COLONEL G. J. SMITH.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15608, 5 June 1916, Page 5

COLONEL G. J. SMITH.

A FAREWELJ. GATHERING. The officers of the Garrison Club assembled at Broadway's last -week to bid farewell to Colonel G. J. Smith, who left for Auckland on Saturday night to catch the Niagara for England. There were about sixty officers present, representing the different branches of the Service. Colonel Slater, V.D., the oldest Volunteer officer of the district, in a happy speech, referred to the good work the Colonel had done in the Volunteer and Territorial service in Christchurch. He made special mention of the services of the Colonel, who was one of the trustees of the King Edward Barracks, in connexion with, raising funds to defray, the cost of construction of the barracks. He then "presented Colonel Smith with a leather despatch casO.«nd a case of pipes as a token of the esteem in which he was held. . • Colonel Chaffey also expressed his appreciation of Colonel Smith's cervices, and specially referred to the good work done bv him as Commandant of tho camp from which the Canterbury section of the Main Body (N.Z.E.F.) departed. . Captain Stevenson, of the Ist Regiment, spoke of Colonel Smith's popularity, and thanked him on behalf of the officers for the many kindnesses they had received at his hands. Colonel Smith, in replying, said he felt it was his duty to go to England to offer his services to the War Office. He •would have much sooner been in commend of New Zealanders, but as that apparently was not possible, he did what he thought was the next best thing, and decided to go Home and serve' there. He appreciated very much the opportunity of .meeting the officers collectively before leaving, and said that he had no doubt he would meet a good many later on in England.