MIRAMAR R.S.A. CONCERT

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 117, 19 May 1937, Page 6

MIRAMAR R.S.A. CONCERT

The spirit of the' war years was revived last evening when the'Miramar auxiliary branch of the } Returned Soldiers' Association held its ■ first smoke concert of the "year. All the old choruses so well known to the Digger were sung with enthusiasm, and the atmosphere of the Army was prevalent throughout.

The function opened with the loyal toast, after which Mr. O. G. Smith welcomed the chairman for the evening, Mr. A. J. Mazengarb, who was duly invested with his "emblem of office." In proposing the toast of "The Wellington R.5.A.," Mr. P. Coira said that Diggers little .realised, the large- amount of work that "headquarters" did for the small branches.' He congratulated the association on the way'it had prepared and issued the annual report, copies of which were now being distributed. : :. .

Replying, Mr. 'J. Spence. said that; the twelve branches which, had been established had done much for.'the R.S.A. They had _ obtained Diggers for membership who could not be reached by the centre, and had given needed help to "down-and-out Diggers" during the depression years.:. .He stressed the fact of keeping together and maintaining the Digger spirit, i : Mr. O. G. Smith proposed the toast of "Sister Auxiliaries," arid extended a welcome to representatives from other branches. He said that it was largely due to the efforts of the auxiliary branches that the Wellington R.S.A. occupied the. position it did today. Representatives from Brooklyn, Hataitai,: and Kilbirnie replied. • Other toasts included "The Miramar Auxiliary," proposed by Colonel A. Cowles, V.D., replied to by Mr. F. M. Thompson; "Absent. Comrades, proposed by the chairman; "The Artists," proposed by Mr. E. Dean. : . , Items were given by Messrs. J. King (cornet solo), R. Roberts (song), S.Y. Jones (banjo solo), F. Histed (song), Ross Williams (monolpgue), and C. A. Forrest (conjuring). . '.'-,.