A VOLUNTEER GATHERING:

North Otago Times, 23 October 1905, Page 3

A VOLUNTEER GATHERING:

SOME TRAFALGAR HELIOS. A pleasant evening was spent by a windier oi volitnlcor officers on Friday evening. It was thought fitting, that they shouM meet in ut social way that evening and n<|«ite impromptu but cnjoynhlc little gathering took place in Messrs Hepburn Bros.' rooms whore a capital dinner was provided. The chair for the occasion was tnkfn by Licut.une! Headland, and tlin vice-ciiair |>y Captain Forrester. Other officers present were Chaplain Archdeacon Gould, Surgeon Captains Garland and \Yhitton, Captains Creagh, .Morris an<l Robertson, L'aiitnin-Adjutnnt Sltibbs, Lieutenants Rronn and Orhell and several nrn-com- ■— missioned officers. Major Jlahon sent an apology for non-attendance. A programme of toasts was Ignored, sonie ■ very appropriate speeches being made relative to the Trafalgar centenary, those pA being interspersed with enjoyable musical items. Perhaps the most interesting feature oi the gathering was the production and exhibition by Caplalii Crcugli ol two Trafalgar relics. The first of these was a dagger used by an officer of the French ship Redoubtable during that great s<>a light This officer was WM\ during the action, and the dagger was taken possession o[ by Midshipman Collingwood, oi the Victory, a nephew of Admiral Cob lingwood. The second relic was a small string (1! beads. After tho action each of the Victory's officers received a string of these beads made from that part of the deck of the vessel where Nelson fell, and Midshipman Collingwoid was among those who received theso now interesting and invaluable mementos. These relics have been handed down Jiy Midshipman Collingwood's family and have come into tho possession of Captain Crengh's family. The production of these created the greatest interest, and they were carefully examined and discussed on Friday evening. T% Before tho evening ended its value was so generally recognised that it was decided to hold such gathering half-yearly.