NEW ZEALAND NATIVES

ASSOCIATION a ... SOME PRESENTATIONS. A progressive euchre party and dauco was hold in the Now Zealand Natives' Hall, in Tory- Street, last evening, and was woll attended, fully twenty-five or more tables heiug in use for play, which was continued till ten o'clock. Following the tournament camo some presentations, tho first ono being tho presentation of a gold badge by the Mayor, Mr. J. P. Luke, on behalf of the members, to the Hon. A. L. Hordmau, tho first president, that the society has yet had. In makiug tho presentation, tho Mayor spoke ol" the pioneers of .seventylive or more years ago, who had loft to their descendants iu Now Zealand tho possibilities and opportunities of rising to statesmanship, to positions of higli trust, and to the leadership of high political life. In Mr. Herdman they had one who had proved bimsc-'lf worthy of the positions he had attained by his honesty, his capacity, his energy. Though, personally, he himself might differ from Mr. Herdman in some things, he could not withold from him the greatest appreciation of those qualities which he so consistently displayed in all his public fife. The New Zealand Natives' Association was becoming more important iu the public eve. One hundred and thirty of its members had gone off to the war, and were doing their best to hand on the Britons' heritage to thoso who would in after years succced them, and in Now Zealand itself the association was binding every part together and helping to build up the future. On behalf of the members, as a token of their great estoom, ho presented tho medal to Mr. Herdman.

In thanking the members for their pift, and Mr. Luke for his very flattering remarks, Mr. Herdman said that ono of his regrets lay in the fact that ho was not able to take a more active part in the affairs of the association. He was a very busy man, and had little time for _ social functions. He was heartily in sympathy with the objects of the association, aoid he understood that one of its aims was to cultivate in citizens a pride in their country. A man who was proud of his country. A would do better work for it. He often wondered how it was that a greater pride was taken by so many people in New Zealand, in England, in Scotland, or in Ireland, the land of their fathers, than in this land in which they were born. One reason was perhaps that tho parent country was shrouded in romance, in history, and in greatness. There was no 6pot, but was the centre of great associations. It was the country of our great poets, of our great writers, of soldiers, sailors, scientists, and statesmen, and we today were prepared to stand by her and fight for her and some to give lives for her. To-day New Zealand had none of these great associations, liono of this great romance, but she would have in the future, ana it rested with tho men and women of the Dominion to see that in the next two hundred years or so there would be a history to bo proud of. Ho had a groat affection for New Zealand. What she wanted to make a great history was men of courage, of broad-mindedness, of a high sense of justice, and women who were womenly women. So long as the Natives' Association in. its work endeavoured to encourage these qualities in its men, and womanliness in its women, it could do no work more important.

Mr. C. M'lntyre, who the honorary secretary of the association, was the next recipient of a token of esteem and appreciation for work done, and he also received a gold badge, similar to the one presented to Mr. Herdman. In making the presentation, the Mayor spoke of the valuable work which had been done by Mr. M'lntyre; of his- farreaching ideals in connection with the society, and of the enthusiasm ho displayed in carrying them out, for he was making the society a truly national one. In thanking members for their gift, Mr. M'lntyre said that he was very proud of New Zealand. He had only to think of the New Zealand nurses at the front, of the New Zealand nurse who was honoured by the King of Belgium, to be proud of his country. In the Army, in the Navy, New Zealandera were to be found, and had received honour.

•_ The presentation of a very handsome silver rose-bowl to Lieutenant Herd and Mrs. Herd and of a of case of pipes to Lieutenant Herd was next made by the Hon. A. L. Herdman on behalf of members, as a token of appreciation for the twenty-five years in which he had conducted the band, formerly the Garrison Band, but now the New Zealand Natives' Association Band. "Under Lieutenant Herd," remarked Mr. Herdman, "the band had been successful in winning many competitions, but though he was bandmaster, Lieutenant Herd never blew his own trumpet; his duties being carricd out without fuss or ostentation."

In expressing his thanks for himself and Sirs. Herd for the gifts and good wishes that had been bestowed upon them, Lieutenant Herd expressed the hope that he might be spared many years in which to wield tne baton for the society. He was very proud of it, and he hoped a great future lay before it.

The winners in the euchre tournament were: —Mrs. Sands, 1; Mrs. Smith. 2; Mr. George, 1; Mr. Driller, 2. There were also special prizes to be awarded. Supper was followed by dancing, which lasted till a fairly late hour. Among those who were present was Dr. Newman, M.P.