PROPOSED HAMILTON RIFLE VOLUNTEER CORPS.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1073, 10 May 1879, Page 2

PROPOSED HAMILTON RIFLE VOLUNTEER CORPS.

PUBLIO MEETING.

A meeting* of those interested in the formation of a riflo volunteers company was held on Thursday night in Le Queines Hall, Hamilten East. Mr. W. C. Breakell having" been called to the chair, explained the object of tho meeting 1 staging" that seme weeks ago the movement had been advooa.ed in the local Press, and he had been asked to interest himself in it. His reply had been that if 40 or 50 men would be got to join, and the services of an Imperial officer bo secured for the command, that he would go heart and soul into the movement, Captain Dawson, for whose absence through illness he had to apologise, had consented to accept the position and be believod the requisate number to form a company would be found to subscribe their names that evening. He thon called on Mr J. K. McDonald to address tho meeting. Mr J. K. McDonald then read, for general information, the rules under which such companies as that proposed must be formed. Not less thau six intending members having agreed to form a corps, must then place themselves in communication'with the officer commanding the district, who would further their j memorial to the Defence Minister. Tho maximum strength of the company was 100 men, and tho minimum strength at which it would be retained, 30 men. Ho dilated on the advantages of forming such carps in the Waikato, where they wero living on the very frontiers of civilisation, and that, independently of any such reason, the military discipline and training was both good in itself, and \ indirectly advantageous iu educating and improving 1 the young men of a district. Mr O. Field was thon proposed, and elected as seoretary. Sergeant- Major Walker, of the FTnmilton .Contingent, said he was very glad to hear that thcro was a likelihood of tho. proposed infantry corps being a success There wero many people, and especially young men, who had not horses with which to join the Cavalry, aud he thought some such means as this should be provided to giye them au opportunity. •

of airing thoir martial ardour. Besides, it was well that tho district should possess corps of both arms of the service, infantry as well as cavalry. Ho had hoard it said thafc the Cavalry had been annoyed at the movement, and wished to throw cold water upon it, but speaking tor himself and his brother officers, and bo believed for the whole of his comrades, he sincerely wished. them God speed in tbeir praisworthy and patriotic undertaking. Th ore was nothing like emulation to make even volunteering effective, and the Cavalry, with only two half-yearly drills would, when they saw the infantry continually drilling, be stimulated to keep up their own proficiency. He hoped too that in the matter of prize firing, the two corps would have tho Pleasure of connoting afc tho butts in a triendly nvalry^nd thus serve to keep up a spirifc of em?^ybn. A discussion then took plaos on the desirableness of asking the Government ; to put the proposed corps on the same footing as the Waikato Cavalry with halfyears drill of oiae week, each in addition to the regular monthly company drill, but it wife thought advisable to leave that matter to some future occasion when tut° t PS nras in working order. Mr J. K. McDonald then proposed that the corps be called by the name of an old Waikato.. corps. "The Waikato Riflo Volunteers corps" but an amendment by Mr John Knox was carried by acclamation that it be called "The Hamilton Jtofle Volunteer Corps " Mr Knox observing that it was a purely local affair T ii_ evei 'y township in Waikato suoulcl form a company of their own. uorty tive members then signed the roll as active members of the proposed company. L *■ Mr R. Gwynne, who was present, came iorward and desired thafc his name might De put down as honorary member, as did also Mr Knox, both stating that they had •l. u lr share of volunteering, and mignt ; be excused from active service, but tnat tbey wished to see the spirit of volunteering encouraged in the younger men of the distriot. (During yesterday, mr pearce, and ether gentlemen promised to, join, as honorary members.) A committee, consisting of Messrs McDonald, Breakell, Dawson, L. O'Neill, ±ield, Warren, Gwynne and Knox was then appointed, to carry out all preliminary arrangements. It was suggested that the formation of a military band, in connection, with the corps, would be a great acquisition, and members present w«re requested to use their influence with their musical friends to join the company, with a view to assiting in the formation of a strong band. It was represented that the subscriptions of honorary members would go a long way towards creating a band fund for the purchase of instruments and music, as no doubt very many of those who did not join aa active, would assist by becoming honorary members of the corps. In answer to a query, ifc was stated thafc the probable cost of uniform would not entail an expenditure of more than £3 or £i. A vote of thanks to fche Chairman, and fco Mr Le Quesno, for the use of the Hall, , brought the meeting to a close.