SOLDIERS ENTERTAINED.

Evening Post, Volume LXII, Issue 127, 25 November 1901, Page 5

SOLDIERS ENTERTAINED.

The party of New Zealanders who returned from the fighting front by the Delphic last week in charge Lieut. Heckler were the guests of the Government at a dinner at the Royal Oak Hotel on Saturday night. The Premier presided, and Sir Joseph Ward and the Hon. W. C.~ Walker were present. Among the guests were the Mayor of Wellington, Messrs. J. P, Firth, Ward, and Bee, all of Wellington College, Lieut. -Colonel Collins, Major Norman Smith, Capt. Seddon," Mr. E. G. J Wright (formerly M.H.R. for Ashburton), and Mr. Chas. M'Murran, the New York journalist* . After the gopd things provided by Host Gilmer had been disposed of, the Premier proposed the health of the King, remarking that the greatest satisfaction must have been felt by colonials on reading in that day's cabled news that His Majesty was in the best of health. Mr. Seddon next toasted " The Men from the Front." The Premier complimented the

officers and men upou the way in which they had acquitted themselves and upheld the good name gamed for New Zealand by the earlier connngents. As Minister for Defence he had watched their doings with the closest attention, and he was pleased to find that one and all had acquitted themselves like men. As to the war itself, every one was now praying for the peace that seemed so far off. In his opinion, a mistake had been made by the War Office at Home in refusing to recognise that a mounted force alone was able to put a stop to the proceedings .months' ago. They were dealing with a foe who did not know when he was beaten, and therefore the -powers that be should have forced the pace with such troops as the colonies sent. It was to be regretted that the Mother Country had not had the whole-hearted and patriotic support of her statesmen and her press. Had the politicians and the press of Great Britain been as unanimpus and patriotic in their support of the Imperial Government when war could not be avoided as the politicians and press of New Zealand were when the Government made a call for contingents for active service, then the Transvaal campaign would long ago have been a thing of the past. Lieut. Heckler briefly replied to the toast. The Minister for Education (Mr. Walker) proposed the toast of "The Local Forces," to whioh Col. Collins and Major Smith replied. The Colonel remarked that the condition of volunteering in the Wellington district was better than he had previously known it in an experience of thirty years. Sir Joseph Ward, in a happily-phrased speech, proposed the health of "Our Visitors," to Which Messrs. Firth, Wright, and M'Murran replied. Mr. M'Murran expressed delight at all that he had seen during his tour through the colony. He had travelled considerably in his time, and comparing what he knew of the Old World and in America' with what he had seen in New Zealand, he concluded this colony had charms which equalled those of any part of the world. In his opinion, our Alpine scenery in the South was about equal to that of Switzerland, and he anticipated that when once the Nicaragua Canal was made this colony would attract many of America's wealthy visij tors as A holiday resort and a suitable region for yachting voyages. He had been so chai-med with New Zealand and with its business possibilities that he had serious thoughts of settling down here. He felt sure that good* trade could be done between New Zealand and the .United States of America, and that when the need for certain reforms had been brought before the American authorities better, commercial relations would result. Mr. ( M'Murran concluded by observing that the sight of Lieut. Heckler and his men reminded him that when the Cuban war broke dut Mr. Roosevelt, now President of the United States, raised a troop of mounted men very similar to those sent from New Zealand, and the Roosevelt Rough Riders and their Colonel did as excellent service for the States as the New Zealanders had done for their colony. In proposing the toast of "The Press," the Premier spoke in warm terms of praise of the work done by the New Zealand press, particularly in regard to its attitude upon the war from the Imperial standpoint. He also observed that the New Zealand press • was, generally speaking, more reliable and better in tone than that of America. (Mr. M*Mur- , ran, with a laugh — Am I expected to subscribe to that? — a remark which was greeted with general laughter.) The toast, which was given with musical honours, was responded to by the representatives of the Evening Post, the Times, and Mr. M'Murran. A very pleasant gathering was concluded at 11 o'clock with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne" and the National Anthem.