LONG SERVICE MEDALS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1205, 5 April 1895, Page 34

LONG SERVICE MEDALS.

There was a very large gathering of Volunteer officers and men and the general public at the Drillshed last week on the occasion of the presentation of long and efficient service medals to Lieut.-Colonel Newall, Manor Messenger and Captain Coleman. The G-arrison Band paraded under Bandmaster Herd, and there were also present strong contingents of the Permanent Artillery, under Sergeant-Major Richardson; the Torpedo Corps, under Captain Falconer; the Wellington Navals, under Lieut.-Commander Campbell; the City Rifles, under Captain Collins; the Wellington Guards, under Captain Paterson ; the Petone Navals, under Sub-Lieut. Field; the D Battery, under Lieut. Warren, together with Commanders Hislop (retired list) and Haselden, and Staff-Sergeant-Major Finn. At 7.45 p.m., the Premier and Minister of Defence (Hon. R. J. Seddon), Mrs Seddon and party entered the Drillshed, accompanied by Lieut.-Colonel Hume (Undersecretary for Defence) and Lieutenant Hume.

The Premier having inspected the parade, Lieutenant-Colonel Hume called Lieutenant-Colonel He wall, Major Messenger and Captain Coleman to the front, and explained that the medals to be presented would be worn on the left breast, in the same position as war medals. He further stated that these medals were for long and efficient service, and were gained under the following conditions,-viz.: —An officer must have served 16 years as an efficient Volunteer unbroken, or 20 years as an efficient Volunteer boken service. He then read out the service records of the officers to whom they were to be presented. The details are as follow: —Lieutenant-Colonel Newall — Served in the 3rd Regiment Waikato Militia from the 2nd December, 1863, to 9th March, 1868; in the A.C. from 10th March, 1868, to 31st December, 1882 ; on permanent staff as District Adjutant and still serving as officer commanding district from Ist January, 1883, to 27th March, 1895. Total service m New Zealand Colonial Forces, 31 years 115 days. Major Messenger —Served as ensign during the Maori war under Major Brown for, say, four years ; as captain of Taranaki Military Settlers, three years; captain of Taranaki Bushrangers, say, four years ; in charge of a party of constabulary, holding rank as captain of militia, building bridges on the Urenui-Mimi rivers, for which he received the thanks of the Government of the day, two years; as sub-inspector A.C. from Ist December, 1877, to 30th August, 1886, 8 years 275 days; as major, Permanent Militia, from Ist September, 1886, to date, 27th March, 1895,8 years 208 days. Total service in New Zealand Colonial Forces, 30 years 118 days. Captain Coleman—Drill instructor to Volunteers from 28th October, 1874, to 30th April, 1875; drill sergeant police from Ist May, 1875, to 18th

July, 1878; sergeant-major A.C. from 19th July, 1378, to'6th April, 1880; sub-inspec-tor A.C. from 7th April, 1880, to 31st August, 1886; serving as captain Permanent Militia from Ist September, 1886, to date, 27th March, 1895. Total service in New Zealand Colonial Force, 20 years 156 days. Mrs Seddon then pinned the medals on the left breast of the recipients’ uniforms, at the same time congratulating them on the distinction they had won.

The Premier then addressed the assembly, expressing the very great pleasure he and Mrs Seddon felt at being present, and the readiness with which they had responded to the invitation to attend the function, which fully merited the very large attendance he saw before him. When officers had served their country for a number of years faithfully and well, oftentimes labouring under great difficulties, the presentation of a medal was little enough return, and in addition he wished to express to those distinguished officers the hope that they would live long to wear those medals which they had so worthily earned. (Applause.) Addressing himself to the general body of Volunteers present Mr Seddon remarked that Volunteers all over the Colony devoted a great deal of time to their laborious duties, receiving therefore nothing in the way of pecuniary reward, and ofttimes even merely criticism of an adverse kind. He had always contended that if the occasion arose in New Zealand they would find in their midst those who would be able to defend their homes, and, from the experience they had gained, would be equal to any emergency, and prove worthy sons of a noble and valiant race. (Applause.) That in itself was a sufficient reward to them, but it would be satisfactory to them to know also that those whose duty it was to encourage the Volunteer movemenfTfelt that there should be a feeling of confidence established, and never was the Government of the country more determined to do them justice, so far as the means at their command would permit, than at the present time. (Applause.) He combated the idea that a partially paid force was necessary in New Zealand, and went on to say he was satisfied the officers and men were thoroughly efficient, and capable, if occasion arose, of doing credit to themselves, their officers and their country. In his capacity as Minister for Defence he had endeavoured to do that which was right. It might have been, and was, sometimes unpleasant to have to do so, but he had a j duty to perform, and he did it, no matter j how unpleasant it was. They had in their : Military Adviser an officer recently from the Old Country, well recommended, and fully alive to what was required of him. With regard to arms, he remarked that the means at the disposal of the Governments did not permit them to provide all the men with Martini-Henry rifles in place } of the Sniders, which were said to be |

obsolete, but they had now 2000 MartiniHenry rifles in the Colony, and by the lastmail an order had been sent to the AgentGeneral in London for 1000 more, and to, if possible, arrange for the balance required to arm the whole of the Volunteer Forces with that weapon. As to the Easter encampment, he stated that the Nelson Volunteers had been given permission to attend, and after consideration similar permission had been granted to the Marlborough division, while the batteries had, as was thought best for them, been ordered private practice. In conclusion, he said he was sure one and all of them would wish that the recipients of these medals would live and die honoured, as they had been honoured that day, having faithfully performed their duty to their country. (Applause.) Lieutenant-Colonel Hume, on behalf of the Volunteer Forces, thanked Mrs Seddon for having honoured them by presenting the medals, and at the invitation of Captain Collins three lusty cheers were given for Mrs Seddon. The Minister of Defence briefly returned thanks on her behalf, and the men having been put through the manual exercise by Captain Collins, the proceedings terminated.