RETURNED TROOPERS

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11764, 8 February 1901, Page 2

RETURNED TROOPERS

WELCOME AT THE GARRISON

HALL.

A right royal welcome, an enthusiastic i reception, ia the only way to describe the < function which took place at the drillshed last evening. Major Chicken, officer commanding the East Coast Battalion, presided, and ho was supported by his Worship the Mayor, Mr A. L. D. Fraser, M.t1.8,, and the officers of the battalion. In addition to these, there was a very large muster both of volunteers and civilians, and the gathering was in every way representative, many country visitors being amongst the company present. Apologies were read from Captain Smith, Lieutenant Hudson, and Troopers Peebles and Banks. The catering was entrusted to Mr W. Reading, of tho Trocadero, who I surpassed himself in the excellence of the j spread. The table decorations were the work of Mr J. N. Anderson, of tho Terraco Nurseries, who as usual made a most effective display of palms and other pot plants. The entire decoration of tho hall, which was exceedingly tasteful, was done by Bugler-Sorgoanb Slater. After the toasts of “ The King" and “Queen Consort and Royal Family,” had been drunk, Mr A. L. D. Fraser, proposed the “ Army, Navy, and Volunteers,’' and ia doing so said while in Sydney he had conversed with many Imperial officers, and ho could tell the company that the opinion of all who had tho pleasure and honor of mixing with the Eoughridera and troopers who represented this colony in South Africa, was of the very highest; and this opinion was shared by men and officers alike, from Lord Roberts downwards. He had heard nothing but praise, too, about Lieutenant Hughes, of whom Hawke’s Bay had reason to feel proud. Speaking at the banquet in Sydney, a captain of the Bengal JLanoera had stated that he bad heard of Lieutenant Hughes and his men of the first contingent, and as long as ho remained in New Zealand

It was a loss to the troops in South Africa. Mr Fraser then read telegrams from the Eight Hon. the Premier, the lion. James Carroll, and Major Madooks, expressing their pleasure at the function which was being held that evening, and convoying their heartiest welcome and good wishes to the returned troopers. Major Unlocks paid a hji s h tribute to the gallantry of Lieutenant Hughes in the fight at Now Zealand Hill, whore the last named odour had distinguished himself in the final charge which carried the position. I:espouses were made by Hon. Major Wood, Mr E. D. D. M‘Lean, and Captain Kettle, for the army, navy, and volunteers, respectively. Major Chicken proposed “ (Jur Guests/' bis speech being stirring and impressive. Besponses were made by moat of the returned- troopers. Lieutenant Hughes said he was proud to have been associated with such a fine lot of men as those of the First Contingent, even as a ranker. No officer ever had better men. Colonials were all fighters, and the difficulty was to get them away from any position, as they never wanted to leave. The pleasantest part of the war to him was being connected with Tommy Atkins. From the regulars they had always received the greatest kindness, and while they were proud that they had been able to assist the regular troops, yet it must be remembered the colonials formed only a very small portion of the army, and that the credit for the success which had been attained rested with the British troops, who had fought splendidly. Hawke’s Bay had every reason to feel proud of her representatives, said Lieutenant Hughes, Troopers Holroyd, Catherali, and Emerson, be had fought with, and they were a credit to the province. Of Trooper Petersen be could not speak from personal knowledge, bnt be had it from the officer who unfortunately shot Petersen, that he bad never met a pluckier soldier, and ho would never cease to regret having unwittingly wounded him, while General Broadweod had described Petersen's e-capo as the most gallant escape of the whole war. Lieutenant Koss endorsed Lieutenant Hughes's remarks as to the anxiety of tire men to fight. He had been asked since ho returned, in reference to one of those who had gone away with bis contingent, “if he was any good." Well, be could tell them something which wonld ho thought, answer the question. This trooper was always in a position in which ho had to bold tho horses, and time after time, when a fight was in progress, he appealed to Lieutenant Hess, and said, “ Look here, there’s a scrap on. can’t yon get me changed, so that X cm havo a go.” Well, be (Lieutenant Bees} asked many of the men, but they all wanted to " have a go ’’ too, and it was with the greatest difficulty he managed at last to effect a change, and let the trooper referred to have a smack at the enemy, and he got very keen on it too. Troopers Emerson and Chapman spoke briefly. Tho latter had experienced rather a rough time of it since leaving Napier, but that was all forgotten. Trooper Holroyd said ho had learnt something in booth Africa. He bad fought a little, starved a little, bad some jolly good feeds of poultry, and occasionally ran away, but bo hopul if they were wanted they would ail bo there again. Trooper Peterson said it would take 100 long to explain how be got away from the Boers. He found tfco only way to get clear was to burrow, and as there was no underground railway just then-, ho had to make one. Uo had bad luck in being shot by one of his own side, but the soldier was only doing his duty, and ho would rather bo shot by one of thorn than by an enemy. In tho hospital he had been treated with the utmost kindness, and they did not eoem as it they could da too much for him. He had tho pleasure of shaking hands with Lord Roberts, and had received from the British officers and soldiers that kindness with which tho New Zealanders were always treated wherever they went in South Africa. When escaping he found himself near the Boer camp, and a long way from the British lines, and be came to the conclusion that if he wanted to reach the latter it would hare to be on horseback, so he got amongst the Boer horses and helped himself. He was not tangled in tho wires wnen shot, as he hud got over the fence before then. It was unfortunate, bnt it was one of the incidents of war. Troopers Puflolt and Krogb, of the South African Light Horse, alao spoke in high terms of the manner in which they had been troaled everywhere, both in South Africa and since returning. They had met Lieutenant Williams while at tho front and found him a very popular officer iu tho Dorsetshires, to which regi-

mt-nt be was attached. lie bad been in charge of his company at laing’s Nek and other places. When they met Lieutenant Williams they were ragged and hungry, and he gave them a good feed, Ac. Trooper Cathorall taid he had bad luck, having boon a prisoner of war for two months, but during that timo he had plenty of opportunity to study the other side, and lie could only a.iy that he and his fellow prisoners wore always well treated by the unomy. When the Now Zealand Government hoard of their capture the Premier at once put himself m communication with the American consul and cabled AJIOO for the hoys who were captured, and this allowed them to have medical comforts.

Mr U. A. Cotnford, in one of his i customary eloquent speeches, proposed the toast of tho "Ministry and House of Representatives.” Mr A. L. 1). Fraser, M.H.R., responded. He said that while in Sydney a cable came that this colony had raised a sixth contingent but could not yet a transport. Federal Australia was in the same predicament. and cables wore despatched in all directions without result. Then one livening they read that a vessel called tho Cornwall had passed a headland, or a lighthouse, or something, and would be in Sydney tho next morning. With tho dawn of tho next day, however, the Hon. R. J. Sodden was on tho deck of a specially chartered steam launch on his way to Sydney Heads, to moot tho approaching vessel, and before she reached the wharf he had practically bought her, and in less than 12 hours had over 300 men at work uuloadiog her and equipping her for a troopship. At tho request of Captiin Ualpin, Dean Hovoll then presented Trooper Hcifford with a medal on behalf of the Napier Rifles as a mark of their respect and esteem. Trooper Hcifford suitably responded. , Tho toast of “ Major Chicken and Officers of the East Coast Battalion ” was ] proposed by his Worship tho Mayor and responded to by Major Chicken. “His Worship the Mayor," proposed by Dean Hovell, was responded to in a neat speech by tho Mayor. Songs, recitations, and musical selections were contributed by Captain Sandtmann, Lieutenants Hughes, Forsythe, and Ringland, Privates Renouf and Boar, and Mr Leo Carri and his daughter. The accompaniments wore played by Mr W, M. Newbould and Air Leo Carri. The secretary, Quarter - Master Sergeant Eraser, is deserving of a word of praise for tho completeness of the arrangements which contributed not a little to the success of tho evening, Tho proceedings" wore brought to a close with the National Anthom.