EMPIRE VETERANS' ASSOCIATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 129, 1 June 1901, Page 3

EMPIRE VETERANS' ASSOCIATION.

A Avell attended meeting of vete* rans was held last evening in' the' Wesley Hall for the purpose of in* augurating the Empire Veterans As* sociation. Captain Mitchell presided* The secretary, Mr J. G. Culpan, read the officials as follows:—President, j

the Right Hon. Earl of Ranfurly; vice-presidents, CommandeC H. Q. Archer, R.N.,'Major B. Harris, M.L.C., Captain J. Mitchell, anil Major A. Morrow; general commit-' tee, Captain Blackmore, James Dacre* Captain B. J. Daveney, T. W. Doonin, P. Dye, Thos. Kyton, N. W. Frateiv H. Rees George, Captain J. Grant* Lieut, Chas. Hesketh, Walter J. Hill, Captains G. Leahy, E. Leckie, Com-* mandant Le Roy, L. L. Levy, Major; D. H. Lusk, Captain R. B. Morrow, E. G. Mclntosh, Colonel M. Noakes,, .Major R. Peel, W. •Robertson, A. S« Russell, Captain S. C. Schofield, R* Sheppard, Hon. T. Thompson, D. A. Tole, W. Thorne, W. C. Walker, and) H. N. Warner, hon. secretary andi treasurer, Mr J. G. Culpan. That rules wei"e then read and approved* These stated that all mehibers ofi Inipprial naval and military forces,, with decorations, or who have com* pleted 10 years' service, are eligible! for membership, also all members of} the colonial forces who were in ac-« tive service in New Zealand prior tal January 1, 1870, and all volunteers who have served in South Africa andj thereby become entitled to a medal* The rules of course excepted peri sons dismissed or deserted from thei Empire's forces. The objects of thel Association are set forth as purely! philanthropic. The meeting adopted the rules with the amendment movedS by Mr W. H. Churton, that 12 members of the committee and two vice* presidents should retire each year^ but be eligible for re-election.

Captain Mitchell then retired front the chair, his place being taken bj/j the Hon. T. Thompson as chairmam of the sub-committee who had charge of the address presented byj the old veterans to His Excellency the Governor. Mr Thompson ex* plained that the rough draft of the? address had already been presented! by a committee of old veterans ap-« pointed by a previous meeting. The* address had now been illuminated] and placed in a suitable casket, and! would be forwarded to Lord Eanfur* ly in due course.

The address and casket were then? placed on view for the members tcs inspect. The illumination is a real work of art, and the casket most? beautiful, the latter being composed; entirely of various New Zealand woods tastefully arranged to suit thel different colours. The casket is bound in solid silver, and outside isi an inscription plate and the arms oij His Excellency also in silver. The! workmanship is highly creditable ta Messrs Kohn Bros., at whose estab* lishment the casket was made I ■ .-i