TE AWAMUTU. Waikato Cavalry.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1275, 31 August 1880, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU. Waikato Cavalry.

A meeting of the Te Aw.uniilu Troop w-is held on Fii-lay evening in the Pnbli< Kill, To Awamutu. dipt RuUierUml in th,' cli.ni 1 . There were <iKo present, Lieutenant-, ]Jiuco and Wilkinson, Seigt Waltuis an 1 <ib<mi forty Troopers. Tho'-c members who hid brought their head-, with them, were inei>ured by Mr Fenton (of Aucid nd) for the new helmet The Ch.uiin.'in .lnnounooJ tint, a ('irbine m-itch Ind b( eu aii'inyed IH-Uveen tio thieo Tio.ips, to taVe place hoic on the te>ond Satnulay in Boptembor, and it wiib hoped that <x '-piiit of fuoiull}' livili'v botw ecu tho members cf H imilton, (.' mibiidire, and Te Twawutu -would bo perpetualed. Trooper (jjorire M.umder in a luijrthy and cfteotivo speech annnadv cited \ory stroiijfly upon the absjnee from the meeting 1 of all the non-co!ninis4oned olli"eis (exoeptiug iSer^eant Walrer.-,.) Trooper Maundoi considered that the members of the Tioop should be expected to look up to, and be le I by thtiv non-commissioned oflif ers. Tlicie had been a batch of now non-commi-sioiif r.s elected at a recent meeting and he w-ia of opinion that they of all men should have shown up to-night . (Trooper Gresluuu : They weie not elected ! They wei o appointed by the officer commanding. Tiooper Maunder : "Its all the same from Sergeant- Major down to Lance Coiporal (if there be one) they are none of them here to-nightjpnd I think they should be Iv conclusion Trooper Maunder luoved a resolution to the following effect. " That it is the opinion of this meeting that those non-Gommisskmcd officers who are not lieve to-nightj bhculd bo called upon to explain the reason for thoir absence. " Seconded by Trooper J. Weil and carried unanimously.

Proposed Annual Volunteer Review. Trooper Hungeiford Roche proposed os followg. '< That this meeting- is of opinion that in Older to advance the Volunteor movement in the province of Auckland, and to render the Force more efficient, an annual fteviewdo take place at Auckland, Thames and W.iikuto alternately. " In moling t]\e alpve resolution, Trooper lioche considered that the Government should ponvoy the Voluuteers to the Koview Ground and back fico of charge. He u\io entered vith a lengthy exposition of his plau whereby (if carried into effo^b) the sis (hys hdli-yeavly dvitt of the Waik.vto Cavalry co^ld bo worked out at the Review, The motion was seconded by Lieutenant Biuco. Trooper Gresham rose to inquii*e wjietlier Trooper Rgche refeiTed to the

present Go viedameiifc - as the one which would defray the ffytft of conveying the Troop to tlie review ground. He thought th.it a Government who reduced salaries of LBO to the tune of ten per cent, were not very likely to .act so generously as Trooper Roche socmcd to contemplate. Another soiious difficulty which presents itself to his mind was that the Waikato Cavalry had been most hospitably entertained last Easter at the Thames, and in return had invited the Thames Volunteers to visit the Waikato at Easter next. If Trooper Roches proposal were carried in its present shape, and a review held next Easter at Auckland, then our friends at the Thames would think that we were trying to shuffle out of our invitation. He for one would oppose the motion as it was at present framed. Sergt Walters moved, Trooper Groshain seconded. — That the proposed review do take place in the month of November instead of at E.ister. A further amendment was proposed by Trooper W. Bruce seconded by Trooper Munro. That no date be fixed for the pioposed review but that this meeting is in favour of holding an annual review of all the Auckland Volunteers. Several Troopers stated that agricultural pursuits would render it impossible ior them to leave their farms at Easter, and it was explained to the meeting by Sergt. Walters (formerly on the gold mine" at the Thames) that the Thames men could get away at any time they chose to arrange ; and of course one time w.is as suitable as another to the Volunteers of Auckland city. The further amendment of Trooper W. Bruce on being put was supported by five votes. "" The amendment of Sergt. Walters received 21 votes. For the original motion of Trooper Roche four votes. The amendment of Sergt. Walters was then duly can led. Two rules, diafted by the Band Committee, were ham'pd in and adopted. The first was as to a ten shilling deposit by everyone joining the Band. The second was that the Bandsmen .should on all occasions (when playing as the Troop Band) appear m uniform. Trooper (Iresham, (as Treasurer and Secretary of the Band Fund) said that he had been deputed by his Committee to enquire when the vote of £25 (which was granted in March last) was to be forthcoming. Five months ago the troop were told that £60 would be shortly available. The troop thereupon had voted this £25 and on the strength of that vote the Band Committee had obtained musical instruments from the Auckland Music Warehouse. The Band Committee were consequently in debt about £35 and he had applied repeatedly for the £25 grant "but had been as repeatedly informed "that there were no funds in hand." The Chairman in reply stated that a large number of the troop owed money to the Troop Fund, in respect of the Thames Trip. These amounts varied horn 4s. to £1 4s. and upwards. If these gentlemen would pay oil* what was thus due from them, the £25 could be paid to the Band Committee. The meeting then expressed a desire that tho names of the dcbtois be read, which being done, it ■was discovered that a large number of those piesent were among the defaultci s. Amid sonic merriment Trooper Gresham suggested that Messrs Whitaker and Sheelian, Solicitor should be consulted in the matter. It was then arranged that Dull Instructor Carley be asked to apply ior payment of all arrears, and also that he do make a special application to the Honorary m f mbei-. of tiic Tioop ior their .subscriptions. It appealed on eii'iuiiy that iii<iii_) of the lluiioraiy members had not paid their subsciiptions for two or three ytMr-j p.ivt. The subject of repairing the butts was defeircd to another mooting