ROYAL NEW ZEALAND FENCIBLES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10596, 10 November 1897, Page 5

ROYAL NEW ZEALAND FENCIBLES.

jubilee Festival OF their V. LANDING AT HOWICK,

Yesterday the fiftieth anniversary of the landing of , the . Royal New Zealand Fencibles, from the ships Minerva, Sir Robert Sale, and Sir George Seymour, at Howick beach was celebrated. There could not have been less than 1000 persons " pre-sent-on ; the * occasion^' the' descendants coming ■ from Auckland. find surround, ing districts, and from • Waikato, in r the south, to " Gisborno on the T East Coast. From Auckland Mr, Crawford had to put on three 'buses, and up till noon,' 'buses, buggies, private carriages, and cyclists streamed into Howick.. At the Anglican ,Church " the union flag was flying,,while at the Roman Catholic Church it was also flying, but halfmast, owing to the death of 'Mr.' O'Halloran, of Pakuranga, who was to be buried that afternoon. The Oddfellows' Hall was also gaily decorated with .flags. 'The committeo of management consisted of Messrs, John W. White (lion, 'sec.), Geo. White, J. Nicholas, Ed.' Fitzpatrick',' and ''This. Speer, and they deserve tho highest credit for their management, there not being 'the slightest hitch of any kind. Monsignor McDonald as usual gave a hospitable welcome to all/"'' " ! ,;1 *■

.. AN AL FKESCO LUNCH.;.' About 500 to 600 persons had lunch at noon in ' Mr. Thompson's paddock, Air. Johnston, of Otahuhu, being the caterer for the day, for the lunch, the dinner, and the ball. ]' " " r,> .-.tV, MB SPORTS. A series of races wore improvised by the sports committee for the young folks.- Mr. Massey, : judge; "Mr. Thos. Mclnnes, starter; Mr. Brady,' handicapper; the other ' members of the "committee being Messrs. Page, Roberts, Paton',' R. Speer. ■ First Race (from 6 years of age and under), three entries: J. Brace 1, Bushell 2. ' ; Second Race (from 8 to, 10), six entries; Allan Bruce 1, Bertie Qiiiulan 2, Charles Smith 3. ivi •'?•, >■ Third' Race, 18 entries: Duncan Maekay 1, Lewis White 2, Cyril Fleming 3. _ Fourth Race, sixteen entries: Cyril Fleming 1, Bertie Quirila'n 2,' Chits.' Smith 3. '■"Fifth Race (10 to 14), eiurht entries: Denby i;'Sarder.2,'Fleming3. ' ' Sixth Race (11 to 14),. fourteen entries: fitzpatrick 1, Smith 2,Fleming 3, ' /V""' ' Seventh Race (for pensioners' grandsons), five entries: G. B. Sheeby 1, H. J. Wilson 2, HughNichollsl3, . ' PHOTOGRAPHING THE SURVIVORS AND THEIR T"" ' DESCENDANTS. . Thero wero three photographers present, wljo photographed firstthe groupof survivors of the original band who landed on Howick beach from H.M. Government gunbrig Victoria in 1847, and at present in the township. ' There were Mosdames Heath, Paton, Frost, and another lady whose name wo could not ascertain, and Mr. Thos. Heath. ,i Then followed photographic groups of thp descendants by each ship separately :—

Minerva: Mesdames J. Carter, Geo. E. White, Hathaway, McMillan, Kcuealy, Pye, Paton, Speight, Massey, M. Macanlay, J. Kelly, Speer. Patou, Messrs. S. Lord, J. Carter, W. A. White, Geo. E. White, John W. White, Ed. Fitzpatrick, John Kelly, Chas. Hare, Geo. Wadmiin, Thos. Speor.' ' Sir Robert Sale: Mesdames Speechley, Crawford, 'Finley,' Syms, ' Frost,. Sherry, Roberts, Hutchinson, Messrs. J. i*inlay, H. J. Syms, George Lloyd. Sir Georgo Seymour: Mesdames Quinn, Fam, Crawsliaw, Bushell, Nicholas, Heath, Smythyman, Ohlson, Mackay, Brady, Messrs. Thomas" Heath, Cunningham, Massey, Nicholas, J. Lynch.

Monsignor'McDonald was taken in the group of each ship. A general group of the whole assemblage of descendants of Pensioners was subsequently taken.

THE DINNER IS THIS ODDFELLOWS' HALL.

At four o'clock about 200 descendants of Pensioners and their friends sat. down to dinner in the Oddfellows' Hall. Mr. Every Maclean, of "Bleak House," with great kindness and forethought drove down in his own private carriage to tho ' residence of Mr. Thomas Heath, the only 'surviving Pensioner in Howick, and brought him and his aged spouse up to the hjill to the dinner, Mr. Heath' being in too feeble health to undergo tho fatigue of walking. . Tho hall was decorated with tho flags of all nations, and 'ut"tlia"' back -''-of tho platform was the Royal Standard, the Union . Jack, and ' Stars and Stripes also being conspicuous. Overhead on the northern wall was the legend by a local artist, "Howick Jubilee 1847-1897 (With seal of colony in centre of dates) and ships Minerva, Sir Robert Sole, and Sir George Seymour, R.N.Z.F." .Mr, H. J. Syms (Sir Robert Sale) presided, being supported by the Rev. K. G. Bolor on his right, arid Mr. Every Maclean on his left. Mr. Edward Fitzpatrick officiated as vice-chairman. An excellent dinner was provided, to which full justice was done. The lateness of the hour, and the necessity of a, number of guests returning to Auckland precluded anything like speechmakiug, though Messrs. Macleap, C. J. Wilson, Fitzpatrick, , Gerald Peaaocke, and the Chairman made interesting but brief remarks concerning the olden time in Howick. The following were the toasts:—"The Queen," by the Chairman; " The Prince of, and "His Excellency the Governor, by the vice-chairman; " The Now Zealand Fencibles: Pioneers of Howick," by Mr. Maclean ; responded tojjjr Captain C. J, Wilson, Messrs. Fitzpatricit and Gerald Peaeocke, the latter ,as an old Howick boy. • The health of Mr. Heath';', by Mr. Maclean, was responded to by the Rev. Mr. Boler. on Mr. Heath's behalf, as he was in . indifferent health. Among the other toasts were "Other Guests," coupled with the names of M6nsigriore McDonald arid the jßev. Mr.' Boler, the latter . responded on behalf .' of- both, " The Ladies," by Mr. A. S. Thompson ; and "The Press," by the Chairman, which was responded, to ' by Mr.' G. M. , Main (Herald staff). Tlia cingiag of I " Add Lang Syne" brought) fcba proceedings to a close. Monoignore, MoDonnld wan unablo tabs present 'owing to'officiating at the funeral of the late Mr. O'Halloran. Among the Auckland', vioitoro to - the township wore Capt. Daldy and Mr. John Gordon.

.jj,, . THE BALL. ~ v ' In 'the evening the 1 hall was cleared for dancing. There was a crowded attendance of the young folks' of tho district, and dancing kept up till an early hour this morning. So terminated an Interesting historical re-union. • Boffa Bros', . string band supplied tho music during the proceedings of tho day. : . '

• The eating apparatus of tho fly is a sucker of very large proportions when compared with tho size of the insect. If the mouth of a man were of the same proportionate size as that of the fly, his head would have to bo onlarged about 2it on each sido in order to accommodate his lips and teotli. : • In tho United' States a now'method, of preparing fodder for live stock is, coming into favour. Tiio pith of cornstalks is used for packing between the plates of warships, and the now fodder is made from tho hard shells of the stalks after' the pith' is taken out. lV These are ground into a fine-powder, which can be bagged, and kept as long. as any other ground fodder. - It is said to be richer in muscle-making qualities ' than , the whole cornstalk, and. stock eat it readily. Mixed with oil-meal or cotton-seed meal, In proper proportions, it makes a well-balanced ration. ■' . -,' , (i . !

Women', and Especially; Mothers, 'are most competent to appreciate the purity, sweetness and delicacy of Cuticura Soap, and to discover new ■ uses for it daily.' Its rentekable emollient, cleansing, and purifying properties warrant its use in the form of washes or solutions, for annoying irritations, inflammations', and ■ chafings, for ulcerative weaknesses or too free or offensive perspiration, and for many sauative purposes which will readily suggest thsmsclves. In many of tin? above . instances, gentle applications of CuTiauiiA (ointment), t. supplemented in the severer forms of skin irritations by the use of Ccttcura; greatest of emollient skin cures, i:i addition will proveof marked benefit, 1 _' r J A service of song and sacred concert will be held in St. Matthew's Schoolroom to-mor-row evening. . >, The Auckland Caledonian Society has decided to change its place of meeting to St. George's Hall, where the : next social will be held this evening. 1 ' . " ■ ■ ' The regular monthly meeting of Lodge Ant, No. 1, K.Z., will lie held this evening. - ' ; « The Auckland ' Co-operative Terminating Building Society hold a public meeting at the Oddfellows'; Hull, ! l'arnell, this evening to explain the workings of tho society. '' :• Si'At the Foresters' Hall to-morrow ; evening Mi-." \V. W. Collins lectures on ■ " A Trip to: tho Moon." The lecture will ■be illustrated by a series of photographs. !£v v! A", Yon can-buy any. family requisite at the depots of the Ribate Alliance Co.—[See their. Advt.} " *' ; . I- '