KAPUNI.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXXI, 22 February 1916, Page 4

KAPUNI.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

The smoke concert tendered to Lieut. P. O'Dowd on Friday evening- was a great success in every way. line large supper room was crowded with friends of the guest, Mr J. D. Crowley being in the chair. After the loyal toasts, had been duly honored songs and recitations were given by several gentlemen.

The toast of "The land we live in" was very ably responded to by Mr J. F. Stevenson, who said the native born Australian or New Zealander would compare favorably with the men of any other country, either in the athletic field or in the firing line. The Chairman, in proposing the guest of the evening, touched on the many good qualities of Lieut. O'Dowd, both as a soldier and a private citizen. He then handed the guest _a csise of beautiful pipes from his friends and well-wishers in the district, with the hope that they would serve to remind him of the happy days he had spent at'Kapuni. Several other gentlemen endorsed the Chairman's remarks, and the Terri-. torials present said "they had always found Mr O'Dowd a capable and popular officer, and were very sorry to lose him.

Mr George Lovell kindly officiated at the piano, and Mr McLelland. gave several items on violin.

Lieut. O'Dowd was greeted with loud applause on rising to reply, which he did in a neat and feeling speech. A very pleasant evening was then brought to a close after the usual compliment to ihe chair.

A rather discordant note was struck by one gentleman present at the above meeting in alluding to what he was pleased to term "shirkers." The word and remarks were very much resented by all present, and when the individual found the boys were* not with him he quickly withdrew his remarks, but the incident did not end here, as ret>ort says he got rather a warm time afterwards.. This incident is merely mentioned as a warning to any others whose so-called patriotism is apt to overflow when they have obtafned a little "Dutch courage" at an affair like the above. Kapuni has already sent many brave lads to the firing line, as witness her roll of honor, and the word "shirker" is the last that should be applied to any of the boys that are left, as the originator of the remarks found to bis dost.