65th REGIMENT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XI, Issue 537, 15 November 1862, Page 3

65th REGIMENT.

We have much pleasure in recording another interesting assembly of the sergeants of our old friends the •' Tigers," in their mess-room, at camp Otahuhu. On Thursday evening, the 30th ultimo, the sergeants of the regiment met for the purpose of presenting substantial testimonials of their regard and esteem for their brother sergeants, who were invalided at the recent inspection of the. regiment by Lieut. •General Cameron, C.8., and were about to be, discharged. The sergeants sat > down to sapper at about 10 o'clock, and with the good old English feeling that always accompanies a substantial repast. Color- Sergeant Fogarty (Acting SergeantMajor) briefly and appropriately referred to the ob - ject for which they were assembled ; he said : — " Comrade sergeants ! You are all aware of the object for which we are met together to- night, to do hooor to the fire sergeants who are about to leave us. lam sure I stand in a most unenviable position in performing the pleasing duty of presenting the testimonials now before you, and I have but one regret, and that is, that it has not fallen into abler hands to do so. Being an ' old soldier' myself, I may be allowed to say that I have known these sergeants nearly, if not quite, as long as any present, and I am at a loss on this occasion to express what I feel ; but as words would at best do but feeble justice to it, I shall content myself by presenting you, Quartermaster-Sergeant Higginson, with this gold watch and chain ; you, Color-Sergeant Raven, with this silver snuff-box and gold ring ; and each of you, Sergeants Crowder, Hickey, and Johnson, with a gold ring ; — they are but small testimonials of the esteem in which, individually and collectively, you are held in the regiment, and you will not, I am sure, prize them for their worth, but for the good feeling which accompanies them. It remains for me only to wish you long life, health, and prosperity as civilians, and may you never experience 1 harder lines' than you have met in the old • hikety-

The Quarter-Master Sergeant briefly thanked his brother-sergeants for the honor conferred upou him ; he was much affected, and said that he would prize the valuable token of their regard next to his good conduct medal. Color- Sergeant Raven and Sergeauts Crowder, Hickey, and Johnson also returned their thanks for the kindness shown to them.

The usual healths were drunk, none of which were responded to more heartily than that of the worthy Colonel (Colonel Wyatt, C.8.), the excellent Adjutant (Lieut. A. H. Lewis), and tHe Officers of the Regiment ; and the party did not break up until a late hour.

On the following day a deputation of the sergeants, consisting of Quartermaster-Sergeant Higginson, Sergant Instructor of Musketry Pinkard, Color Sergeants Raven, Acheson, and. Mathew, Drum-Major Davis, Armourer-Sergeant Westwood, and Sergeants Crowder and Hickey, waited upon Quartermaster Purcell (the late Sergeant-Major of the regiment), for the purpose of presenting him with a handsome silver tea-service, as a token of their esteem and regard.— Communicated ' to the Southern Cross, Nov. 5.