THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER “Vérité Sans peur,” . WANGANUI MARCH 27 1862

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 6, Issue 287, 27 March 1862, Page 3

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER “Vérité Sans peur,” . WANGANUI MARCH 27 1862

“ 1 " 1 !. *• There has hitherto existed an honorable rivalry between ,the various jcompanies of Rifle Volunteers here, and more especially between-thb'-Nxri.’-.l and 2 cojnpanies, which having been formed- at same'time and drilled together, felt almost as closely allied, as the members of. each? company were united to each other. There was no jealousy, but anhonorable spirit of emulation which regarded the success of either company as a matter, of pride and exultation. Now however if we may believe the speakers I .' it some of the late meetings-this feeling has degenerated into a spirit of enyy and jealousy. We are not aware thal this is true. We are almost certain that it is not true of the late No. 1 company, tb whose members it is attributed,' They had neve^ r amf’reason &f ? being- jealous of the;' othergcoMpany;. 'bbcause they/ ktobd. first in inCipawh #s&she competition ior prizes their scores were better than those of the other eompaiiies, and in drill they were not /behind. It, may be, however; tfiat some of' biembers of the late No. 2 company have been a little galled|hy tho pprition. No/ 1. always held; arid are now endeavouring to gain a? advantage to ’ Which they are scarcely entitled. We were certainly surprised on glancing over our advertising columns last Thursday to see adverti%‘ ments of: meetings to he held by two companies both calling theinselyes by the same name/“ the First Cdihpahy of Wanganui Rifle V olunteers;’ ’ ’ not look pretty, and oh > examining : thfe records of the meetings out of which this appearance of unseemly rivalry has arisen, we f<mn.d' that the assutoptibh -cfthat/Ham^'.by!'''tlie'' company whicli forihbrly 2 was if‘ii© tt- tylin# 'vi¥es: f co.Hft*)®-bonos-morfs. h: JW oh February ’ a mceting' of Nd; I tb wind up affairs, ■ 'and at that- meeting it was resolved to'fornl the ■ company This resolution was hover a$ fair as We caffr learn dcparted fr©m / h'ndifthe of the late No. 2 cbmpahy who/ bn se' 13th inst, passed a' resolution that’ 1 one strong company should be' forined to bO called .the First asberf tained previously : - to pass ' 1 this resolution, that the attempt; to-/ bring the old No, Vcompany together abandoned, they certainly did not act in a very courteous-spirit.’ : : No doubt they were at perfect liberty to act as they did/ - The old companies were disbandedj and it might be taken for wjbiclteyer company was first organised uhder..the,new Regulations. : would c bl‘ Entitled to. th£nanie"of the first, company. ' /But } on / making further enquiry as to the origin of the meeting which elected Mr/Rotter as Captain we must coiffess having uhwilhbgly. come to the- co'ffciUsipii/ that it looks very an attempt to steal, a march on,jtb© members of the bid No 1 meeting was called by Major Z>nrie at, the request' of a few members of the late second jcbmpany. Major Durie pn., first { consenting supposed that that the; obj ect was to elect officers /tempprarily, so that Sir Geo. ' Grey might be; worthily.-, received. The advertisement was written, out by one of the applicants; .and/. Major Durie was persuaded t 6 sign it though the object was, different"ffbmwhat he had at first V tindlrstbod. Mr? Reformer- captain of the No j 2 cbmpany was then elected i and ■ that choice, hot a, volunteer in Wanganui would I ' perhaps have %, been found.,, tc/; : gainsay y / bhi the hurried mode •in which; the appointment Was made’was reasonably objected to/ Hence arose a feeling of dissatisfaction bn the part of mejnbep of the late jNo, 1. Company, which, we thinkj was not tb be wondered at considering how;affairs -stood. ■ They/were endeavouriugr. td , organize tbeir old Company, and thfe- attempt to stop their proceedings,, and render their object impossible of : attainment; was made at a meeting called at twenty-four hours’ notice, before more, than.twd'ilhirds of the number requisite to make up one company werb sworn in.’ If feeling is to be judged of by action, it appears to us that the ill feeling, if any existed, was entirely on the side of thela^tetlJo. 2 company’s members, and that the bther . party . pur-, sued a strictly fair and honorable course., throughout, having set bpfore them a distinct object, announced it publicly, and persevered consistent and openly in their endeavour to attain-it. .

Out of evii has arisen good. The mis-understandiug-has. evoked~the~ activity of both parties. ... iThere-willcnpw; diost likely be two companies'.• jof '',.60. /inen.- ; ,each. If both ’ companies are formed we trust that Capt. Porter’s will’ .{.shew that they are both just resuming their forme# designation. Th» little spark of .jealousy that has appeared, will then be extinguishedv -The former- honourable .-rivalry .-will take: its - place, and both companies will shew themselves worthy of . each pother, and of: the service to which they belong. And* ut will give us much.pleasure/. if- in -the! contest for the Government v prj#es, the No. 2 Compsnjr proyd thaf'it is' the first in point-bif efflciency, i3f hot -ky name.” • -•