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Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7376, 31 January 1902, Page 4

(Continued from page 2.)

make this presentation to you, as you } have always done your duty in any matter you have taken in hand. We wish you and your good lady and family good health and prosperity in whatever pursuits you may take up. P.Gr. ' Bartlett, on behalf of the Loyal Union ' Lodge, I have much pleasure in present- J ing you with this past- officer's emblem, j with the hope that it will remind you of pleasant hours spent with us in the j lodgeroom at Hawera when you are far away in other lands. On rising to reply, Major Bartlett was greeted with cheers, loud and long sustained. He said that the task imposed upon him was one which only those who had been placed in a similar awkward position would fully appreciate. (Laughter.) He was proud of his reception that evening and the words of appreciation which, had been spoken. The Chairman was an old volunteer, and knew a good deal of the war in the early days of New Zealand, while Mr Davidson had been a member of one of the irregular corps. It had, therefore, been a source of pleasure to him (the speaker) to sit between those two gentlemen .and hear the kind things that had been said about him. He did not think the speakers meant to exaggerate, | but they had probably been carried j away when they commenced to speak flatteringly of him. (No, no.) In all the movements in which he had taken part he had only done as others had ; he had given a little help. Certainly he had done it to the best of his ability, and if he had been successful he was pleased. Regarding what had been said by Lieut. Wilson, he (the speaker) would go further. The Fire Brigade members had worked together, and worked well, and the Brigade was acknowledged throughout the length and breadth of the colony to be one of the smartest. However, small thanks was due to him. | If men were interested in their work ! and had the ability it did not take long to ensure success. It was an honor to command such men. Unity was the secret of their success, and as long as they pulled together they would hold one of the premier positions as an organisation. Touching his departure, the speaker said it was his present intention to see what South Africa could do for him, but if he came back to Hawera again he would be quite prepared to rejoin the Brigade as an ordinary fireman, and work with the men who had worked so well with him. (Applause.) He thanked the Oddfellows for their beautiful present, and the manner in which it had been presented, and disclaimed any merit greater than other brethren who had passed through the chair. He urged the members to pull together, and thus ensure increased membership and prosperity. Spasmodic effort was not to be compared to earnest, steady work. The Major then returned thanks to the ladies and gentlemen who had subscribed to the handsome watch presented to him through Mr Davidson. He sincerely hoped he would have the pleasure of looking at Hawera again, but he would tell them that he had no intention of coming back if he could benefit himself and his family ty remaining in South Africa. By going with the Eighth Contingent ho thought he could push his prospects in South Africa, and that was his sole reason for going. He did not think there was much risk now ; the soldiers ran risks greater by 10 to 1 than the officers did. Small parties occasionally got into trouble, but if due care and ordinary precautions wex-e taken there was no danger of surprise. There was a difference between the conditions at present and those which existed at the beginning of the war ; the day of general engagements was practically done with. The Boer leaders understood, but would not acknowledge the fact, that the game was up ; they knew there was no chance of gaining their independence, and the only hope they clung to was intervention in their behalf by one or other of the European countries. As soon as they saw that that Was hopeless they wpuld throw up the sponge. In conclusion, he thanked them one and all. If duty was to bo performed, he hoped he would perform it in a faithful manner. If in time he came back to New Zealand, he hoped to see them all, and would give them an account of his experiences. He only wished he was more worthy of their piaise. (Great applause.) Mr B. C. Bobbins proposed, '• Success to the Eighth Contingent." He took his hearers' thoughts back to the time of the sending away of the First Contingent, when Hawera was represented by a lieutenant nnd a fair number of men. In the Eighth were several more, and it was an honor to Major Bartlett and the town of Hawera that the former had been thought a fit and proper person to take {charge of the North Island battalion of the Eighth Contingent. The enthusiasm which had marked the first call on this colony was not greater than that which was marking the departure of the Eighth Contingent. The ready response of the colonies was a sufficient answer to those unfriendly countries which had through their press heaped calumnies on the Mother Country and her colonies. (Applause.) It was not only an answer, but an object lesson to our enemies that we were determined, if the occasion required, to say to them, " Keep your hands off the Mother Country." The speaker referred with pride to the liberal response to the call for members of the Eighth Contingent, and added that a Ninth Contingent was to go, and if a tenth and eleventh were needed they would be forthcoming. The colonies had given proof of their recognition of the fact that they formed a part of the Empire, and were prepared to Bhare in its troubles and difficulties. After a graceful allusion to the old flag, under which there was such great liberty, the speaker said it had been for him an honour and a pleasure to work with Major Bartlett in the Fire Brigade, Borough Council, etc. The Major was one who had always faithfully fulfilled the duties of citizenship, and when he said that he paid him ihe highest compliment he could. (Applause.) The Major's sterling ability as a man and a soldier during his connection with the First Contingent bad been recognised, as it deserved to be. He hud been in charge of the camp at Trentham, and those who had read the papers would have seen how he was liked and respected by the men. They all recognised that he had won his laurels by merit. (Applause.) Concluding, Mr Bobbins wished the Eighth Contingent success, and expressed the hope that they would enhance the great reputation earned by New Zealand contingents which bad preceded them. (Applause.) He called for three cheers for. the Eighth, which were vigorously given. Mr Fairhall sang, "First in the Field," Mr Fraser v Sons of New Zealand " (with chorus by the volunteers), Mr Young "The Deathless Army," and Mr M. McAlpine " Empress of the Seas." All tho items were excellently given.

Miss Espagne played the accompaniments.

At the close of the programme, nearly everyone in the ball filed on to the stage, and shook hands with Major Bartlett. Many were the wishes for his success. were then partaken of, and the proceedings closed with the singing of the " National An thorn."

Just received, another lot of ladies silver keyless watches, £1 each— a nice Xmas present foi a girl. B. W Sargent, watchmaker and jeweller Hawera.— Advt,