A new departure hus been made this season in the mode of distributing the prizea which have been won by successful competitors at the recent Autumn Prize Meeting. This new departure is an improvement and may have an influence in inducing some of the young men in the Settlements who are not at present Volunteers, to join the Corps, for the scene at the Masoni¢ Hall on Wednesday where the prizes were distributed was calculated to fire the hearts of the young men to become the possessors of handsome uni and to desire to receive handsome prizes at the hands ut charming ladies.
The main lodge room of the Masonic Hall was hung with flags and decorated with shrubs. On the dais at the upper end of the room was the Volunteer motte surrounded by bristling bayonets, and in front of the Chairman's table was the Incer-Company Challenge shield, while on tables were placed the many prizes that were to be distributed. On the right of the Chairman eat Mrs. Morrison, who had kindly consented to give away the prizes, and Mr. N. J. Hannen, B.M.'s Consul-General, white on the left were Major Holliday, the the late Com-volunteer Corps. Several ladies also occupied seats on the platform, while all the seats in the body of the room were filled by guests and Volunteers, the various uniforms of the latter avtting off the more sombre attire of the guests, The proceedings opened by the Band in the organ loft striking up a lively tune, and when this ceased Mr. J. G. Purdon, the Chairman, as Civil' Commandant of the Volunteers, anid:—Ladies, Gentlemen, Mxjor Holliday and Volunteers. On rising and facing such an assemblage as this, I feel what I suppose a recruit feels when first advancing under fire, that if there were a tree or hedge near I would like to sovk shelter under it, but I suppose it would be a bad example even in a Civil Commandant. And I will have to do what he would have to do, face it and go on. This is a meeting for the distribution of prizes for the Autumn Rifle compaitiony wut T will not forestall any remarks that no doubt the fair donor will make upon the efficiency of the winners as she presents the well earned prizes, but merely say a few words as to the whole corps, We are a commanity, the smallest self-governing one that I know of, and, alas, many of us have passed the age when " uniform was an attraction and soldiering a delight, so that when it is remembered that all are busy men, it is exceedingly creditable that there are 80 many who do give their time to their Volunteer di I am not competent to pass an pinion on the effcienoy of the Jorps in the matter of military manceuvres, but I do know that there is no body of men anywhere who have more will to do whatever may be required of them, or more courage to carry it out than the Shanghai Volu We hope and pray that they may not be called upon to defend this Settlement, but we rest assured that if they are they will be all there. There may have been some who have cavilled at the expense the Corps involves, but 1 believe that almost the entire sentiment of the community now is that it is money well spent, and that Shanghai has reason to be proud of its Volunteers. I will now ask Mrs, Morrison to kindly present the prizes.
Major Holliday then introduced the various prize winners to Mrs. Morrison who presented the prizes with afew words of encouragement to each, The recipients were loudly cheered as their names were called and on receiving their awards, showing that there was no lack of esprit de among the members. Pie pited had been distributed Captain W. D. Little, "A" Ca. on behalf of the Corps, said it was his very pleasint daty to propose a vote of thanke to the Indies. He said they always took great interest in the Volunteers which th showed by their interest in the competitions. their presence at the present meeting and by their readiness to subscribe towards the prizes. He was sure that the winners would always remember thnt they had received their prizes at the hands of the wife of the late popular commander of the Cor Major Morrison said that aa one of the youngest men in the room, the duty devolved upon him to reply for the Indies. The ladies always did and always would take an interest in the Shanghai Volunteer Corps. They know that if any trouble threatened, the Volunteers would be always to the front and do their best.
wu last summer which was a ime of trouble, when many new members joined the Corps. The shouting competitions at the ranges was one of the things that held the corps together more than anything else. The members had to attend at the range in all weathers, and at a good deal of personal inconvenience at times, which showed that they were possessed of determination. The ladies would always be happy to grace any entertainment like the present, and he thanked the corps on behalf of his wife and the other Indies for the vote of thanks that had been accorded them.
Major Holliday proposed x vote ut thanks to be visitors. He said that if the Volu tears had any grievances,—though he di not know of any—it was certainly not a Jack of interest on the part of the community, The ladies subscribed to the competitions, the banks and stores closed on field days and interest was taken in the corps on other ways. He thanked the visitors for attending the present function.
Mr. N. J. Hannen said he was called upon to reply for the visitors. All in Shanghai had to sincerely thank the Volunteers. He had found that during the unsettled state of atfai last summer, there was not any alarm felt, because the community knew they could depend upon the Volunteers. They knew that Shanghai was safe when protected by those who had won such prizes as had just been distributed.
Captain B. A. Clarke, of the Artillery, proposed a vote a thanks to Mr. Purdon, the Civil Commandant of the Volunteers. He knew from his personal experience that Mr. Purdon gave great attention to the Volunteers, always taking up anything for the interests of and doing all he could for the Corps.
The following is the list of winners and their prizes Gunner Murphy, Ist Ladies' Prize, for Mrs. T. J. Rowland, Ist Competitor's Prize in the Ladies' Prize Competition, Ist Battalion Prize, and 2nd File Prize (one-half).
Driver Bourke, The Gold Cross, 2nd Morrison Challenge Trophy Prize, and The Municipal Challenge Cup.
Lieutenant Rex, The Morrison Challenge Trophy and 4th Haikuan Prize.
Battery Sergeant-Major Cameron, Ist Tricolour Prize, Corporal Wilson, Ist File Prize (one-half), 2nd Tricolour Prize, and 3rd Battalion Prize, 'The Volley Firing Prize. The Artillery Team, 2 Silver Cups Bombardier Rowland, Ist File Prize (one-half), and 4th Griffins' Aggregate Prize.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.