RETURNED SOLDIERS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 10141, 29 October 1925, Page 6

RETURNED SOLDIERS

" "SUCCESSFUL RE-TJNION. _ The long lines of tables at the Assembly Hall last evening were crowded to capacity on the occas.on o fthe re-union of all overseas returned soldiers. The function was unique in the fact that all smuai re-unions in Now Zealand it nas been customary to Testr-ct the attendance to the members of one particular reinvent, but last evening the at-tendance-of well over 400 was comprised of n:en representing all classes of overseas men irrespcct.ve of regiment or-whether they served in the late war or in the South African wai -or in other campaigns. The well-known huge call Lome to tho Cook House Boor Boys” was sounded at the commencement of the evening, and the orchestra rendered, an overture while the men fell in in the r a lotted places. Captain J. R. Kirk presided, and extended a- welcome to all the bojs that had been enabled to meet together that evening to foster the friendship that had been formed and cemented overseas. He expressed the hope that the gathering would be the forerunner of many other si mi ar ieunions, and also expressed the op nion that the re-union that evening was due mainly to the - untiring efforts of the comm'ttee of whom the hardest workers had been the joint secretaries, Messrs Lange and Coomb. (Loud applause). , In response to continued appeals from the. “boys,” Mr. K. S. Williams, M P., was finaly induced to make a short speech in which he expressed sympathy with all the returned men. and stated that he would always be prepared to aid them to the 1 >i‘lost extent of his power. He considered that not enough had been done for them bv Parliament, but lie had always made every effort to help the returned men whenever lie had the opportunity. (Applause). Much of the success ox the evening was undoubtedly due to the Harr er Club orchestra, under the leadership of Mr. W. Stewart, which greatly enlivened the proceed ngs w.th . much appreciated orchestral items, and led the audience in community singing. The fol owing toasts were honored: “The King,” proposed by the chairman;; “Our Fallen Comrades,” proposed by Mr. Geo. Darton; “The Brotherhood of the N.Z.E.F.,” proposed by Lent. Olsen and responded to bv Major Muir; “Sister and Auxil'ary Services,” proposed by Cant. W. T. Pitt and responded to by H s Worship the Mayor; “Peace and Prosperity to our Country, Our Empire, and our Allies,” proposed by Mr. K. S. Wili ams, ALP., ancl responded to by Mr. Bullard; “The Bovs of the Old Brigade,” proposed by "Lieut .-Col. Gair.bri-1 and responded to by Dr. Bowie. Much appreciated mus'cr.l and elocutionary items were contribtfted by the Rev. L. H. Fenn, and Messrs R. Sweet, R. Thompson, and Turbitt. The proceedings concluded w-th the s’nging of the National Anthem.