Welcome Home Social at Nightcaps.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume XIII, Issue 634, 17 July 1917, Page 3

Welcome Home Social at Nightcaps.

Amongst the laet batch of wounded soldiers to return to our shores was Private Walter Walsb, of Nightcaps. When it became known that ho was to arrive m Nightcaps ou Tuesday night for certain, arrangements were made to give him a fitting welcome. As the tram pulled into the railway station, the Nightraps Brass Band played •• Home Sweet Home." A round of cheers greeted the returned man as he stepped from the carriage, and was escorted to a platform, where Mr James Grant, chairman of the Nightcaps Patriotic Oornniitfcee, welcomed him, m a neat speech, back to his old home. A procession, under the control of Mr U. Callanan as Marshall, and consisting of the Nightcaps Brass Band, Mr Kiohardson's motor car with the wounded hero, and a Mounted Guard of Honour, together with numbers of his old friends, then moved off to his. home.

Owing to the Coronation Hall being engaged for other purposes on Tuesday night, the Welcome Home Bocial m Private Welsh's honour was held on Wednesday night. Previous to the conainenceinenl; of the programmethe Nightcaps Brass Band played several appropriate selections m front of the Hall. When the ourtain rosp, the building was packed to the doors. Mr Jss. Grant was m the chair, and seated jwith him on the stage were Private Welsh and Messrs Gray and Todd. The National Anthem and items were rendered by tho following performers: Song Miss Ruth Gray (encored;, eong Miss Hagerty (encored), song Miss Nicholson (encored), song Mr Jas Grant (encored), dialogue Misses Gill and Quested, song Miss Dockerty (encored), song Mr Jas. Grant, junr., song Mrs Dallow (encored). The accompaniments were played by Mrs Oapitaneas m her usual capable mann&r. During the evening the chairman, on behalf of the people of Nightcaps, presented Private Walsh with a substantial cheque, and also with a suicably insoribei medal, which was pinned on his breast by Mies Wright. Private Walsh, who was greeted with lond applause on his rising to respond, thanked them for the warm welcome they had given him on bis return, aud also for the presentation he had received. Speeches were also delivered by Messrs J. Gray and T. Todd, who both referred to the sterling qualities of the guest of the evening.

After the concert was over, the crowning of the Queen of the local Fairy Carnival was proceeded with. Miss Ivy McGregor waß duly crowned and had homage paid to her by the members of her Court. Mr Peter Graufc, on behalf of the Ked Cross Princess Committee, presented the Queen with a brooch, and handed similar presents to the other Princesses.

The Hall was then c'eared for dancing, and when the first dance commenced there was hardly standing room. The music was supplied by Messrs Tinker, Dickson, Lee, Moss, Dixou and fcttroucl, and the duties of M,C. were ably carried ou*t by Mr 0.

F. Quested. Dancing 'was kept up until an early hour, when the gathering dispersed, with everybody well pleased with the Wecome Homo KociV.