THE CANTERBURY TROOP.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10862, 11 January 1901, Page 5

THE CANTERBURY TROOP.

FAREWELL SMOKE CONCERT. At the Caledonian Society's rooms yesterday evening, the members of the Canterbury troop wen. entertained at a smoke concert given by the members of the War Fund (.'-<___nit.ee.

In addition to the members of the troop there were, present—His Worship the Mayor of Christchurch (in tho chair), Messrs T. "H. Davey (Mayor of St. Albans), B. P. Manhire (Mayor of Sydenham), W. T. Thomas (Mayor of Woolston), H. J. Besv.*ick, George Harris, H. AntUl Adley, T. W. Stringer, G. Humphreys, H. Cottrill, G. W. Russell, M.H.R., W. Woods, Lieu-tenant-Colonels Gordon and Slater, Staff-Sergeam-Major Coleman, Captain and Adjutant Hobday, Captain Cimffey, ex-Cap-tain Hardie, and Superintendent Smith. His Worship reatl apologies for absence from .Messrs E. G. St-aveley, G. G. Stead, C Louisson, A. E. G. Rhodes, the Hon. C. C Bowen, and Major Day. The toast of "The Queen" was proposed by Mr Recce, and was drunk with enthusiasm.

Mr W. Recce, in proposing the toast of the "South African Contingents," said that the subject bristled with point, of interest. Whether tho -war had cemented together the three nationalities of English, Scotch, and Irish, in a way which would never be broken, whether the way in which it had drawn together the different colonies to the Empire, whether we considered their friends of Canada who had been described recently as men who wore taller, sterner, and a. straight as poplar trees, those men of Paardebttrg, who would never be forgotten by the British army, or whether we considered our Australian cousins, or the men wa had already sent to South Africa, he thought they might say it was almost a blessed day for the Empire when this war began. Wars generally had nothing in themselves to commend them, but it was only the result that came from them. It was no gain for the world generally that that ba3e Government in South Africa should bs perpetuated. They had often heard it said that wherever British rule existed there would ba found th? fairest treatment to all nationalities. (Hear, hear.) So it would ba in South Africa before very* long. He would like to repeat what he said to the ■.eventv-five men who went the other night, that the people here wanted them to go to South Africa to do their duty, but they wanted them to come back to tbe colony to do their duty in building up New Zealand. (Applause.) After the toast had been honoured. Lieutenant Mostyn Jones, in responding, said that he was "proud that he was going to ba cne ot" the New Zealand Contingent himself. (Hear, hear.) Many men bad left New Zealand for South Africa, and had done what was a soldier's greatest ambition— his duty. (Applause.) He was sure it was his intention, and the intention of the men who were iroing with him, to do theirs. On bihalf of "the men present that night hs v/ould particularly thank the people of Christchurch for gjying them the opportunity of going, and he only hoped that they might be able to uphold the honour of Canterbury and New Zealand. (Hear, hear.) Lieutenant Jones then called for thr.o cheers for the people of Canterbury. Three ringing cheers were then given by the trOOp _T3. The toast of "The Staff" waa proposed by Mr T. W. Strincer, and responded to by Lieutenant-Colonels *_ordon and Slater.

'The toast of rhe "War Fund Executive" was propcwed by Captain C-_ai_ev, and was enthusiastically" drunk. His Worship the Mayor rerponded. During the evening song* ware girea by

| Messrs Collier, H. A. Adley, C. Edgar, F. j W. Hobbes, A. Millar, J. \V. Bowring, and ! Captain Cbaffev, a duet by Messrs Millar : and Collier, anil recitations* by Mr D. Ryan ! and Sergeant- Hodgson. i The men of the Canterbury Troop were ■ drilled in dismounted drill yesterday morni ing by Lieutenant Mostyn ilones, and were also drilled in the afternoon by Staff-Ser-j geant-Major Coleman. They -will receive i their uniforms, which are being made by the Kaiapoi Woollen Company. The m.n are not expected to leave until next week. The horses were tried yesterday at Hayward's Rink stables. Fifteen have been selected out of the twenty-five, and it is hoped that the whole will be procured by to-morrow. Owing to the non-arrival of a portion of the equipment of the Canterbury Troop, they will not leave for Wellington until Tuesday. They will go into camp at the Drill Shed to-day.