SMOKE CONCERT.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 11483, 14 March 1900, Page 2

SMOKE CONCERT.

There was a good muster of members and ex-members of the Napier Volunteer Fire Brigude at the brigade station last evening on the occasion of a smoke concert in honor of Lieutenant Boss, an exinomber of the brigade, and who is leaviDg for South Africa in command o£ the Hawke's Bay section of the Fonrth Contingent. Superintendent Gilbert! ' occupied the chair, supported on his right by the guest of the evening and on his left by ex-Superintendent Waterworth, and amongst the other guests present wore his Worship the Mayor, ex-Inspector W. Miller, and Messrs Charlton, Coe, Garner, K. Laws, and C. Simmonds, all former members of the brigade. The toast of the Queen haying been duly honored, the Chairman, on behalf of the brigade, presented Lieutenant Eosa with a handsome case of silver-mounted pipes, as a mark of the esteem in whioh he was held by the members of tha Brigade, and as a memento of his conneo- ■ tion with that body. In making the presentation Superintendent Gilberd paid a high tribute to Lieutenant Eoss, both as a volunteer and a fireman, and having been intimately associated with him in both capacities he was confident that their guest would always be found doing his duty, and that both he and the contingent, of which ho was in command, would represent Hawke's Bay with honor. Lieutenant Eoss, in responding, said he would always have pleasurable reoolleetions of hiß connection with the Napier Fire Brigade, and of the many good comrades with whom he had worked, and it did not need their handsome present to remind him of them, but when he used the pipes it would serve to recall the kind friends from whom they had been received, and if he were spared to smoke the calumet of pence in Pretoria, as he hoped he would be, his thoughts would return to the pleasant reunion they were now enjoying, nnd where ha was smoking with them the calumet of peace. The chairman had referred to his long association with the F Battery Artillery, and the Napier Fire Brigade, but whon he had taken part in shooting* or brigade competitions he had gone for honor and glory, but in volunteering for service in South Africa he was actuated not by nny desire for honor or glory but simply to do his duty as a soldier of tha Queen, and he could answer for the men forming the Fourth Contingent tnafc they were all moved by the same spirit. If it fell to any to achieve distinction beyond his fellows it would bo the ohance of war, for he knew they would all do their best, and no man onuld do more than that. Inspector Waterworth then proposed the toast of "Lieutenant Boss," whioh was briefly responded to, three cheers being given for Lieutenant Eoss, Mrs • Boss, and another for the little one ha leaves behind him. Other toasts were : " His Worship tha Mayor," proposed by Mr W.- J. Grundy, captain of the Napier Fire Police, and responded to in a neat speeoh ; and " ExMembers of the Brigade," proposed by the chairman- and replied to by Lieutenant Eoss and Messrs Waterworth, Miller, Garner, Charlton, Coe, C. Simmonds, and B. Laws. During the evening songs were contributed by Messrs H. Bear, G, Plested, ' C. Simmonds, W. Strickland, O'Drißooll, G. Tankard, A. Wrightson, H. Gilberd, and W. Tonkin, The refreshments were supplied by Mr J. C. Euston, who put on a capital spread. "Auld Lang Syne" wound up a most enjoyable gathering.