On Tuesday afternoon a numerous company resembled in the Masonic Hall to witness the distribution of prizes to the successful competitors xt the Autumn Rifle Meeting The hall was tastefully decorated with flowers, f ys, und trophi arranged by Sergeant Dallas, of the El gineers, and Private Gould, of B" Com. pany, whilst "lively selection by the Band added ty the gaiety of the surrounding Mr. Scott, the Chat Hf the Mun Council, we Civil Comuran occupied the Chair, having om his immediate right Mrs. Wetmore, who distributed the prizes, next to her being her husband.
The Chairman opened the proceedings by announcing that Mrs, Wetmore had consented to haud the prizes to the fortunate competitors. Their very best thanks were due to her for consenting to undertake the duty, She had lived amongst them for ituny years, und they were doubly pierised tu welcome her xs the wife of one of the earliest of the Volunteers and fellow-residents, He (the Chairman) would only say, in' complimenting those who had won the prizes that he thought they might be called the backbone of the force, and if the occasion should arise they might be counted upon to make continuous bull's-eyes upon the force to which they might be opposed. (Hear, hear).
Drs, Wetmore then handed the the winners. The winners of the first and second Ladies! prizes were loudly cheered, and with " few well-chosen sentences they handed the prizes they had won to the indies whom they had represented. Captain Wasserfall, as he led his team from the mu pany to receive the prize for volley-firing was algo heartily greeted. At the conclusion of the distribution Captain Brodie Clarke handed a very handsome bouquet to Mre, Wetmore.
Captain Linoing in proposing a vote of tinnks to the Indies for their atteudance, and particularly to Mrs. Wetmore for presenting the prizes, ssid the Shanghai Volunteer Corps was indebted to the ladies in many ways. The Indies liberally subscribed to prizes which were ¢ meted for more keenly than any others on the list, and they graced with their presence the gatherings of the Corps, He might mention that he hoped at the next training to be able to present to the community a nice little Company of new Volunteers, numbering some 20 er 25 files, and he hoped by that time they would be able to turn out and drill without being ashamed of themselves, even in front of the German Company, of whom they were all so proud (cheers), The new Company he alluded to was composed of boys who were learning their drill, and he was quite sure that, would be one additional link between the Volunteers and the ladies—all these years they had had sweethearts and husbands in the Corps, now they could have children (cheers). He asked them to give three cheers for the lad (Lhe cheers were heartily given, accompanied by a tiger.")
Lieut. Wedemeyer, in the course of a humorous little speech, responded on behalf of the Indies, Oxptnin Brodie Clarke proposed a vote of thanks to the visitors for the interest they lad evinced in the Volunteers their wtrendance that afternoon, coupling with it the june of Captain Noreock, of Captnin Norcuck, in response, expressed on behalf of the visitors and himself their pleasure at being asked ty participate in ceremony. He congratulated the community upon possessing such an efficient body of Volunteers, and assured them of the ce-operation of the Navy whenever required, in either peace or war.
Surgeon-Major Henderson proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman, which being carried and duly xckuowledged brought the proceedings ty a close.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.