"WELCOME HOME" SOCIAL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 9292, 20 July 1901, Page 5

"WELCOME HOME" SOCIAL.

[WAIPAWA COEBESPONDBNT ]

A complimentary social was tendered to the returned troopers last evening, and proved a great success, though .no doubt 6ome were prevented from attending by the state of the weather, heavy rain having fallen throughout the day. The arrangements were buccessfully carried out by a committee of young ladies, including Misses Bradbury, Mogridge, Moroney, Nash, Pellow, and Shanly, assisted by Messrs J. Cosgrove, W. Moroney, J.O'keilly, and G. Shanly. s The hall was prettily and appropriately '< decorated with the tricolor, a number of flags havini* been kindly lent by Mr 'Rathbone'i While the word •" Welcome" held a prominent place. Messrs W. Moroney, Ji Cosgrovej and J. O'Reilly performed the duties M's.O. in a capital manner. ; The piano was kindly lent by Mrs Geo; Oakenful, and Miss Moroney played excellent dance music. ' Extra dances were played fir by Misses Coe and DraygarandMr Petiib. The ladies ot the committee wore pretty and appr<priate badges in red white and blue, inscribed with the word " Welcome." The supper table contained a variety of good things, which were supplied by Messrs Hastings and Mclntyre. The hall was crowded with a representative gathering from all parts of the district, the volunteers being present in uniform, and the returned troopers and officers of the different contingents in khaki. :

After the grand march and first dance Mr James Williams, chairman of the Town Board, addressed -the returned troopers. On behalf ot the townspeople he extended to them a hearty welcome. "We are," he said, " proud of your doings at the front. It is difficult to realise that i.he easy-going young fellows we raw doing their daily round of duty at, home are the same men who have been fighting in grim earnest in South Africa, carrying, their lives in their hands every day, and always in fho van. 1 We have followed their fortunes with the greatest interest, and many of us have often opened the uewspaper with the fear of what ill-news it might contain. I am glad that there has been no casualty in 'the local portion of the Fourth and Fifth Contingents, though other parta of the colony have been lesa fortunate. It ia fitting that this social should have been orginised by the young ladies, since it was said none but the brave deserve the fair, and there ia nothing ladies admire more than pluck. The fact of having been to the front, not for a pleasure j but for hard fighting, is something to be proud of."

Captain Rathboue welcomed them, on behalf ot the volunteers. He first apologised for the Key W. Swinburn, ghaplaia of the oorp*, who met with an accident a fortnight ego. The people of Waipawa, proceeded Captajn Rathbone, ha i followed the doings of "the Fourth and Fifth Contingents and Were proud that their representatives had always done their duty manfully and well, and earned the respect of all the British generals, both on and off the field. He thanked the young ladies for organising the social; they deserved credit for the manner in which all the cirrangeraents had been carried out, and he proposed a hearty vote of thanks to {hem.

Trooper Gilmcmr respon<'edj)n behalf ofTfoopeißßone, Burgess,Pet'titand himself, and heartily thanked these present for the fine manner iv which they had been welcomed home. They were fully repaid for any hardships they had endured by receiving'such a welcome. Songs were sutn; at intervals by Miss Clough (" The Home Trial •'), the Alisse* Coe (a duel, <• Friendship"), Mr Deightoh (" Sons of the Southern Gross "), and Miss E. Boyle ("Listen to the Band "), Dancing was continued until an early, hour this morning and the entertainment was brought to a close by the singing of " Auld Lang Syne." '^