AN EXPLANATION.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10540, 29 December 1899, Page 2

AN EXPLANATION.

tq rat* jeuitob or tub nnss. SCr,---I shall be obliged to you if you will allow* mc to make a correction in the account of. our meeting on Commemoration Day, printed in "The Press," of the 20th inst, and reprinted in "Truth" of the same day, and in the "'Weekly Press," of tbe 27th. It did not at 'first seem worth while to correct the mistake, because I thought that anyone who knew enough of us to oe interested in tbe matter would at once detect it. I now desire to do so, because I am told that it has, in fact, given rise to annoying misconceptions. These are the words; they occur in what purports to be a condensed report of what I said:—"They regretted the change in their drill instructor, through the retirement of Captain Smith, with whom the work had oeen a labour of love.'' Now, much aa we appreciated Captain Smith, we have not had to regret his retirement from an office which he never 'held, but to welcome the return of Major U. -V. Richards, who, by the great good fortune of the school, has lield that office for very many years, and j under three headmasters. That gentleman, ! however, before leaving on a visit to England, asked Captain Smith to carry on his ' work during hia absence. Thus it was as ' locum tenens for him that Captain Smith | - rendered the services which I desired most ■ lteart;Jy to acknowledge. Having referred to the notes from which I spoke, and which at thia point I closely followed, I am able to quote wthat I really <$id say; it was this: — "'Durlug rather more titan one term we were deprived of the valuable services of our drill instructor, Major Richards. The gan was very efficiently filled by an "Old Boy, ,f Captain Smith, of tlie College Rifles, to whom our best thanks are due way in which lie carried on what was evidently to him a labour of love."—Yours, etc.. C F. BOURNE. Christ's College, December 28th, 1899.