SOCIAL AT NORTH-EAST VALLEY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2471, 24 July 1901, Page 26

SOCIAL AT NORTH-EAST VALLEY.

The dirty weather in no wi°e interfeied with the attendance at the North-East Valley Hall 011 Fllday on the occasion of eke social tendered by the Valley residents to the tioopers lecently returned fiom South Africa. The Mayor" (Mr W. B. Anderson) presided, and seated on the platform were Troopeis H. M'Donald, E. Lear, G. F. Smith, C. W. Watt, and W. N. Brown (fourth contingent), T Butters (filth contingent), and E. J. West and W. M'Farquharson (second contingent). Trooper Beath also occupied a seat on the platform. The Chairman read apologies for non-attendance from Colonel C. S. Reeves and Trooper White, the latter on account of illness, after which the North-East Valley Band, under the conductorshij> of Mr R. Cook, played '" Red, white, and blue." The Chairman sajd that, on behalf of the residents of the Noitk-East Valley, he had great pleasure in welcoming home the returned troopers. Since they had left the Valley their caieer had ben watched with interest, and eveiy morning the papers had been eagerly scanned for news of their welfare. He was sure that the commendation they had received from their officers foi their bravery and devotion had been well merited. Despite the hardships they had undergone and the privations they had suffered he must compliment them on their appearance. He was sorry that they were no' able tc welcome all who had left the Valley for South Afuca, for as they all knew young Sonenson had been shot m action, and his bones were lett on the veldt. They sympathised too with Tioopers Brown and White, at present in the hospital, but wkg wicia making good progress tpwaids ie-

ccvery. Trooper Crawford too had been taken ill that afternoon, and he al=o had their sympathy. Pie-(the chaiiman) had much i^leasure m presenting each of the troopers, on behalf of the Valley residents, -with a small memento as a token of their appreciation of the splendid manner m which the tioopers had behaved. Although not of much intrinsic worth yet it would be treasiued as coming from the lesidents of the North-East Valley, where most of the returned troopeis had been born. The Chaiiman then handed to Troopers H. M'Donald, E. Leai, W. N. Brown. T. Butteis, C. J. West, W. M'Farquharson, G. F. Smith, and C. W. Watt a handsome gold watch pendant, in the shape of a Maltese cross, bearing the following mscuption. " Pifsented to Tiooper (here followed the name in each mstar>(vO from the lesidcuts of the North-East Valley on their return iiom the Transvaal war." In making; the pioscntat'on, the Chairman said f welcome you home, and trust that you have ictmncd to live amongst us again. You have hud n t»ste of war .such as few colonials <mi boast of. Fiom what I have heaid yon say, I think you will be veiy ' willing to remain in the Valley, for often when sleeping on the veldt you inus>t have come to the conclusion that the North-East Valley was not Mich a bad place. —(Applause). The band having played the National Anthem, dancing was indulged in, and at intervals short speeches of welcome were delivered by Messrs S. G. Smith, G. Calder, J. Green, and other gei.tlemen, and songs by Miss Drake, j Miss Orange, and Messrs H. Drake, J. Oliver, R. Steele, Townsend, and R. Wilson. A taste-fully-laid stipper, provided by Mrs Doyle, was much enjoyed, and under the guidance of the j M.C.'s—Messrs Doyle, Fraser, and Brewdancing was kept up with spirit until an early hour.