Studholme Mounted Rifles.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 186, 5 April 1902, Page 3

Studholme Mounted Rifles.

ANNUAL MEETING. The Stulholme Mounted Rifles paraded on Thursday afternoon, but owing tothe wet weather the attendance wfs small.

In the eoning the annual meeting of the torps took place in St. Augustine’s schoolroom, Captain Garland presiding over an attendance of aiont thirty members. Lieut,onan.s C. Studholme and IT. 11. Fnhor were also present.

Captain Garland explained the .business of tho mating. He regretted that the weather had [irevented a better mutter on that evening. Referring d the of tho corps, he oxprossoc his pleasure at the way the men vero holding together. At tho ena of the last year the strength of thi corps was 70. and now was G 7, mat of them having joined when iho corps started. Five, member of the corns wore at the front, md their work there was a credi to the company. Ho referred o these i lumbers individually— 'laptain Mostyn .lune.-i. Sergeant, Fir.-yth, Trooper Scott, Sergeant Forley, cud Trooper Gluyas. The shotiug of tho corps had one unsatisfactory feature about it, one commoi to all volunteer corps, that numiers of the members never went on to the range. Every man wio carried a rifle should learn how to

use it. This year the company had twenty marksmen. Referring to-the Royal visit. Captain Garland said that out of three Royal escorts chosen the Studholme Mounted Rilles had provided two, and ho had been complimented by the stab'on the appearance and discipline of the corps. The latter was duo to Sergeant-Major Henderson, who had proved himself the very man for the position. Captain Garland urged the men to make every effort to attend local camps, which wore most important. lie mentioned that the expenses of these camps were much in excess of the Government allowance, and ways and means of raising money to ho)u to pay this would need to be considered. They had again to thank a number of friends for prizes for shooting. The position of secretary was one of groat importance, and Corporal Manchester. who had splendidly filled the position last year, had no time to attend to the work. He suggested that a paid secretary should be appointed. As regards parade.-, bo asked for suggestions as to the daces for holding these, mentioning Coat several foot, parados would be necessary during the winter to get familiar with the new rifles. Ho apologised for the absence of Messrs E. C. Studholme and J. F. Douglas.

On the motion of SergeantMajor Henderson and Corporal Jones, the balance-sheet was taken as read. This showed the corps to he in a good financial position. Sergeant - Major Henderson, Quartermaster-Sergeant Wain, and Corporal Manchester were appointed to act with the officers as a finance committee.

The chairman cal loti upon Quar-trnnasior-,Sergeant Wain, chairman of tbo shooting committee, to report on tho season's work. Quartermaster-Sergeant Wain stated that there was a groat improvement shown in every match, especially with the new ride. The shooting team had beaten the Timaru Port Guards, said to be the best shots in the colony. Still tho company should do bettor than it had done during the past season in the volley firing competitions. If they spent a few pounds on ammunition for practising volleys it would be money ell spent. The shooting committee for tho year was elected as follows: — Quartermaster - Sergeant Wain (chairman), Sergeant-Major Henderson, Corporals W. Lindsay and A. J. Manchester, and Troopers Twomey, IP Roberts and S. Lindsay.

Captain Garland said he hoped that the shooting programme would be drawn up at once, so as to allow of work being done early. The chairman asked the meeting to appoint a sports committee, who would at once draw up a programme of sports which could be practised all the year. The following sports committee was elected :—Lieutenant Studholme (chairman), Lieutenant Fisher, Sergeant-Major Henderson, Quartermaster-Sergeant Wain, Sergeant Freeman, and Trooper T womey. Sergeant-Major Henderson proposed that Corporal Hoskins should be appointed secretary and custodian at a small salary. This was seconded by Trooper Maindonald and carried unanimously. Votes of thanks were passed to Messrs Francis. Warnock, E. C. Studholme, and J. F. Douglas for the use of the rifle range and camping ground, and Mr O’Leary for the use of the racecourse for parades. Quartermaster-Sergeant Wain urged that all class firing should be done before the local camp and ihe volley firing during camp when themeu were all together. Sergeant-Major Henderson asked that the meeting should indicate the most suitable months in which parades could be held, and others in which no parades should be called.

The meeting favoured holding one more mounted parade during April and two foot parades in May

This concluded the business of the meeting, and the corps sat down to light refreshments.

The- toast ’ of, “The King” having been honoured, the presentation of the annual prizes was proceeded with. The money won by the members of the corps at the South Canterbury Association’s meeting was first handed out by Captain Garland as follows: — •

Trooper S. Lindsay, £4 ss ; Corporal W. Lindsay, £8 6s Gd ; Quartermaster-Sergeant Wain, £2 los ; Trooper Maindonald, 18s 9d.

The chairman stated that all the Studholme Mounted Rifles men who fired at the South Canterbury meeting came back with prizes. The company prizes were as follows:—Mr 'Studholme’s prize, Trooper H. Roberts; Trooper Roberts’ prize, Trooper Twomey; Mr E. J. Atwill’s prize, Corporal Lindsay; Mr McGowan’s medal, Quartermaster - Sergeant Wain ; Trooper Twomey’s cup, Trooper Twomey; Trooper Twomey’s cup (again competed for), Trooper Lindsay and Trooper Roberts tied ; Mr Binney’s cup, Corporal Lindsay; non-coms’ prize, Captain Garland ; Trooper Maindonald’s trophy, Trooper Maindonald. A number of range prizes wore awarded during the year. Mrs Siudholme’s cup (the championship match of the corps) was won by Corporal Lindsay. Captain Garland congratulated the winner on his success, which was especially meritorious, as Corporal Lindsay had been shooting only two years.

Corporal Lindsay’s health was drunk enthusiastically, and he was carried round the room shoulder high amid cheers. The prizes won at the sports were Resented by Lieutenant Studholme as follows : Uoyd-Lindaay Competition—Quartermaser Sergeant Wain’s section. Reicuo Race—Trooper W. Bell. Horse over Hurdles—Quartermaster Sorgcajt Wain. Balaclava Melee—Sergeant W. Dunbar. Best kept Tent—Troopers Price, Bowker, laid and Twomey, Trumpeter ManchesiO' and Sergeant Cowan.

Best tuned out Man and HorseTrooper W. Cooley. Best dnllel Section—Lines Corporal Manchester’s lection.

Novel Race—Trooper Mercer. Night Alarm—Sergeant Cowan. Led Horses Race—Trooper White

Lieutenant Studholme hoped that the sports prizes would be oven more keenly competed for next year than tie last. Ho said he had a toast to propose, that of their captain. He need not say anything to this toist, ns they all knew of Captain Garland’s many good qualities and of his grout services to the corps.

The toast was drunk most enthusiastically. Captain Garland, in responding to ‘-.he toast of his health, said that ho hardly knew how to reply. He con.(l not feel other than gratified at tbo way in which the corps was sticking together. When ho had taken command of the corps he had intended to retain that position for only two years, hut ho felt it his duty to stay ou, as the corps was so successful under his command.

Corporal W. Lindsay returned thanks to the company for the way in which they had drunk his health. He onlopisod 'Quartermaster-Ser-geant Wain’s painstaking earn in teaching a'l and sundry how to shoot.

Referring to the question of shooting, Tnopcr Maindonnld said ho hoped that encouragement would be given to all to go over and shoot, as a crack team was little use in a corps unless the whole company went in for shooting.

Chaplain McKenzie Gibson was entrusted with tho toast of ‘‘ Comrades at the Front.” Ho referred to the good work done by New Zealanders in South Africa. They were proud to have Waimate rcpresGntativesVt tlu> front in such numbers. Ho referred especially to Captain Mostyu Jones, who had o-nnn out as a lieutenant in the Sixth, who was promoted to bo captain, and who elected to remain in South Africa with the Eighth Contingent rather than return with the Sixth. Up to the present no New Zealander had had a black mark against his name, or had done anything to cause New Zealand to blush for him. Other toasts honoured were “ Sergeant-Major Henderson ” and “ The Press.”

A proposal to hold a social in connection with the corps was held over till a later date for consideration.

The officers then withdrew, but before doing so Captain Garland said ho hoped they would all do their duty during the coming year. Every able-bodied man should join a volunteer corps and learn the use of arms, or if not, conscription must some day come.