OTAGO ARTILLERYMEN

Evening Star, Issue 17581, 9 February 1921, Page 10

OTAGO ARTILLERYMEN

ANNUAL REUNION.. The second annual reunion of the Otago Artillery Association was held in the Overseas Club room last evening. Ex-artillery-men from nedr and far were in attendance*, and the function was a big success. The attendance, and' the function was a big success. The attendance was well over sixty, and the tables were weighted down with an abundance of good cheer. The gathering was a convivial one, absolutely free from any stiffness and formality, Th? speeches were as short as possible, and the toasts were drunk with enthusiasm. Colonel Falla occupied the chair. On his ri<flit sat Dr .Harrison (president of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers' Association), and on his left Colonel E. R. Smith. Colonel Falla referred to the fact that since the last reunion an association had been formed in Canterbury, and be was confident Wellington and Auckland woulo follow suit, thus completeing, an associa-i. tion throughout the Dominion which, should prove of benefit to artillerymens He expected that the history, at present in the hands of Lieutenant Byrne, would, soon be available for issue. The expense had been borne partly by the canteen funds, and they would no doubt be interested to know that a few hundred pounds,' bad been taken for tha) purpose. Lieu-' tenant Byrne had asked' him to say that he would be pleased if anyone with plioto;. graphs of interest would send them.v marked for return, to Colonel Simon, utj the Defence Office in Wellington. '* A few moments’ silence’for the memory of departed comrades opened the proceedings, and the loyal toast was then honored.. Other toasts were: ''The New Zealand* Staff Corps” (coupled with the name off | Major Dampen), proposed by Mr S. Solo-J, mon, K.C.; “Sister Arms.” proposed by- ; Major Crawford (Port Chalmers Garrison 1 ;, Artillery), and responded by to Colonel) E. R. Smith; and “ Returned Soldiers'Association, coupled with the name of Dr Harrison, proposed by Captain H. L. Tapley. The Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Choir provided part songs, and the following also contributed to the programme:—Air C. D. Dagg, violin solo, ‘Serenata’ (Aloskowski); Air A. Maitland, song, ‘Up From Somerset’; Air W. N. Satterthwaite, song, ‘The Company Sergeant-major'; Air F. Hai" song, ‘The Alinstrel Boy’; Mr P. Anderson, song, ‘ The Gay Highway ’; Air O'Sullivan, song, ‘ Alatt o’ Aline'; and Air Calder. The gathering dispersed at a late hour after the singing of ‘ Auld Lang Syne.’