WAIKATO CAVALRY. Hamilton Troop.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1384, 17 May 1881, Page 2

WAIKATO CAVALRY. Hamilton Troop.

A meeting of members of the C Troop (Hamilton) Waikato Cavalry was held on Saturday evening at Gwynne's Hotel. Present : Capt. \v hitaker (in the chair), Lieut. Johnson, Sub-Lieut. Hunt, and about 20 members. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Lieut. Johnson, in presenting the prizes awarded for cleanliness, m the ranks, said the members ol the Hamilton Troop were complimented at the Te Awamutu Review for their soluierly aspect. The awards were somewhat hurriedly made, but he trusted the Tioop would be satish'ert with the decision of the officers. He then presented the first prize of 15s to Corporal ManUtelow, the second of 10s to Sergeant Coombes, and the third prize of 5s to Trooper Alevmder. The Chairman said it would give them pleasure to know that Adjutant Clifton, of the Auckland battalion, had waited on the officers and tendered them the thanks of the battalion foi the kindness shown to them by the Waikato Cavalry whilst in camp. Lieut. Johnson proposed a vote of thanks to Trooper ""ochraue, who officiated as qiuitei ma-tor duimg the review. They were all aw.nc ot the crri< letit manner m which he had disuharged his duties and of the obliging manner in which he rendeied a-^i.stmce not only to member." of his own troop, but also to all other-, who sought it. This was seconded by Serjeant Coombes and curied by acclamation. The Chaii man : I i-hmild like to add my te-itimony to the untiling exertions ot Quarter-master Cochrane. He wa> to be got at all times, in season and out of eoason and rendered every a>-siitance to all. iApplau«e.) Lieut. Johnson intimated that the Thames Scottish Voluntee/s were anxious to receive a challenge to fire a fuendly match. He had written to Captain Rutherford (Te Awnrautu) and -ergt. Major Fisher (Cambridge) on the subject, asking if they weie agreeable, and proposing 1 that the team should consist of five men from each troop, the mat(-h to be fired at Urahamatown. Sergt -Major Fisliei 1 had replied agreeing to the proposal, but as yet no answer had been received fiom Capt. Rutherford. There would be a meeting of delegates on Thursday the 10th, when the matter could be discussed. He would propose that the challenge be sent, and the match be fired about the end of the month. This was seconded by SubLieutenant Hunt, and cariied. It was then arranged that a carbine match for the Troop should be fired on the Queen's Birthday for the following prizes, competitois to be divided into two squads : For the iirst squad — l&t prize, £1 ; 2nd prize, los. ; 3rd prize, ss. Second squad : Ist prize, 15s ; 2nd prize, 1 0s ; 3rd prize, ss. It was decided that Mr Moses' prize, of a suit of clothes, be shot for at the same tune, to tall to the highest scorer of those qualified by having attended the requisite number of sword drills, for winch thia prize was allotted by the officers. Sergeant Coombes said before they separated he would like to propose a vote of thanks to the cooks who acted at the late Review. Trooper Land, who had looked after this department, had added much to their comtort by the admirable way in which he had discharged his duties. The vote was seconded by Corporal McNicol and carried unanimously. The following were then nonnnitcd for membership, to be balloted for at the next meeting : Mesart, W. J. Gubble, and H. Hauling. At this stage of the meeting, Lieutenant Coleman, of the \V«umea Rifles, (Nel>on) who was present, sud he would be glad to take back a challenge from the C Tioop to lire a fiiendly match, each team on its own ground. The members expressed their willingness to accept Lieutenant Coleman s offer, but as it was stated there is a difference in the arms some preliminaries will require to bo settled as to ranges and terms. This being all the business. Capt. Whitaker, addressing the members present, said : Gentlemen as I shall shortly be proceeding to Wellington to attend to my parliament iry duties, I feel that it is due to you to g've you some explanation of the course that I shall adopt in reference to the votes for volunteering purposes. During last session as you are aware, very heavy reductions had to be made from the salaries of all pei'sons in the employment of the colony This was absolutely necessary in order to make both ends meet. Had it not been done we might have had to face national bankruptcy, which I am sure you will agree with me was the last thing th it the young men of this country would submit to. This being the case and seeing that it became a stern necessity to take from a man with an income of £100 a year, and perhaps a family of eight or nine children to keep, the sum of £10 as a contribution towards meeting the exigencies of the State, I think you will admit that it would not have been fair to clamourously urge upon the Government the claims of the volunteers to payment and capitation. The moment of peril has happily passed away, and the principle which large numbers of us have adhered to, namely, the volunteering principle, will have to be considered in allocating the revenue of ISBI. In older States, where conscription prevails and men are forced from their homes and families by ruthless law, volunteering, of course finds no place, but in these new, enlightened and liberal countries, where military despotism is unknown, our true defence will be found in that spirit of volunteering which will enable every person capable of bearing arras to be trained to the use of them. I shall j therefore, unhesitatingly support any measures which may tend in the direction and the encouragement of volunteering, and cordially co-operate with any man who may move during the consideration of the estimates for the re-instatc-ment of capitation, and reasonable money grants to volunteers. In this category I class the payments which have been hitherto made to the Waikato Cavalry Volunteers, and if my efforts should be unattended with success, it must be attributed rather to my inability than to any want of desire to perform the task. (Applause.) The, meeting then separated, with a yote of thanks <to the Captain for presiding.

A movement is on f«wt at Qaraaru for the formation of a'trooji of cavalry.