A UNIQUE GATHERING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2409, 3 May 1900, Page 75

A UNIQUE GATHERING.

(Feom Our Own Coebespont>ent.) AUCKLAND, April 25.

The "at home " given by his Excellency the Governor and Lady Ranfurly at Government House yesterday to the Imperial and 1 Colonial Veterans was a most unique and j historical gathering. A number of the veterans were received in the drawing room by Lord and Lsdy Ranfurly, wlio were much interested in the medals of some of the older veterans, and in their services. The veterans came from all parts of the province, a large number havingtheir medals on their breasts. Indeed it may be doubted whether so large a 1 number of "medal men" have ever before been gathered at o:ie time iii Auckland. The local and colonial forces were also well represented by the New Zealand war medal. The j medals showed that men had served the I Queen, to use ths words of Heber, from I " Greenland's icy mountains to India's coral strand," for one cf them had served in the Royal Navy in one of the North Pole expedi- ! tions, while theie were men who served in the Sikh wars, and those of Afghanistan, the Crimea, the Baltic, and in the later India Hill wars and the Mutiny. Some had served in earlier wars of Scrath Africa. In many caseo the men of Imperial service were fine "specimens of the old soldier, whose well-knit frames, martial stop, silvered locks, and manly feces bespoke them of nature's nobility. A I* few were so advanced in "age, over 80, that they had to be helped Tinto the "ballroom. Perhaps Jas. Brown, late Sergeant-major of the 12th Battery of Artillery 9th Brigade, had the most unique medal in the room, and thp only one of its kind — namels*, an Empress of India medal, which was given to the bestconducted soldier in each corps on her Ma-

jesty being preplanned Empress" of India (1877). Jt is a very large medal,, being suspended by a broad crimson ribbon, bordered with yellow round the neck. Another veteran who had a breastful of mt&ials, which attracted general attention, was Rowley Hill, late of the Torpedo Corps, and now assistant armourer in the local armoury. He had eight medals and two bars — the British and Turkish, Crimean, Indian Mutiny, Garibaldi's rosette (for that general's expedition in Sicily), and the New Zealand Cross. His adventures in all parts of the world would fill a three-volume novel. He 'was also a follower of that splendid guerilla leader, the laic Major Yon Temppkey, in the Forest Rangers raised by that officer. Anothei man whose breast was covered with medals was Fanch, chief -gunner's mate of H.M.S. Alert, Captain Nares, in one of the North Pole expeditions (1875-76). In their sledging expedition, when the Esquimaux dogs died, the men harnessed themselves and dragged the sledges till of his ■party Lieutenant Aldridge and himself were only able to pull, and then they turned back to the ship. One of the veterans was 83, and the second oldest present was Joseph Measures, a "Black Cuff" (58th Regiment), in his eighty-second year, who presented Lady Ranfurly with a peculiar Indian coin he had had in his possession for half a century. Had the Hon. Colonel Haultain been able to be present he would have been the oldest soldier (84-) and the oldest medal man in the room, as the holds the Marahajahpore medal (1843). There were two representatives of earliest Afghanistan campaigns in the Piimate (Bishop Cowie), who was in Sir Neville Chamberlain's expedition, and at the relief 'of Lucknow with Sir Colin Campbell, and was at Alma, was present and heard the words of cheer of Marshal Starnaud as he rode along the British lines on that eventful day. As he passed flic 55th he said, "English, I hope, you will fight well to-day," and an Irishman from the ranks exclaimed: "Hope! Shore you know we will." Dr Bayntun, with Crimean, China, and Indian medals, was the only surviving representative present of the force that fell in front of the Taku forts. One man of the colonial forces present who wore the New Zealand Cross was R. Shepherd, late sergeant of the Armed Constabulary. In defending a post near Patea in his charge he had three men killed and four wounded, being himself shot through the jaw. _The following services and corps were represented: — Royal Navy, 12 ; 2nd Dragoon Guards, 1 ; Bth Hussars, 1 ; 11th Hussars, 2 ; 20th Hussars, 1 ; Royal Horse Artillery, 1 ; Royal Artillery, 8 ; Royal Engineers, 4 ; Ist Foot, 2 ; 2nd Foot, 1 ; 4th Foot, 1 ; 6th Foot, 1 ; 12th Foot, 5 ; loth Foot, 1; 14th Foot, 9; 15th Foot, 1; 17th Foot, 1 ; 18th Foot, 19 ; 25th Foot, 1 ; 30th Foot, 1 ; 35th Foot, 1 ; 37th Foot, 1 ; 40th Foot, 12 ; 45th Foot, 1 ; 46th Foot, 1 ; 48th Foot, 1; 49th Foot, 1; 50th Foot, 3; : 53rd Foot, 2 ; 55 th Foot, 1 ; 56th Foot, 1 ; 57th Foot, 8; 58th Foot, 33; 59th Foot, 1; 65th Foot, 43 ; 66th Foot, 1 ; 68th Foot, 8 ; 69th Foot, 1; 80th Foot, 1: 83rd Foot, 1; 89th Foot, 2 ; 95th Foot, 1 ; Indian. Mutiny (regiments not named), 21; army jDensioners (no details), 5 ; Madras Fusilier*, 3$ Bengal Engineers, 1; Victoria Cross, 1; New Zealand Cross, 3 ; Auckland Volunteer Militia., 44; Onehunga Militia, 6; "Waikato Militia Regiments, 21 ; Volunteer Cavalry, 2 ; i Howick Cavalry, 3 ; Hardington'a Troop, 1 ; Wanganui, 2 ; Pitt's Militia, 2 ; New I Zealand Medallists, 34 j Colonial Dofence Force, 34 ; Forest Ranger?, 2 ; | New Plymouth Rifles, 1 5 New South .W&lss Soudan Contingent^ 1 ; np details, 96,

As the veterans defiled from Government House after a banquet and concert the band played "Soldiers of the Queen." The whole function constituted a red-letter day for the veterans, and will be remembered by many of ■them to their latest hour in affectionate remembrance of the representative of the Queen, to whose goodness of heart and generous hospitality bhey were indebted for it. The citizens of Auckland are also laid under a deep debt of obligation to Lord and Lady Ranfurly for having been the means of bringing about one of the most unique and historical gatherings which has ever taken place in^ the history of this cily. We cannot expect that again such a gathering of veterans of the Imperial and colonial forces will ever be brought together. Many of them are now far past the allotted span, and very near to "that bourne from whence no traveller ever returns," and as the months and years roll on their ranks will be rapidly thinned till come "the final halt" and "the last roll call."