WELLINGTON GUARDS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7979, 9 December 1911, Page 9

WELLINGTON GUARDS

A REUNION OP THE CORPS. A reunion of past and present members of the Wellington Guards was held at the Tiffen Tea Rooms last night. Captain J. G, Roacho presided over a large attendance. The chairman extended a hearty welcome to members and ex-members. He said he stood in -a peculiar position. Ho was officer commanding a company which 'in reality did not exist, for the Wellington Guards had been merged into tho B Company of the sth Regiment. For tho purposes of the evening, however, he would contrive to' set back the clock. They* were assembled to renew old associations and incidentally to have a little jollification. Ho reminded his hearers that the defence scheme was in its infancy, and it called for .the sympathy and moral support of everybody who had tho welfare of tho Dominion at heart. (Applause.) in proposing the "Old Members," Captain J. Duthie, formerly' commander of tho company, recalled the old days of the corps, and related many interesting incidents. Ho reminded those present that the company had made a rejiutation at tho butts with the rifle. ’ Both William and Arthur Ballinger, ex-members of the company, had been the champions of New Zealaudon five separate occasions. Response was made by Messrs Coogan and Aamodt. Other toasts were honoured aa follow;— "First Wellington Battalion," by Major Turner, and responded to by Colonel Collins, C.M.G.; " Fifth Regiment, '■* Major Essou (Major Turner); "Other Companies," Major Cowles. During tho evening a musical programme was contributed to by the following :--Lieutenants Kenny and Wilkinson, Sergeant Parkinson, Colour-Ser-geant Bould, Corporal Shapcott, Private Probert, and Messrs A. Newton and A orthcote.