FORMATION OF A RIFLE CORPS AT BASINGSTOKE.
MEETING IN THE TOWN HALL.
On Wednesday a meeting for the purpose of considering the propriety of forming a rifle corps for Basingstoke and neighbourhood was held at the Town Hall. The attendance was not very large. The Mayor (R. S. Hulbert, Esq.) occupied the chair, and there were also present W. W. Beach, Esq., M.P., W. W. Chute, Esq., Revs. J. Blatch, M. Harrison, and J. Joyce (Stratfieldsaye), Messrs. W. Challis, G. Lamb, J. May, H. Downs, J. Lamb, Garrett, J. Ford, C. Paice, Soper, Lemon, How, &c. The communication of the Lord Lieutenant, which embodies the government circular of May 25th, gives directions as to the number and localities of the corps that may be formed in Hampshire, as follows:— To be Artillery Companies: 1 Portsmouth, 2 Southampton. 3 Gosport, 4 Lymington, 5 Christchurch, 6 Fareham. To be Rifle Corps: 1 Winchester, 2 Lyndhurst, 3 Romsey, 4 Ringwood, 5 Fordington, 6 Stockbridge, 7 Andover, 8 Whitchurch, 9 Kingsclere, 10 Basingstoke, 11 Odiham, 12 Alton, 13 Alresford, 14 Bishops Waltham, 15 Petersfield, 26 Havant. The formation of these corps is to be reported to the Clerk of the Lieutenancy, recommending officers, stating rules, regulations, and funds subscribed, which will then be laid before the Lord Lieutenant, and submitted to the Secretary of State.
The Mayor stated that a short time ago he received a communication from the Lord Lieutenant of the county calling upon him to endeavour, if possible, to form a volunteer rifle corps in Basingstoke. The council was first consulted, and they desired that a public meeting should be called, as they felt that it could not be entirely done by them, there being several names mentioned, and it is thought to be the wish of the Lord Lieutenant that they should be called on to assist them. Hence the meeting was called, and he should have been glad to see a more numerous attendance. It was not for him to go into the whole matter as to the policy of it, but he had no doubt many of them would remember that a short time ago, since the idea of forming a rifle corps originated, a very high authority had stated that every gentleman should understand the use of firearms. There were no doubt some objections and many advantages connected with it, but he would read to them that portion of the circular which bore on the object of their meeting, and having done so, he remarked that the only difficulty was that of obtaining suitable ground for practice, which he had been unable to find; still if they felt it necessary that a corps should be established, it would be his duty, as far as he could, to provide some suitable site for them. He would leave the matter in the hands of those gentlemen who understood the subject, and who had resolutions to submit to them.
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