THE GISBORNE RIFLES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2204, 30 May 1908, Page 3

THE GISBORNE RIFLES.

annual smoke social.

A SUCCESSFUL RE-UNION.

The annual smoko concert and presentation of prizes in ■connection with tho Gisborne Rifles took placo in Mr. Dustin's rooms last night. Captain Deere presided, and was suoported by His' Worship the Mayor (Mr. AY. D. Lysnar), Lieut. C. Ilellier Evans (E.C.M.R.), and Lieut. A. T. Coleman. An excellent supper was provided, and at the conclusion, Captain Deere, on behalf of tho Gisborno Rifles, welcomed the visitors, and announced that apologies had been received from Colonel Winter and Captain Warren, who both regretted their inability to 'attend. The toast of ‘‘The King” having been accorded musical ' honors, His Worship tho Mayor, who was received with acclamation, said that •a most important toast had been entrusted to him—that of “Tho Army and Navy.” “Wo had,” lie said, “an army and navy which had never been beaten, blit it was necessary for them, as soldiers, to always bo ready lor any occasion that might arise.” Ho hold that the colonial troops had always compared favorably with tho English forces, as far as they had been tried. His Worship gave'a most interesting account of a visit to the '• Japanese flagship, during his recent stay in Wellington. Ho congratulated the Rifles on the excellence of their gathering,' and said that ho had much pleasure in boior/and .in being asked to toast- of “The Army and Navy. Major AlcCredie, in responding, gave a very interesting review of volunteering in the early days. He well remembered tho time in 1857 when he himself had carried tho old ‘‘Drown Dess.” The Army and Navy had, at all times, simply done their duty, and ho had no doubt that it would bo done again should occasion arise. Ho was also certain that when . that time did arrive tho auxiliary forces would once more respond to tho call to arms. On behalf of the Army and Navy ho thanked them for the cordial manner in which they had received tho toast. Lieut. A. T. Coleman proposed tho toast of “Our Comrades in Anns,” remarking that their closest comrades were the East Coast Mounted Rifles and the Gisborno Cadets. They must not forget, liowovcr, that all who wore tho King’s uniform were tlieir “comrades in arms,” and ho would ask those present, while drinking tho toast ,to remember their comrades in far-off India, who were at present fighting thoro for the honor of the Empire. Lieut. Evans (E.C.M.R.), and Mr. Redward (Gisborno Cadots) responded.

Captain Deere said that Mr.. Redward was indeed a truo comrade in arms. He (tho speaker) had had the benefit of Mr. ltedward’s assistance in years gone by, and lio stated that if one-tenth of the residents were of tho same spirit, tho Rifles would be. different body to-day. -The toast of “Tho City Fathers” was proposed by Lieut. Somervell, of the Cadets, who stated that they were all looking forward to a time of progress under His Worship the Mayor, whose name- ho would couple with the toast.

His Worship replied, and sakl that ho could hardly agree with the statement that had been made, that the City Fathers had been asleep in the past. .They were not perhaps getting on as well as they might, but he did not blame them so much as ho did' the people. They had always returned the Council, and it was only to be exjiected that they had been satisfied. It was, however, most instructive and helpful to him to notice that the people were beginning to realise that they wanted “shaking up.” Progress would come, hut it would take time, and could only be done through the burgesses of the town. If they would take a lively interest in municipal matters, affairs would, undoubtedly progress. It was not, ho said, possible for the local bodies to spoil this town, but they could easily retard its progress, and there were at present some people who simply shuddered at the mere mention of a loan for improvements. He looked to the younger membors of the community for supoprt, and if they would watch and help tho town could bo lifted a great step forward. It was only a question of administration, and lie hoped that when the next meeting of the Rifles came round it could not be said that the City Fathers had been asleep. (Applause.) At this stage Captain Deere asked Lieut. Evans, of tlio East Coast Mounted Rifles, to present the Teams Cup presented to the Poverty Day Rifle Association by Mr. Arthur Hutchinson. Tho cup was won by Sergeant Rait’s team, consisting of Sergeants Itait and Breingan, Corporal Lyford,and Privates Hingston and Allen. This is the fourth occasion on which a team from tho Gisborne Rifles has won tho cup. In asking His Worship tho Mayor to present the other prizes, Captain Deere said that he would like to remark that the Corps did not get sufficient support from the public. There Were many ways in which the public might help, by "presenting a trophy, or in some other way.;The time might come when the force would be wan--

ted, and the first people to cry out would be those who now laughed at them, and declined to support them. Tho Mayor then proceeded to distribute the other prizes as follows: Champion Belt, and cheque presented by Lieut. Coleman, Sergeant Rait; Private iScliiop, books presented by Mr. Hawley for the handicap competition; Sergt. Taylor, trophy presented by Color-Sergt. Cave;Sergt. Rait and Corporal Hyam, trophies presented by Captain Beere; ColorSergeant Scott and team, prize for sectional firing. A numbor of other small cash prizes were presented, and at tho conclusion His Worship stated that he -would like to suggest to the Corps that an active canvass of the town for donations -and prizes he made. , , , . . Other toasts honored during the evening were “Tho Prize W inners, proposed by Captain Beere; ‘ the City Band,” proposed by Lieutenant Evans, and responded to by Mr. A. Young; “The Visitors,” proposed by Color-Sergt. Scott, and responded to by Messrs McClymont and Grieve; “The Ladies,” proposed by Quartermaster Sergt. Williams, and responded to by Surgeon-Captain Schumacher; “The Press,” proposed by Lieut. Mitchell, and roamnded to by the rcMpnesonta lives ‘Jhe Cliaiiman,” proposed by His Worship “io Mayor, and responded to by Captain Beere. During the evening songs wore contributed by Messrs Trent, McClyr inoiit, Grieve, Macliell, Corpoial .1. nt- ' chard, Lance-Corporal Fielder, Lieut. Mitchell and Bugler Tate. Hesitations were given by La nce-C orporal I a rues and Private Whinray, and a pianoforte solo by Surgeon-Captain Schumacher. , ... Lieut. Mitchell was most assiduous in his attention to tho wants o everybody, and a most successful gathering terminated about midnlgh with tho singing of An Id Lan„ Syne.”