GISBORNE RIFLES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2187, 11 May 1908, Page 1

GISBORNE RIFLES.

THE ANNUAL MEETING. Tile annual meeting of the above, corps was held in Townley’s Hall on Friday evening. There was a fair muster of members, Captain Beere presiding. The following table was submitted giving u comparison of the finances for the last two years, the 190 G-7 term being within parenthesis in each case: Receipts: Capitation (1906-7, £100), 1907-8, £lll 7s 3d; cash iubauk (nil), £4l l-5s sd; daylight parades (£22 7s'(kl), £ls Os Gd;gdonations (£5). £2 2s sd. Expenditure: Uniforms (190 G-7, £29 16s Gd), 1907-8, £95 10s; range. (£l7 0s 6d), £l7 2s 9d; cartage (£7 19s), £S 4g; aniiinuiiition (£10), £ls ISs 9d ; camp accounts (£77 19s sd), £22 9s; Trentham (£6 8s), £ls; overdraft (£l9 3s Id),, nil; competitions (nil), £l2 13s. Assets: Uniforms (1900-7, £130), 1907-S, £250; capitation (£156), £146 3s; cash in bank (£44 les od), £5 11s; tents, bags, etc. (nil), £22. Liabilities. (190 G-7, £132 os 9d), 1907-8, £164 Is 8d; balance assets (1906-7, £258 9s 8d), £259 12s 4d. Captain Beere stated that in accordance with the proposal made at last annual meeting by Color-Ser-geant MoKerries, to make the City Band a battalion band, he wrote to headquarters ou the subject, bpt the

answer was’that tho request could not bo granted. , ( Tho balance-sheet was adopted. Captain Deere impressed upon the members of the corps that there was nothing t-o stop them, if they only put their shoulders to the wheel, from getting in a number of weekend camps ; the first was held at Waiiiui some time ago, but unfortunately only a few of the members attended. He pointed out that it was at such camps as these tho alien received real! instruction, and wero given an insight into wliat took place in active service. . The following appointments were made: Secretary, Lance-Corporal Parks; finance committee, Color-Ser-geant -Scott, Sergeant Itait, and the officers; shooting committee, ColorSergeant -Scott, -Sergeants Taylor, Breingaii, and- Itait, Corporal Jrligliam, Privates Kingston and Allen. Captain Beero announced that a comimitteo had been appointed by the officers and non-coms, to arrange- for a social to- be held shortly. -Sergeant Itait, on behalf of the shooting committee, reported that that committee had a credit'balance of £1 13s 10d. There had not been so many competitions during -tlio year as previously; it had been a stack". - year, ■ principally on account of the wet weather. Tho shoot ing had -been fairly good. Sergeant Itait considered it was time the range was declared closed- for tiro winter, as it -was , very sodden. They -had yet one competition to complete -with tho Wa!~ mata Rifle - Club.—Private Allen thought the business done bv tho committee should 10 made known to the corps- more than it had been.--Sergeant -Rait pointed out that the committee used to do that, but they had come to tho conclusion that if members would not take the trouble

to go to the shed it- was no use telling them. Private Alien did not think that was the way to get men interested.

Captain Deere pointed out that if they wauted to bo efficient—to be able to bold their own—every member of the corps should know how to handle a riile. They -had some very good shots in the corps and they only required a little study and -practice. Tliero was no corps, lie stated, that offered such inducements -for shooting as the local one did. That being so, there should bo more interest taken

in the shooting than there was. Captain Bee-re suggested that the older member© should tako the younger ones in hand, and coach them. On behalf of the social committee, Color-Sergeant Scott reported that the receipts during the year (including £6 balance from last year) amounted) to £27 14s Cd. The expenditure -was £25 8s Gd, leaving a balance of £2 Gs. Dealing with general matters, Captain Beero- said ho was glad to see they were -gradually gaining strength, but there was still room for a few more good men. He was very -pleased with the appearance and the way tho men shaped during -Easter, and

lie was well satisfied that tile men could hold tlieir own with any other corps. Referring to parades, Captain Beero said there were a number of members who were regular attendants, and lie suggested that these should speak to the -irregular ones when they met them, and remind them of the jiar.ades. In future when members were away for two parades running, without sending a written application for leave, lie would receivo a letter. The officers were all expected to attend -parades. It was very discourteous for the members to stay aw.ay without at -least sending a reason for not hein-g able to attend. Votes of thanks were accorded the shooting committee, donators of prizes, Sergeant Rait, Lieutenants Coleman and Mitchell, Captain Deere, tho iross, and Staff Sergeant-Major Wiliams.

Quartermaster-Sergeant Williams, -in proposing a' vote- of thanks to Captain Beere, said tlieir captain had been very good,' and worked very hard for the corps, and- it was due to him that the corps was as far forward as it was at tho present time. •Cheers were given for the captain and -lieutenants,. and Captain-Deere thanked tlio members -for the interest they had taken in tlio -work. During tlio evening refreshments were handed round.