Company wae held on Monday. Captain Rice occupied the chair, and there were about twenty members present.
The Cuainuan said the object of the meeting was to bring up the question of Drill. "Last year when the Rules were drawn up, one was included bearing very stringently on attendance at drill, but fortunately or fortunately it was not carried out by the committee, During the first six months however the Company drilled fairly, but during the last six the attendance had been very bad, and at the parade the other day only 25 out of 50 turned out, though he saw some active members among the spectators, Under these circumstances it became a question whether they should keep up the military organisation or not. The list of members lately made up gave about 45 on whom they could count—the limit was 60, but the incessant changes consequent on residence in Shanghai kept it down considerably below the complement. What he had now to submit to the meeting, was a proposal from Captain Whyte of H. M.S. Cadmus, who kindly offered to allow a sergeant, up in the new drill, to vive the Company the benefit of professional instruction twice a week, vas proposed that members should pledge themselves to turn out on those occasions or pay fine, As a Company they should cither driller disband. (Applause)
After a fow gonoral remanrka reyarding'a scheme which set forth the offer made by Captain Whyte, in which members were asked to pledge themselves to take ndvantage of it in the meantime to the extent of ten drills, or submit to a fine of $1 for absence from ench Mr. Groom said the difficulty hitherto had been to get aman to teach the new drill, and to get the Company to drill together. Some said, why should they turn out with men who did not know anything of drill? By taking advantage of the opportunity made by Captain Whyte and all attending the ten drills suggested, the Company would become efficient, while any who neglected to do this should be eliminated from its ranks. Lhe ie had now come to do either one thing or another, to attain some degree of efficiency or to disband. At present it was a farce, scarcely half the men turning out; but they had 40 to 45 on their roll who might be reckoned on with the opportunity which now offered, and if the Company worked as it should they might do creditably, Otherwise ho yoted that they should disband and each individually make his own arrangement as to military duty.
The Cuarrman said, with regard to the old rule fixing penalties for non-attendance at drill, perhaps the Committee had been a little lax, but they all knew how difficult it was to enforce discipline with volunteers, Lately there had been four drills, and not only that but very bad attendance.
Mr. Macerucor thought if they had drill with a proper sergeant, the men would turn out.
Several members suggested that the old rule regarding non-attendance should be
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.