RETURNED TROOPERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11731, 13 August 1901, Page 5

RETURNED TROOPERS.

The officer commanding the Auckland : volunteer district received a telegram from I Wellington last night to the effect that the following troopers would leave for Auck--1 land to-day, via New Plymouth, arriving on Wednesday:—Sergeant Gordon, Corporals Pillenger, Bray, and Henderson, Troopers Budge, Bradbury, Hammond, Hunter, McLeod, H. Smith, L. W. Smith, Urquhart, Wright, Taylor, Baddeley, Wild, Leslie, McDonald. ' Sergeant Clarke : remains behind in the Wellington Hospital, and is progressing favourably. • A correspondent writes: — "It does not seem to be well known that the Auckland section of the Fifth, who arrived at Dunedin by the Waihora, and are now on their way North, is the famed No. 1 15-pounder' Battery that was beleaguered in Zeerust, and the champions in their boxing matches and at most of their athletic sports. They were the great Zeerust football and tug-of-war team, and they seem to have kept up their end of the spar pretty well. I fancy the. North Lancashire:;, the sth Fusiliers, and the Yeomanry will take home a 'top side' opinion of the Auckland boys shut up in Zeerust with them, as well;as all the others of the batteries manned by the Auckland Fifths." A reception in the form of a banquet and social was given to returned Trooper C.. Wheeler, taking place in the Public Hall, Clevedon, Friday evening, August 9. Considering the inclemency of the weather it was surprising the number that turned up to participate in the welcome. The hall was tastefully decorated with bunting (supplied by Mr. A. B. Donald for the occasion), and the tables fairly groaned under the weight of good things prepared by the ladies of the district, many of whom were present, Cap-

tain Wallis presided. Amongst the visitor* were the returned troopers, Munro and Condon, the *Bev. 0. R. Hewlett, Messrs." H. Walsh, Jas. McKnight, F. Jameson, A. Mc-f Nicol, and members of the Franklin Mounted Rifles, who appeared in uniform. 'Trooper ? Wheelei, on entering the hall,' was received upstanding, the Wait Brass Band striking up "See the Conquering Hero Comes," at the conclusion of winch cheer upon cheer wis given by. the assemblage. The following toasts were drunk :—"The King," " Our Guest," "Army, Navy, and Colonial Forces," "The Parents of Returned Troopers/' "The Ladies," coupled with the names of the ladies on the Management Committee, Mesdames Couldrey, 'Mann, Dickens. Misses J. Atchison, and J. Luke; "The Press,'coupled, with the name of Mr. Sehmitt; Captain Wallis," of the Franklin Mounted Rifles, who received quite an ovation. Mr. Jameson fax proposing the toast of the guest said when our boys went from Wairoa we could not help having grave doubts of seeing them all again, but thanks to the Almighty we have been able to welcome back all'those who went away to fight for. their country. The map of Africa will _ no longer be of little interest, and the : rising generation will look back with pride to think that the boys of New Zealand had a hand in bringing "about an end which will be acknowledged as one of the greatest triumphs in accessions to the British Empire. Trooper Wheeler, in reply, expressed his warmest thanks for the manner m which he was welcomed to Wairoa. The banquet concluded by the band playing *' God Save the Kinj,," after which the hall was cleared for dancing. —[Wairoa, South Correspondent.] Our Nuhaka North correspondent writes : Trooper Whitehead, who has represented our district for the last 18 months with the Fifth Contingent in South Africa, baa . just returned for a Well-earned holiday.: A subscription list has been opened for the purpose of providing a suitable testimonial :to present to Trooper Whitehead, and the presentation will probably take place at Morere shortly, \-

[BY TELEGRAPH.— CORBKSr-ONTJKNT.] , Thames, Monday. . At a meeting of the Returned Troopers* Reception Committee, held this afternoon, the Mayor presiding, it was decided to accord a public reception to Trooper Taylor, of the Fifth Contingent, who is expected, to arrive at the Thames on Friday next. The reception will take place on Friday evening on the arrival of the train from Auckland, when speeches of welcome will be delivered, and the volunteer companies, with their respective bands, will join in a procession through the town, in which places of honour will be accorded to returned.troopers., A public meeting is to be held on Wednesday evening to decide upon further details, flu? committee being of opinion that the public should be given an opportunity of taking some.part in the matter.,■ *.<'• ..,;>'"