THE NEW ZEALAND BOUGH RIDERS.

A SUCCESSFUL REUNION

Last Easter, when the first reunion of the Third Contingent—the New Zealand Rbugh Ridere-wae held in this city, Mr Gco. G. Stead invited themembers of the contingent to celebrate their eeoond reunion at a dinner to bo given by him. On that occasion the invitation was accepted wifli enthusiasm, the members of the contingent recogni/ring that by this means Mr Stead, who, ac treasurer of the Canterbury War Fnnd Committee, had a great deal to do not only with suggesting the raising of a rough ridors' contingent, but also with the actual work of equipping and despatching it, d«iired to honour the men who' ably and nobly sustained the honour of New Zealand in the South African war. On Thursday night at tho Alexandra Hall (Canterbury Hall) tho function took place, and despite the fact that many who had said they would come were, at tho laet moment, unable to attend, there was a largo gathering of the contingent. His Excellency tho Governor, his aide-do-camp. Captain Bingham, and a number of the members of tho Canterbury War Fund Committee were also tho gueste of Mr Stead. The hall was tastefully decorated with bunting, and tho well-appointed tables were artist'cally arranged with tho idea of making matters ac little formal as possible. At the head table the Chairman (Mr Goo. G. Stead) had on his right his Excellency tho Governor, Mr W. Recce (Chairman of the War Fund Committee), Mr Geo. Humphreys, Mr W. H. Triggs, Mr W. G. Stead, and Major Lindsay; and on the Chairman's loft were Colonel Joweey (who commanded the contingent), Captain Bingham, Colonel Slater ,and Mr G. L. Stead. Apologiew for absence wore received from Captain R. Heaton Rhodes, M.H.R., Lieutenant G. E. Rhodes,

Trooper McFadden, and other troopere. An excellent dinner was served, during which story and joke were passed from table to table. The greatest good comradeship was ehown, and though there were many signs of high epirite, they never degenerated into undue boieterousnesa. The toast of "His Majesty, the King," proposed by the Chairman, was honoured with enthusiasm. Mr Goo. G. Stead said: In proposing the health of his Excellency the Governor, I feel every confidence in assuring him that you are very proud to have the honour of his presence hero this evening. (Applause.) Although Lord Pmnket has only been in the colony some ten months, ho has already travelled over much of the country from Auckland to tho Bluff. Hβ has also made it clear that he takes a great interest in the colony'e welfore, and that he is rapidly making himself acquainted with existing commercial and social conditions. Bnt, in addition to taking the keenest interest in the serious side of life, ho takes s warm interest in our pastimes and our pleasures, and he is an ardent motorist. sad a most successful fisherman ana deerstalker. Like all Imperial Statesmen, hie Excellency doubtless realises that colonial troops may prove a very great assistance to the Mother Country in time of trouble, and in this view I have ventured to invite him here tonight, that he may see for himself tho physique and stamp of men that have already done yeoman service for the Empire, and if the need arises a similar ■tamp of men will be again forthcoming. (Applause.) I am sure I am justified in stating that his Excellency can assure the Imperial Government that New Zealand is loyal to the core, and can be depended upon in time of need for her last man to help to'keep the old flag flying. As you are aware, Lord Plunket comes from Ireland, a country that has produced some of the greatest Generals and finest soldiers the world has ever known. (Continued applause.) The toast was honoured with enthusiasm, the contingent's war cry being given rousingly. A few bare of " The Wearin , of the Green" were given on the piano. His Excellency, who was received with cheers and applause, said: "Mr Stead and gentlemen. I can assure you I feel it a great honour and a great privilege, besides being a duty, to be here this evening. As the representative of his Majesty the King, it is very clearly a duty that I should take any opportunity of expressing the appreciation of those at Home to those from overseas, who helped ue when that help was really valuable. (Applause.) But, gentlemen, I look at n from another point ot view. It has been gently insinuated to you that I aro an Irishman, and I look at it from the point of view of us Irish, who. as you know, are the most disloyal people on the face of the Empire. (Cries of " No. no.") There is rather an interesting way of putting our loyalty and disloyalty in the form of a story which actually occurred in Ireland. A mihtia regiment from the South of Ireland filled with most violent disloyalty, and a certain amount of whisky—(Laughter)—were going by train to Dublin, en route for South Africa. They started rrom Tipperary singing 'God Save Ireland, , and ejaculating ' To h— with the King "— (Laughter.) They santr that all along till they reached the middl© of Ireland, varying it now and then with calls for 'Throe cheers for Kruger,' to which they themselves responded vociferously. All went well till at onestation a red-headed porter joined in their disloyal cries by shouting: Hurrah, God save Kruger," whereupon the whole regiment dashed out on the platform and nearly killed the porter. (Laughter.) That rather well described our Irish view of disloyalty. I am notgoing to bore you on an occasion like this by making anything in the nature of a political speech. I thank you sincerely for the enthusiastic way you have drunk my health and received mc. I understand that the Third Contingent was for a time under General Hutton in South Africa, and that reminds mc of an anecdote regarding that officer. A compatriot of mine had been detected in a very serious crime, that no doubt all the Contingent members present had the greatest abhorrence of—he had exchangod his horse for one belonging to an Imperial regiment, and escaped somehow by the skin of his teeth. Afterwards he was heard saying to a friend of hia, "If the devil doesn't take General Hutton, what's the good of a devil at allP" (Laughter.) Cheers were given for his Excellency, and the war cry was repeated. In proposing " The Roll of Honoured Dead," Mr W. Recce said that at these gatherings, where the feelings of cameraderie were promoted between the members of the Third Contingent and those who assisted in sending them off, there always must be, though the main object was to have a happy time, a twinge of sadness, inasmuch as if the roll were called, many who left Christchurch on a memorable occasion, would not answer to their names. They had done their duty, had left their homes, had fought and died, and there was nothing more that a man could do than to lay down his life for his King and country. The sentiment was honoured with due solemnity. Colonel Jowsey, in responding, said the toast was a rather painful one, but he hoped that so long as tho Contingent continued to ineot, cither annually or otherwise, it would be a toast that

would never be forgotten. (Hear, hear.) Tho=e who had given their lives in Sonth Africa had been young fellows, equally good as those present, and had done all that a man could do, and had given all they could for their country. The least they could do was to drink their health. It was some satisfaction to the friends of those who had done their duty and given all that a man cculd, to know that they were not forgotten. Sergeant-Major Murray then read the roll of honoured dead as follows:— Lieutenants Ryan, Berry, Ross and Bradbourne, Sergeant Russell, Corporals Upton, Parkinson and Tosswill, Troopers Colvin, Moffatt, J. K. Allan, Boyce, Butler, Franks, Morriss, Mclntyre, Perham, Rule, C. E. Smith, T. L. Scott, Sansom, Wiggins, J. T. Anderson, Walters, W. Scott, Hyde and Wright. The toast of "Absent Comrades" was proposed by Bugler Strachan, and was duly honoured. Colonel Slater, on rising to propose tho toast of "Tho Ladies." was received with prolonged cheers. Speaking to tho toast he referred to the good workdone, and the assistance rendered in connection with the equipment and despatch of the contingent, by the ladies of Christchurch, and said he knew they had never forgotten Mrs Rhodes—(applause)—and all she had done for them at camp. The toast was drunk with musical honours and cheers for Mrs Rhodes. Sergeant-major Pleasants responded in a brief speech. Bugler Thorn proposed the health ot "Our Hast," and said that when he was younger he used to judge a man by the rations he provided—(laughter)—and judging their host by tho same staiidard ho would say that Mr Stead was a jolly good fellow. (Applause.) Mr Stead set an example in patriotism and generosity they could all well copy. Every member of the contingent who had replied to the circular inviting them to bo present had written appreciating Mr Stead's generous invjtation, nnd wishing him every success. (Applause.) Hβ was sure that all present •echoed those sentiments.

Tho toast was drunk with musical honours. The chairman was received with long-continued applause on rising to respond. Mr Stead said he was exceedingly gratified at the manner in which the toast was supported and proposed.' As they knew, the members of the "War Fund Committeo had put their heart into the work of equipping and despatching tho contingent to South Africa. They had been actuated by their love of country in doing the work, and had never felt prouder than on that sixteenth day or February, 1900, when they saw the contingent depart in the Knight Templar. They then realised that they were despatching from the colony one of tho finest and healthiost bodies of men ever sent from this part of the world. They had felt proud of the country, and had felt sure that the contingent would do deeds that would redound to the credit of the colony. Sergeant-Major Murray had read out the names of tho honoured dead, and even ho (tho 'speaker), who had taken a keen interest in tho contingent, had failed to realise the large number of those who died out of the small number despatched from the colony. That list, however, bore eloquent testimony to tho bravo manner in which the contingent had dono its duty. He would never fail to look back with interest to the part he had taken in assisting to despatch the contingent to South Africa. (Applause.) Dr. Levinge proposed the toast of "The Presa," and referred to the interest with which all had read of the doings of tho contingent as chronicled from time to time in the newspapers. Mr W. H. Triggs and Mr Mort. Davie responded, the latter, in some reference to the training camp at Addington, stating that Captain Stevenson had distinguished himself perhaps more than any other in the contingent. (Applause.) During the ovening several songs wero sung, Mr R. J. Hobbs playing the accompaniments. The catering was admirably done by Freeman's, Ltd. At the conclusion of the gathering Mr Stead was cheered ac he left the hall. An informal meeting of tho contingent was held afterwards, at which it was decided that tho next reunion should be held at Wanganui, or such other place as the Wanganui section of the contingent decided upon, the organising arrangements being left with Sergeant-Major Pleasante. The members of the contingent present at the gathering were : —Colonel Jowsey, Sergeant-Majors Ensor, Pleafiante, Neave and Paton, Sergeants Richards, Ellison and Graham, Corporals Strachan, Egglcston. and Harper, Troopers Knight, Hoaeley, Roberts, Tubman, Poulton, Kelcher, Richardson, Willcox, Derrett, Bennett, Jackson, Gill, W. Cook, A. C. Cook, Mill, Wheeler, Rose, McDonald, Scott, W. T. Scott, Harper, Dorn, Tillyehort, Cross, Murray, and Buglers Thorn and Syme.