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TARANAKI WAR VETERANS.
AW ENJOYABLE KjEUNJLON, Itf was a Happy idea of Captain Standislu's and the committee's to invite Hid Taranaki war veterans to participate in a reunion on Thursday, and the event passed off with gi*eac success. - Veterans from, -all partsof the district attended, -and there was a big 1 - gathering at the B/ewa- Rev a luflc range during <th ( e day, when- & match was fired between teams picked •by Captain Standish and Captain Mace. Despite their trafamiliarity with tlie service -rifle,- and the fact that many of them fljlad not 'handled a gun for ; n*any years, the shooting on the whole was marvellously good, <and much surprised some of the younger generation. To see. man of upwards of fiO, 70, or 80' potting " bulls-eyes-was a treat. On averages the former team won by BJSO to, ,731. The highest goobers, .were ; Mr '-' Tom " Clare '■ '57 points, T. Penwarden 56, H. Newlarad and E. -Lye .53, 0. Oxewbam 51, and J. Pepperill 50. Folio-wing are «fche I scares (ten shots at 200 and five at 300) :— Standish's Team. -^S. Bundle 47, W. ! -Nicholls 49, jr., Pepperill 50, J. Hoskin 23, J. Harvey 12, W. Ev a 37, T. Langman 28,_ W. Humphries 42, R. Langman 41, Peter Martin 22, J. Andrews 40,^. Bundle 30, R>, Baker (over 80) ,34, J. Way % W. King 41, R, Wells. 34, J. Northoote , 25, E. Lye (over 3o.)-. 53; Q.- Captain, Cock 48, T. Penwarden: 56. Total,. 704. • Five men short, and the average brings the score to 880. Mace's Team.— W. B. Davies '45, O. Oxenham 51, M. Carrielc 10. R., Hart 32, J. Kenyan 4, Capt. W. Ncwland 5, H. Newland 53, W. H. Pearn 14, S. Loveridge 14, T. P. Lister 44, A. Veoxn 4,' W. Giddy 49, J. ,o'Donnell 25, F. Oliver 20, T. Mc'Guinness 13, J. C. George 33, B. Bishop 21, J. Crone 34,. T. Mace 28, J. C. Davies 38, C. Oliver 38, T. H. Clare 57, 0. Barribal 40, W. Harrison *A, J. Conway 18; • total 731r - ( <> - —..**-., DINNER AND SOCIAL. TSh-e dininjg-rooffn 'of tlwf Jled! House Hotel /w&s' * crowded 'in 'the evening, when -an excellent dinner successfully crowned the 'day's proceddiargs. The chair was taken by Captaii* Standish (who, is ' President of the Taranaki Association), and the vice-chair by Oapteun Mace. The veterans sported a brave- show ojf medals and deco'tihe ne-^union being one of the racfet representative ever itelds in Taranaki. After the iables had ibeen relieved of tflveir burden, the conijptfamy settled down to 'a sociable evening, aad reminiscences and recollections reigned supreme. After the loyal t-ewfet . the Chairman proposed that oi "The Governor," who *=* S9S 9 President of v tihe i A«9ociation^ ri At ! 'tTxe'call ofOMr'iW'. T. Jennings, M.H.R., -an extra salvo of cheers was <given for the ex-,Gover-nor, Lord Raiffurly, to- whose efforts tho <estajb;liish|m'ent of- the 7V(eteran«' Home in -Auckland was' mainly " due. After a pleasing --selection by Garry's orchestra, Mr T^ Wpodard' sang "The Brave old - Koweeros loi Nte^ Zjeakund'?, in 'admirable style, and v the refrain was tafepn up" <by the / compiany. The woKds are -by Mr' A. B. R. Foofces and' 'fcha setting by >Mr G. Garry. Th« spirited song "took 1 , on" itntaieniMy., and am encore, .was. demanded. ;; '. - Mr S." Hill proposed "The [Veterans?. Association." He expressed his sense of the privilege,, as " he\ had always taken a great interest in the veterans. He thought the defence of Tar ranaki. amongst the best wqrlt , ever done by volunteers and militia, and strongly advocated "the erection ~""oi some suitable memorial to those who took part in the. war. (Appl&us-e). Marsland Hill was an historical spot admirably adapted /or such, a monument, and lie trusted the people ijof the district' would rise to the X 6ccrifeion. People talked about jyhe liatrdshipv; in *Heii back-blocks ncjKv, but what were they compared j^to wfiat the early -pioneers had to »jmde^go. He commended the patter;.' of a '/memorial to Mr W^ , T. Jenning< a vtean'g son, and Mr E. ffll. Smith, w£-o Qvad seen active service. Tliere was a Government fund, he understood, fc)r keeping ..up the old soldiers' graves,, but]. tins did not /go far enough. ... " ' f The old time ''John Brown's Body, with the ''Glory, Glory," chorus, to which • the soldiers marched in the early '"days;: wai struck up by the orchestra./" The ! veter-atis* -Spiritedly took it lip, voice and feet. . Captain Standish, responding for the Association, thanked Mr Hill his remarks, and expressed great plea: sure at such, a large attendance for the day's event. Referring! to the ntle shooting that •day he said he was de-. lighted -at . the scores, which would show t/hat the old hands had to be reckoned wi-tin. He asked 1 every veteran to join thu Association to show their old interest in their old comrades'in -arms. The subscription was, only 5s a yea*, -and. as a united body they .were able to get certain concessions, ' which they woxild not gei infclxvpcdually. In this connection he thiankckl Mr Smith for his efforts in getting them ammunition for the match. Another 'advantage 1 of 'having am lAssoci; ation fund- was to sse • that every • veteran, though, he mie.lit -die poor, had a proper Itanesral. He was sure none, of the-iv v.w.Jd like to see a comrade buried in a pauper's 'grave. Tt was not an act ' of charity for the Association to attend ;to the last solemn act of homage.' Itt o*her w-ay® also the Association would keep up their esprit r de corps. The chairmanconcluded by hoping that the (people would take ur> the matter of providing some memorial to Taranaki's old defenders. The pi-esent) time -was nx'ore favorable than when it was broached before, and -he felt sure the matter had only to be properly represented to be carried -to a successful issue.
Lieut. J. C. Davies proposed thel toast of "Parliament." He made mention of the late , Sir 'Harry (Major) Atkinson's foresight in endeavouring to pr-ovido a volunteer fund. Mr J.- McLean sang ''The Mermaid," J and as an encore number "Believe." l Mr B. M. Smith, M.H.R., respond- C 1. In a characteristic speech, he * showed he' had done his level best • for his constituents during his five t terms as member for Taranaki. ' (A , \ voice: What about the -veterans) . ■< Had not he asked in Parliament for a - i t bar decoration to the Waireka veterans in recognition of their services ? < "You' had . a petition to Parliament tor a pension," continued Mr Smith, "if I were Premier you would get it ( ai once" (laughter). He would assist ,the memorial project as much as possible. . . , ; The Maypr, on behalf, of Mr , Sam Hill ' (the v donor)l presented a handsoine.ly_Jraraied portrait of the, late Mr Seddon to Mr Tom Clare, for the highest.; .scores made. . at, ±he targets that, day. He warmly congratulated* the winner, and referred to the sexvices of the old pioneers. Th^pe who came after, like himself, did, not show enough appreciation for those who had borne the heat and 'burden of the day. r Mr Glare, in responding,, compared the modern ¥ifle with the old " Brown Bess," served out in early war time. The men of to-day had every advantage. He deprecated ' • the practice amongst of the old hands of ridiculing the volunteers .of to-day and saying " .You - have mot- "done, what, •we did." OF course,, the j^ouivg man had net done so, , but, .he,, bejieved they would be ready a'i4 willing if required and prove as good as their fathers. He, thought, volunteering should .get more encouragemGut6from the C-overn-ment. _ .. ... ' Mr Jennings, M'.H/R., also responded to I the.to ast of Parliament. He mentd'oned that his father was one of the 58th'^n,pthe. Maori war in the Bay of Islands, 1844-5. In memory of the old trovHows days hfe thought thej ■^Vvand should stand by one another more than at present. criticised , the penuriouWess cif the ' Government \ m regard to the threat -that further 3 *»m!muni4kwL would no%^ be s?erved ont <to thems.' -Mor-e- encouraged ont Ishould ' be given to - rifle" :"sh'o6tirig and the ] cadet movement. ,He - mentioned tha'f cie i there were in! Parliament* to-day, fivp ■' , men whose fathers took part in the 1 ; New Zealand 1 war. 7 ! Mr E. Bullot was to have sung the -j xelebmted "Old Taranaki." but was . ) detained by sickness. . "Lieut. I)avies I filled the gap with a storyette/ Captain Mace proposed "The yolun- '\ teers." He recalled the fact that the " ; Taranaki Rifle Volunteer^ were the "i first British volunteers ever , under i : fire. They led the advance at y Wai- .• roka. The speaker made an appeal . for the erection of the' memorial, Mr q Gordon had corresponded with the f o,flicfers in 'England and so far the latter had donated '£50. 3Four Taranaki men promised £o each, bringing ? the amount up to '^80 or £Q0- He " trusted the Mayor of New Plymouth s would^ take the matter up and open ' a subsection list. There would not . be many who would mot give a 5 shilling or two. He thought the Goj vernment could very well do more in ', sxipporf of volnntoering and rifle t shooting. - • >" 5 Lt.-Col. Okey, in reply, said he H considered it a privilege to be ' amongst the old brigade. It was a pleasure to see s6 many veterans a1 live and hearty; they must have come from good stock, for they hung 'on well.'. (Laughter 1 ), pc- <>; was ' amazed arid delighted at the perform1 ances tit ■ the ' target- that -day. • One of 'the oldest men had ' got among the top , score.ijs. r : He ibelieved the .volunteers of •kHday : j would, if needed, • follow nobly,, in 1 • their fathers' steps in def ence ol hearrtiß • ' and home. 'They all • migh^ not have ■ ' the great stamina; which ohara<?terikec! • . their fathers, butihey would dtot.their '■ \ duty, and, he, was, sure, woa'tihily/^up-; -ihold the 'best traditions v..,pf thlexaoe. J | More attention should <b© ' p;aid to-: rifle ' | shooting ; "it should 'bte fouar-fifths of ', a m-an's- training. Drill was of cowtse '.' most ben>eficial for cadets, •bii't 1 they - should be V ©fficiieritly armed arid do somuch practice every year. >, (Ml- Robert proppsed "The - . Press," which was responded,- to 'by loc al representatdvfes, , af tea? ; which Mr ■; Harris Foi'd, ixtidved a hearty vote of ! thanfes'to the officers of 'the- 'A&tq&jjr '- tiom for the entertainment ' provided. >, Mr J. Andrews also spbke, a sik4n^pr s greater publicity of the 'ajimjs "a lrwJ''^b- \ jects of the /Associatiiota. ' w ". ii ; ; The "Niational Aoithem ipllpw^^tl! . "Auld Lang Syne" brought : orab'le and enjoyable gathering. . $Ps;p s ; aj f close. - ""> >)>'<■< ■ I L * The larßanigeaiTents were, cretkitaibly' 3 carried out by 'a sub-committee consist-; j ing, of'Cap+ain, Black, Captaini 'iMace,: » Messrs Black (Sebretary of tha ' ! A'sso-| - ciution), and Humphries. ' i
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Bibliographic details
Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13233, 3 August 1906, Page 2
Word Count
1,785TARANAKI WAR VETERANS. Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13233, 3 August 1906, Page 2
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TARANAKI WAR VETERANS. Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13233, 3 August 1906, Page 2
Using This Item
See our copyright guide for information on how you may use this title.