PLEASANT GATHERING AT COSTLEY TRAINING INSTITUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 204, 28 August 1902, Page 5

PLEASANT GATHERING AT COSTLEY TRAINING INSTITUTE.

A picturesque function was held at the C'uiitiey Training- Institute last evening *i" ,l- he boys say* a s Piriteii exhibition' or Indian club and gymnastic exercises wi honour of the return of one of their old comrades. Captain Wood, of the First New Zealand Com.agent in the South --xiiican war. Then: was also an excellent nu.s,ical programme provided by Messrs sflßsamk mis ¥&. Major R. B. Morrow, one of the trusses, who took1' the chair in his uniform ol the Indian Staff, addressed the boys and the company on the event of the evening. He stated that Captain Wood entered the Institute in ISS7. WrT.-n the first contingent was raised he went out as a volunteer sergeant, and on the retun, of the contingent he joined the Fifth Contingent as a lteutenant, returning now a full captain. The Major pointed out to tne boys that, this example of their old schoolfellow was one which they could all follow in whatever line of work they entered. Thre hearty cheers were then jriven for Captain Wood. After some remarks by Mr Tonns, Captain Wood repiied in a capital speech. He remarked that during his three years in South Africa ho had only once met an old Institute boy, but he was pleased to say that on that occasion he met a man. He. referred to his old schoolmate, Corporal McCabe, who was a corporal of no mean order, and one of the best non-commis-sioned officers he had met in South Africa. Cheers were then given for Corporal McCabe. and also for Captain Connell, each of whom pithily replied, the former speaking in high terms of the training of the Institute. During the refreshment Interval the boys were allowed to inspect C'±ptt:in Wood's medal with its five bars for Diamond Hill, Johannesburg. Driefontein, Paardeburg, and the relief of Kimberley.