A MILITARY JUBILEE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2400, 15 January 1909, Page 5

A MILITARY JUBILEE.

TARANAKI RIFLES’ FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY.

STRIKING AND PATHETIC CEREMONIES,

[Press Association.]

NEW 'PLYMOUTH. Jan. 11

There was a unique gathering at the Brill Hall last night-. when a dinner and social gathering to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the formation of the Taranaki Rifles eventuated. The function was largely -attended. among those present being members or the corps when originally formed, veterans who isa w service with Hie militia during the Maori troubles, members <>f -South African contingents, borough councillors, and citizens interested in the volunteer movement.

1 lie Rifles have a history of which July company might justly feel proud, and it was'fitting that its jubilee should be marked by so memorable a__ gathering. The original members'or tiro rifles first began their drill under Alajor Lloyd, in 1858, but it was not- until the following rear that the company was actually proclaimed. By commencing drilling in 1858, Tatfinkai was the- first province of New Zealand to move in the matter of raising a volunteer corps, but in the intervening months to 1859 Auckland followed, and to the latter province belongs the distinction of having the first-t volunteer corps officially proclaimed. Prior to the commencement of the toast list. Bugler Okcv sounded the did b ugle call of the company, after which Captain Bellringer read the original roll call, which was answered to by the following : Lieut. AicKellar, Corporal Bertrand, Drummer Lawrence, Privates Barley, Black, Carrick, lvelly. Messenger, Aiorshead, and Webster. Apologies had been received from .Sergeant Free. Privates G. X. Curtis. R. A'. Greenwood, Kk. Yeale, and Captain iStandish. The veterans present, were each greeted with hearty applause as they -rose in answer to their names. There was a large and representative -gathering of the military, including Colonel Robin. C. 8., who, replying to the roast of the Army and Navy, said that, the f.uixi’iary .’forces and volunteers in New Zealand were a great deal more efficient than the general- public gave them credit for being. Just as fifty years ago it was said that- Taranaki was defenceless, they -were often told that New Zealand was defenceless today, but-should the call come again, as it might and probably woufd, Taranaki volunteers and volunteer corps throughout the Fun pi re would prove, as Taranaki volunteers did fifty years ago. that they were able to defend -- their country.

The colors of the old corps, with the motto ‘‘Primus in Armis,” the Taranaki Rifles having been the first volunteer company in the Empire on active service, occupied a prominent position in the decorations. One of the most pathetic ceremonies ever witnessed in New Plymouth took place this afternoon, when the remains of twenty-one of Taranaki’s carlv settlors, militia find regulars, men who took part in the Alaori -wars, and several of whom were killed in action', -were removed from the old Catholic burial ground in the centre of the town, where they had reposed for the last- half-century, to Te Hciiili cemetery, for ire-interment. The bodies were identified by name plates, etc., -which were in a good stateof preservation. Many of the remains revealed tomahawk and hulfet wounds received in battle at the Wiairau massacre and the battle of Waireka.