01 read and send a message when calecti upon. j

—Classes of Instruction.— j During the year Sergt.-Major Armitage devoted a considerable amount of time to class of instruction in the various military duties of the N.C. officers aad' men. The attendances were, however, disappointing and irregular. The instruction offered was of the greatest importance and value, and it is hoped that ,irf the class as are continued this year tlie members will attend in greater numbers and be more regular. The Sergt.-Major should receive the thanks of the coin-' panv for the time and trouble he has devoted to these classevs. j —Votes of Thanks.— j The thanks of the company are due to aM those (especially the Ladies Conimittee, headed by Mrs. Dockrill) who assisted at the annual ball, and to those who contributed to the shooting prizes, and last, but not least, to the press for their frequent references to matters of interest to volunteers.

The secretary (Private T. Buxton) .presented the balance sheet, wnifch showed the company to be in a very satisfactory position. Lieutenant Willis, in moving the adopof the report and balance sheet, urged the necessity for mem'bers taking more interest in shooting. Private Bacon seconded, and the report and balance sheet were adopted as read.

COMMITTEES ELECTED. The following committees were elected:— Finance Committee: Privates Buxton, Keiu, and officers ex 'officio. Shooting Committee: Sergeant Davis Corporals Soutlmm and Wood, Privates Blanchett, T. Marett, Crutch, Reid an d ukey, and the officers ex officio. Orderly-roiom Committee: .Serjeant 1 ycroft, Corporal Wood, Privates Rich-! ards, Crutch, Boj'd. '

miscellaneous. Corporal Southam reported on behalf or the Orderly-noom Committee that the room had Ibeen fairly successful, but some members did not seem to appreciateit fully The small billiard table _iad ibeen sold, and a book-case installed m its place. A warm supporter of the company had kindly donated about GO good books for the library, which now contained .about 1/00 honks. Several new pictures had been donated during the year. ° The question of whether the company should bear the cost of entertain!, K r visiting shooting teams was referred to the l< insinee Committee to deal with. Votes of thanks wore passed tn the Ladies Committee who so successfully conducted the annual ball. A \ote of thajiks was accorded to the secretary, and bis honorarium was increased from (| ve to eight guineas. The usual honoraria were voted to the instructor (Sergt.-Major Armitoge) and to the custodian of the orderlyroom. '