A CANTERBURY INTERLUDE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12536, 25 June 1901, Page 9

A CANTERBURY INTERLUDE.

THE THIRD CONTINGENT’S GOODBYE. When the formal proceedings of the returned troopers’ luncheon were at an end yesterday, the members of the Canterbury Rough Eiders Contingent present remained behind in the Art Gallery to say goodbye to their commander and. to the members of the Canterbury War Fund Executive. .Messrs G. G. Stead, G. Harris, H. Gotten 11 and Dr Levin ge -were present. Colonel Jowsey, addressing the men, said: The reason why I wanted you to remain behind was because I thought the least we could do was to give three cheers for the •Executive of the Canterbury War Fund, the gentlemen responsible for sending ns to South Africa-. I have the very highest opinion of the men I commanded, and am proud of them and of the part they played in South Africa, and I want to show the committee that they have still some lungs left. One gentleman whose absence I very much regret is Mr Reece, the Chairman of the Executive, to whom we have every reason to be grateful. The men gave three lusty cheers for the War Fund Executive, and three more for Mr Reece, followed in each case by the Contingent’s war cry : “ Kia kaha! he! Ki'a toa! He! Puri tea te mana o te Kuini! He! He! Hal” Colonel Jowsey asked Mr Stead to accept that expression of their good-will towards the Executive, and to tell Mr Reece how sorry oney were that he was not with them, and how grateful they were to him. Mr Stead said there wias no need for him to say that he and! his colleagues were proud to see them there, andi were proud of their success. He, too, was sorry that Mr Reece was not present. He had! had considerable experience of committees—he was getting on in ye^irs —and he had never Worked with a better man. Mr Reece’s tact, forethought and judgment had been invaluable to them. He had never had to do with a man with whom ha could take so great a pleasure in. working. He himself had taken a great interest in the movement, as all his colleagues had done. It might be said that the colonial men were not equal to the Imperial troops in drilL That might be so; but be was quite sure they equalled their Imperial comrades in lighting, in dash, 'and more than equalled them in utility. The men wanted were men with brains, and that was the character of the Rough Riders. They were obedient in the field, they were unequalled in intelligence, physique and bravery, and personally he was proud to have had something to do with sending them away. He would always’ be glad to render any assistance in his power to men of the Rough Riders Contingent. Cheers were given fox Mr Stead and fox Colonel Jowsey, and marry of the Contingenters s'ajd good-bye to the members of the Executive. The whole function, which was purely impromptu, was enthusiastic and happy in spirit. t