The distribution of prizes woo at the annual Rifle Meeting of the 8. V, took place in the Town Hall last night. There was a very large attendance, not only of volunteers, bat also of the public of both sexes, The prizes were set out in fall view of the spectators, apon table of the font ofthe platform pon the staircase platform, and the Town 14. played lively selections of masic whil wore assembling, and daring the interes! that preceded the concert.
On the platform were Mr. and Mrs Mesera, H. A. J. Macray, Colonel Brace, It. man, and Captain Collyer.
Colonel! Barnes introduced the Eh: man of the Council with the remark that as Civil Commandant of the Corps Mr. Landale desired to eay a fow words to the volunteers before the distribution of prizes, Mr. D. Landale—Beforo I refer to matters connected with the recent Riffe Meeting I would like to thank the Corps for the assistance they have rendered the police in the recent distar-fal bances. I must congratulate Colonel Barnes and all of you on the smart, may in which you responded to the call to tarn out. Onur mobilizing arrange-manta seemed to work perfectly smoothly. I think I must take this opportunity of saying a word for the Police, They are often criticised, but I think the ratepayers have every reason to be satisfied with the way in which Colonel Bruce bandied matters when the first sign of disorder appeared and he undoubtedly prevented it fepreading (Applause). I am sare all respectable Chinese residents reoogaize Bronze Cross was won by Bombardier Conlon of the Artillery. This year Singapore won the Interport Rifle Match which with a score of 968.
Shanghai's score was 962, and both of these scores were records, but I think it advantage of occasions of this kind. is high time that Shanghai won this In order that there shoald be no' match, I am also glad to hear that misunderstanding I must tell you that the general work of the Corpa is very your Drill Hall has not been forgotten, satisfactory, Several parades at night the matter is now in the bands of were held daring the summer, and the special committes of the Council and attendance was very good. The strength receiving their earnest attention, of the Corps on January 1 was 970 General Broadwood's advice that th it ie 1,010 now (ap; bauding to be of real nse must be in On the invitation of the Commandant central position cannot be set aside Mis. Landale then proceeded to dis-by the Council, Bat it entails the tribute the prizes, a task that occupied question of reconstructing the Central considerable time, there being over Offices avery expensive seventy prize-winners, basines and one which can only be Colonel Barnes, on behalf of the carried out very gradually. We hope the 8. V.C. thanked Mrs, Landale very Special Committee's labours, however, much for distributing the prizes aod will enable us to lay some scheme before asked ber, on behalf of the Corps, to the ratepayers at their anooal meeting accept what the reporters would probig. While on the subject of ably describe asa small floral tribute (in committees you as our fighting this case a large bouquet of roses). The ill, Tam sure, be glad to Commandant then proceeded to thank no trath whatever Mame Thue, Mr. Goibara, and the other ished in some of the artistes who had kindly consented to aesist Special Committee of at the concert, and also all those firms hich recently had rather and individuals who subscribed to the long meeting with the representatives Prize Fond. Apparently there hed of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, been rome little doubt as to what the had climbed down, The object of that Rifle Meeting existed for. Sor meeting seems to bare been misunder-peared to think it was for the stood; it was not to discuss the by-laws: ment, aod possibly the enrichun recently passed by the Ratepayers, but the fe to try and arrive at some method of was glad to think that the subsoriba's plague prevention to the Prize Fond realized it. Subscrimeasures considered necessary by the bers had come forward in large num-Officer with as little bers {becanse it was their opinion that ition as possible and with the the 8, V. ©. Meeting ought to be ce-operation of or Chinese fellow devoted to the farthering of the residents, By the substitution of for-efficiency of the Corps. For that reason 72, Ladies as Inspectors instead of they had decided, this year, to insist men we succeeded in settling the vexed upon tests to prove not only that men dJanestion of house-to-house tion were good shots, bat that they wore also aod at the same time complying with good marksmen, and there was all the the Health Officer's requirements. Those difference between the two. He thought Ladies who have undertaken the work that the subscribers would be glad to 'a very deep debt of gratitude see that there were many new names from the whole community, on the Prize List this year, and if come of the older and better-known names were Before I sit down I feel I must refer absent it was their owo fault, as well to the loss the Corps have sustained by misfortune. The competitors had the Bi Clarke. pes—into——and he the Muvicipal Gazette, record of Voied his biography mone tal bee 5 "great success, everyone would agree that this
lan tary service of which any man might Colonel Barnes then thanked Mr. be lastly proud, We all regret his re-Landale for his appreciative remarks. tirement. He has shown a fine example The Council bad shown its appreciation to the youth of this place which I hope: of the recent work of the Corps in a very will not be lost upon them. (Applause). practical manner by giving him suthor-I am glad to bear from Colonel ity to order arai costa for the Corps. Barnes that the entries for this year's (Land applause). No doubt there were Rifle Meeting were a record (Applanse). people in Shanghai who scoffed at the The Companies that were most success-recent work of the 8.V.O. and said that Company, who won its efforte were wasted. Bat no-one could prizes, followed closely say what might have happened daring ith twenty-four: the recent disturbances if the Volanteers prizes (Applause), snd the Reserve had not been called out and shown Company with nineteen, The Toterthemeelres ready for every emergency. Company Shield was won in May by Prevention was better than care, and pro-the Reserve Company and in October: bably those who were the first to scoff by " B" Ca,, who also won the Novice's at the Volanteers would sise be the Cap in October. The N. R, A. Medal first to call out for thi was won by Sapper Young of the Volanteers or the Police Engineer Ao., the 8.V.C. Gold Cross interfered with in any way, was won by Private Licde of "B" clusion, Colonel Barnes stated that he Ca,, the Silver Cross was won by Pri-was proud to be in command of ench a vote Large of the Reserve Ca., and the ready and loyal Corps (Applause),
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.