FIRST CONTINGENT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7265, 22 October 1910, Page 1

FIRST CONTINGENT

_ • ——. \ ANNUAL REUNION. Members of the First New; Zealand Mounted Rifles Association met last evening at Godber's, to mark the eleventh anniversary of the departure of the First Contingent to take part in tho South African'' War. Colonel A. W. Robin, C. 8., Chief of the General Staff, who commanded tho regiment in South Africa, presided. Lieutenant-Colonel D'Arcy Chaytor (one of the subaltern officers of the regiment) and about thirty non-ooiamissioned officers and me-i were present. Greetings were received from London from BrigadierGeneral Davies, C. 8., Major J. GethinHughes, and many other members of the contingent in various parts of the world. Colonel Robin said that of the 214 men who comprised the First Contingent. 157 were resident in New Zealand, G in Eng-; land, S is India., 7 in South Africa, the addresses of 13 were unknown, while 28 had passed n.way. The annual report, which congratulated Brigadier-General Davies and Major! Madocks (on the military staff of General Sir lan Hamilton in tho Mediterranean) on their promotion, was adopted, and the_ whole of the old officers of the association re-elected. During tho evening toasts of "The King," "The Navy, Army and Auxiliaries," '.'Our Officers," and "Absent Comrades," were honoured. According to the usual custom, "The Roll of the Honoured Dead" was read, and the toast drunk in. silence. During the evening items were contributed by Messrs W. Harris,E. Witheford, C. Bould, Boss, G. Warren, J. Catherall, D.. Kenny, T. W. Brown . and others, the reunion closing with the National Anthem. ■ ' . i