Volunteers.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4634, 10 November 1883, Page 2

Volunteers.

The Hangers last night entertained their visiting team, the Coromandel Rifles at a dinner in their drill hall. The room was very tastefully decorated, welcomes being profuse, and armorial ornaments were placed on the walls. Capt. Douglas occupied the chair, and ex-Capt. Parrel], Lieuts. Scott and Lucas the rice chairs. Apologies from the Rev. S. J. Neill chaplain to the corps, and Mr G. Hold' ship were read.—After dinner, the toasts of " Her Majesty," "The Prince of Wales and the Royal Family," and "The Governor," were proposed and duly honored. Dr Kilgour proposed " The Army, Navy, and Volunteers," highly eulogising the last named. Captain Wildraan responded for the Volunteers, and pxpressed an opinion that if Volunteering were to be encouraged some modification of the present regulations would be necessary. The health of " Our Parliamentary Representatives " was proposed by Capt. Small and responded to by Mr Cad man, M.H.R., who stated that he had interviewed the Defence Minister on the subject of those oppressive regulations, bat without effect; but, he said, the Volunteers could always depend upon his best efforts if they required them. Capt. Douglas, in proposing "The Visitors," expressed his gratification at such a friendly course of matches^being inaugurated, and although he could not conscientiously say that he wished the resul of yesterday's match had been different, he would have accepted defeat willingly if administered by the team of " Jolly good fellows" they now met.—-Cap* tain Gatland responded, and in re» ferring to to the new regulations, said he had been volunteering for only twentyfive years, and thought and hoped that the volunteer movement would show that it possessed life enough to overcome oppressive regulations.—Lieut. Harrison proposed, "Local Governing Bodies," and in the course of his speech, said that when the team left Coromandel they left with the intention of " shooting Captain Douglas and his men," and someone had put in, " I wish to goodness you would ; " but it had not been done. Cr Carpenter responded.—" The Rifle Rangers " was proposed by Captain Gatlaud, who hoped that many more similar meetings would take place; and Captain Douglas and Lieut. Lucas duly responded to the toast. A Volunteer gave the toast of "Mr J. Manning," an old member of the corps, which was acknowledged.-Drill Instructor Grant proposed " Honorary Members," which was replied to by ex»Capt. Farrell. —The next toast was that of " The Saff," which was placed in the hands of Capt. Wildman, who spoke eulogistically o.f the; officer commanding the district, and said that the good qualities of Drill Instructor Grant were too well known to heed reference to. Mr GraDt responded, and referred in high terms to the services rendered to Volunteering by the late Major Withers.— Mr R. Harrison proposed "The Ladies," which met with a response from Mr Wood, and Capt. Gatland, in a humorous speech, gave "The Press," which was acknowledged by Mr Hickey. "The Hostess, Mm Hawk," was proposed, and a merry meeting was concluded with the "National Anthem," and " Auld Lang Syne." The visitors left for Coromandel about on;e o'clock this morning.