HAMILTON CONTINGENT. WAIKATO CAVALRY VOLUNTEERS.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1221, 27 April 1880, Page 2

HAMILTON CONTINGENT. WAIKA TO CA VALR Y VOLUNTEERS.

A meeting of members of the Hamilton Contingent was held on Saturday evening, afc the Hamilton Hotel, after the award diill. Lieutenant Johnson occupied the chair, and gome twenty members \rere present. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, it was resolved — That as tte contingent was now enitled to a captain a special meeting should be called for Saturday evening next, for the election of officers. Six gentlemen at the Thames, including the Mayor of that Borongb, and Major Murray, were proposed to the meeting as honorary members of the contingent. Mr Ehrenfreid stated that he would bo happy to subscribe ten guineas to become an honorary member of the Cavalry if the several troops were united in a regiment The Chairman said it pained him to have to refer to the next portion of the business as it affected him personally, but a very great amount of dissatisfaction had been expressed by members of the contingent at the insinuations against himself and Lieutenant Whita^er that had been thrown out by members of another troop, that after the officers of the other troop had made all arrangements for the trip he (Lieutennnt Johnson) had been sent to Grahamstown to make such arrangements as would be most favorable to the Hamilton Contingent. He denied the truth of the imputation in toto, and trusted that the Press would not merely take note of the present discussion, but publish the telegrams which he should read in contradiction of such statements. Trooper P. Pilling said he had been told at Cambridge that after tho officers of that troop had agreed to telegraph to the Thames to arrange matters, Lieutenant Johnson bad been specially sent down to upset the whole affair. Lieutenant Johnson said he had nothing to do with the billeting, about whioh some dissatisfaction arose. That was arranged by the quarter-master sergeant, at the Thames, and Cieutenaut Denby. It was not his fault that one of the other troops happened to be billeted farther from their horses than some of the contingent were. The following telegrams were then read by the Secretary, showing that the matter had not been taken out of the hands of other Waikato officers by the officers of the Hamilton Contingent. It was resolved that the following telegrams bo forwarded to the other troops, and be published in the Waikato Times for general information. Gr\h vvstowv, March 18, 1880. To Lieutenant Whit.iker. y?f)our telegram to Symington, plc.isc reply how many officers and non-commissioned officers there \\ ill be altogether ; also, how many men of each troop or contingent, say Te Awamutu, Cambridge, or Hamilton. I think jou should send Johnson down a few days before. He would be ot great sen ii c in enabling us to complete arrangements, and he would be of great service to me in selecting ground tor review. I would go up with him and meet \ou all some miles out ot town. T. L. Murkvy, Mijor. Gk\hammo\\v, March 19. To Lieutenant Johnson. I have wired Colonel Lyon to let me have you here a few days before arrival of main body. T. L. Murray, Major. Camuridgl, March 19. To Lieutenant Johnson. Major Murray would like you to be at the Thames, a tew d.13 s pre\ious. Plcn.s>c reply. WM. C. L\on, Lieut. -Colonel. Kihikihi, March 19. To Lieut. Whitakcr or Trooper Edgecumbe. Following just arrived :— " K.ither than close with any contractor tor your horses and men, I think you should send some smart officer here a few dajs before you, so as he would judge the best quarters amongst the many local contracts, and also assist me in re\iew preliminaries. I suggest Johnson as most convenient. — (Signed) T. L. Murray." I concur with Captainßun«iman, probably better to send Johnson. He could, with Major Murray, make best arrangements possible, and join his troop at Paeroa on Friday c\ening. \V\i. J UKbO\, Major. Trooper Pilling said that was quite sufficient to set the matter at re*t. .Not a member of the contingent had ever doubted the true facts of the case, but it was as well that they should be generally known and published in the report of the present meeting, even if paid for as advertisements. Trooper Pearson suggested that a district troop belt should be provided to be shot for once or twice yearly by the contingent. Nothing would so much conduce to good shooting. He for one would sooner have the belt than any number of money prizes. Sergeant Hunt thought so tco. He had noticed two non-commissioned officers at the Thames wearing such belts, and these were really very elegant and honorable badges. He said that usually the belt if won twice in succession or three times altogether, became the property of the winner. Lieut. Johnson referred to the handsome belt worn by the best marksman of the Thames Naval Brigade, the finest Volunteer corps in the Colony. It had cost £50, and was presented to the corpa by a private citizen. It was then proposed and carried — That a belt be provided to be shot for by the troop, and that the cost be defrayed bj the stoppage of one shilling per day from the pay of the troop during the next November drill. Lieutenant Johnson drew the attention of the members to tho lax way in which the drills, especially the sword drills, were attended. They should emulate the Thames Volunteers in this respect, in drill, as well as everything else. The firing for the handsome album, given by Mr E. "Wayte, would shortly take place, but only those who had attended five out of the last six sword drills would be eligible to compete. A list of the names of such would be read at the next meeting. Mr Peat, of Hamilton, had given a bridle, worth 50s, to be competed for on similar terms, the drills counting from the next after the firing for the album. Some discussion arose as to the necessity of doing something in the matter of a Volunteer hall. The Oddfellows' Hall was not alway3 available, as was the case that night. The Government had granted a, site and £100. The contingent had promised a second £100. Probably the Hamilton Light Infantry would subscribe a similar amount, and there was a large sum funded, the proceeds of the late Church bazaar. This concluded the business.

The following details as to the number of >^ats in the theatres of Borne will no doubt be found interesting. The Apollo accommodates 8000 spectators, Argentina 3500, Nationale (now building) 5000, Politeama 4000, Valle 1500, Corea 2500, Gapranica 1200, Cirque Royal 4000, Manzoni 700, Rossini 400, Metastase 750, Quirino 850, Sferisterio 3000, Ripetta (now building) 2500, Goldoni 400, San Carlo a Catinari 4*>o, Conaolazione 300, Alfiei 2-50, Tiberino 200 Total— 19 theatres, capable of holding 34,500 spectators,