OUR VOLUNTEERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1545, 27 January 1887, Page 2

OUR VOLUNTEERS.

5 , GERALDINE RIFLES. -.:; ' An inspection parade of this corps took place on Tuesday evening. There wero 5 about 37 men on parade, including tbe officers and band. ' Major Newall acted ai [ inspecting officer and btaff-Sergt. Major e Jones was also present. The'men wero a inspected at the drillshed, when Major 3 Newall complimented them upon their i, good attendance, considering that it was ). harvest time, and also upon the condition K of their arms and accoutrements. The j corps' was then taken to the Geraldine l t Park, where a number of company and e battalion movements were creditably 1 executed, !. At the conclusion of the drill tbe corps . I- was marched back to the drillshed where 3 the special meeting advertised to take * 'place for the election of a captain was lt held. 6 Lieu t. Ward briefly opened the meeting 6 and stated the purpose for which it was ° oalled, r ': Private G. H. Patrick proposed that Lieut. R. H. Pearpoint be elected as cap- -, a tain of the corps. This was seconded by J a .Private N. Simß. . Mv v i !t No other proposition being forthcoming i a show of hands was taken, whomever/. i. hand was held up for Lieut. Pearpoint. * Lieut. Ward then declared tbat' gentle* * man duly elected, which was received :t with loud cheers. ' . ! ' Capt. Pearpoint came forward and 6 thanked those pre sont. He assured them he r felt very grateful to them for .the, fionor e they had done him that eypniog v ,At the 0 eame time be accepted the position with 0 great diffidence as he felt that he was not K fit to take it. He had no, hesitation in saying thiß, but he would promise-them !* one thing, namely— now K made up bis mind to take it he would do 9: his utmost to fit himself for the post and endeavor to keep the corps up to the '" standard tbey had attained to at the '" present time. They must be all well '» aware that it did not matter how good an 7 officer was himself, if, tbe" men did not c / work with him. all his labor was lost. Ho could only hope that in the future they 1 • would all work the one "■ way; 5 There n were one or two little thiugs he intended ; to make a very great difference in. r ' In the first' : place they were aware 6 the corps had a Committee, and he 8 thought the business of the corps could e be carried on to far greater advantage if the Committee had more of a voice in it. e He intended that in future the Committee D should meet every month, and hefaoped v that if any of the men had any thipg to Y complain of they would let the; members ~ of the Committee know, and he had no D hesitation in saying that if any thing could I be done to remove the grievance it should II be done. He certainly 'Wished'.the; men . * would stand up and iepeak if th<»y bad a e complaint to make. He did not see why * a private, or anybody else, should not r tell an officer of any grievance they 'I might have. He thought the whole = caase of the corps falling away as it had d done of late was owing to there being a ■*■ certain grievance and nobody appearing 8 - to know what it was. He thought that » by having a monthly meeting to discuss \.<L - the affairs of the company they would be - 1 able to do a way, with-r many things- that. \ r now existed. He reminded the corps " that many of them ware very; much back ' with their subscriptions, which be hoped 9 weul.i soon be remedied. He weuldvery . * much like then! to hold over the appoint. >' ment of a lieutenant uritir the return of ' Major Moore. They were all aware that * a great many people had been asked to ■ take the position of captain. If be (Mr ». Petrpoint) had [plenty of time he would r like to keep the position and, do his best 1 for the corps. At the same; time, if > another man came forward that'would be f as acceptable to the company he (Mr ' Pearpoint) would be quite as well pleased >. to take his old position; Major Moore * would perhaps be able to get a person to take the captaincy who would be able to ; do it more, justice than he could, when he \ .would be glad to take the lieutenancy "' again. He could only thank them again ' for the honor tbey had done him. He * would do his bept to qualify himself for ■ the post, and he hoped the corpe, would 1 still retain the amount of credit they, had \ hitherto. (Loud cheers.; Lieutenant Ward came forward, and , briefly thanked the officers and'' noncommissioned officers for tbe way in w faich they had helped ' him during the past eight or nine especial)} Mr Pearpoint and tij U Secretary. (Corporal A. Erskine), who bad rendered him valuable help. As soon as word came back from Wellington he would band the papers over to Captain Pearpoint, who would, probably be in charge of the corps by Wednesday next. (Loud cheers.) Each member of tbe company, present then came forward and signed the follow* ing paper:— '* We, the members" of the Geraldine Rifles, agree to elect Lieutenant Pearpoint to be Captain of the Geraldine \j Corps.' '■ l Jt: Color-Sergeant Stonehonse proposed, and Seargeant F. Bethune seconded, a hearty vote of thanks to Lieutenant Ward for the manner in which tbe corps had been, conducted since the departure of Major Moore, The vote was carried by acclamation, and the meeting terminated. Three cheers were afterwards given for Captain Pearpoint. TEMUKA RULES. A Government inspection parade of the above'was held last evening. There were only 35 members present' Ind tbey" yerg 1 inspected by Major NowalK