SOCIAL AT SOUTH DUNEDIN TO RETURNED TROOPERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2474, 14 August 1901, Page 28

SOCIAL AT SOUTH DUNEDIN TO RETURNED TROOPERS.

Kaumann's Hall, South Dtmedin, was packed to the doors jon Wednesday, when a concert and social w*a held, by the residents of St. Kilda. and South Dunedin ior the puftpose of extending *a welcome to the troopers of the district who have returned home from Soiri-h Africa. Hough held somewhat later than those in other districts, the welcome shewed no lack of heartiness and enthusiasm. The Mayor of South Dunedin (Mr A. Todd) presided, and on his invitation the following troopers took their seats on the stage: — Corporal Mathie, Troopers Morton, Cairns, Duncan (of the fourth contingent), and Corperal Goodman,' Troopers Lear and Pellett (of the fifth contingent). The other troopers in the district who have returned ire Trooper Waldie (first contingent) and Corpcial Rumble (of the fourth contingent). These two, however, were unable to be present. Before proceeding with the musical programme, tlie Chairman said he esteemed it a great privilege^ to preside over such a large gathering, which showed that the patriotic spirit had not yet died out in the district.* Some people said they were making too much, fnss over the returned troopers. He did not think so. .These men had gone awa-y, none of them sure they would come back again, and _surely it was only right tkat they should give them a hearty welcome when they returned •hdme safe and sound. _He was glad to see that in. this matter the people of v South Dunedin and' St. Kilda were not going to be behind those of the other districts. — (Applause.) The Mayor of St. Kild% was then called on to make a presentation of medala to the troopers. The medala were of gold, of Maltese cross foim, and appropriately inscribed. In performing this ceremony, Mr Hodges referied to the groundless fears that had been expressed when the proposal to send New Zealanders to the fiont was first made, that they would not prove themselves worthy of being placed side by side with the Imperial troops. These fears had long since been dispelled, and the men sent from New Zealand had worthily upheld the ■prestige of the colony. All those who had gone from South Dunedhi and St. Kild* with the fourth -and fifth contingents had been spared to .return, and he, with the Mayor of South Dunedin, thought it only right and proper that the residents of the two boroughs should extend to them a hearty welcome back.—(Applause.) Turning to the troopers, the speaker congratulated them on their safe return, aiid •aid he wished to present them each with a medal as a recognition of the valuable services they had tendered m South Africa, and the manner in which they had upheld the prestige of the colony. — (Applause.) - The troopers were heartily applauded as they »tood ug to receive their medals. The audience Bang " For th<»y are jolly good fellows," and followed this up with three lousing cheeis. Trooper Pellett returned thanks on behalf of himself and his connacles. He said he was not much of a. " speeclufier/'and would sooner face the Boers than an audience. They appreciated very much the entertainment, and the hearty manner in which those present had received them. He reciprocated their good wishes, aud hoped they xvould enjoy themselves thoroughly. — ICkeejei i

A musical programme was then gone through, after which the hall was cleared for dancing.

Trooper Morgan, of Kumara, who recently returned from South Africa, is at present dangerously ill, suffering from penumonia and typhoid fever. He went through t'le campaign in South Africa without a day's illness.

Sergeant Scott, a member of the second New Zealand contingent, who left on Wednesday on a visit to the Home country, was met by a few of his friends and comrades at the Shamrock Hotel on Wednesday and entertained at a smoke concert. Several toasts were honoured during the evening, the health of the guest being proposed by Mr Crawshaw in a happy speech, and all present united in. wishing Sergeant Scott God-speed and a pleasant voyage.

Trooper J. A. Palmer, of Kari Bush, a member of the fourth contingent, was accorded an enthusiastic welcome social on Friday last, the attendance, notwithstanding the inclemency of thfi weatheT, being very large, including visitors from Henley, Brighton, and other places in the vicinity. Mr Peter Leitch, who presided, delivered an address of welcome to the guest, in the course of which he presented Trooper Palmer with a splendid watch as a token of the esteem in which he -was held by the residents round Kuri aiid Brighton, the trooper replying in a few modest remarks. Mr Kea-st also addressed a- few words of welcome to the guest. A number of vocal and instrumental selections were rendered during the- evening, and ,were received witii marked approval by the- audience. Dancing was afterwards indulged in till the small hours of the morning, the music being supplied by Messrs A. Black and Brown.

The northern troopers, numbering between 20 and 30, who ai rived from South Africa on Wednesday morning, continued their journey homewards by the Waihora on Thursday afternoon.

At the Provincial Hotel on 'Wednesday night the third social evening" of the combined yachtsmen took the form of a reception to Corporal J. T. Low. Mr E. Bellis (of Naseby) occupied the chair. During the evening Corporal Low (who is an enthuslastio yachtsman) was presented with a silvermounted umbrella, suitably inscribed, on behalf of the /combined yachtsmen. Mr Bellii, in making the presentation, spoke of tlie many good qualities of Mr Low as a •"soldier and yachtsman. The recipient responded in a neat speech, giving a few of his experiences in South Africa. Tlie following toasts were duly honoured: — "The King," "Sir Thomas Lipton," "The Otago Yacht Club," "Kindred Sports," "The Guest of the Evening," " Our Boys at the Front," " The Visitors." Musical items were rendered by Messrs D. Cooler, W. Wilbelmion, J. Collins. E. Bellis,' R. M'Culloch, W. Auderson,-jC. Graham, S. Marsden;, S. Brandon, and Corporal Low. Mr D. Cooper acted as accompanist. ■ -

Troopers- F. C. . Lory (fifth contingent) "and H. Draper (fourth contingent), who have both been undergoing-Jiospital treatment at the Chalet Private "Hospital, High street, write thanking Nurses Church and Sutherland and their medical attendant (Dr De Lautour) for the great kindness and attention they have received during the past four weeks. They also desire to express their gratitude to a number of private citizens, who treated thftn with great hospitality during- their period of confinement in the private hospital. It is understood that both troopers will be sent to Rotorua for further treatment before they can be discharged as convalescent.

The. peop'e of Saddle Hill and Fairfield assembled in. large numbers at the Walton Schoolhouse on Friday evening in order to extend a welcome to Trooper Alexander Miller, who went to South Afric« with remounts, and subsequently joined Kitchener's Light Horse. Mr James Loudon occupied the chair. Besides the guest of the evening, Mr D. S. Mason, the schoolmaster, also had. a seat on the platform, and, at the chairman's request, he opened the meeting with prayer. Several boys in khaki from the T?ieri district were rlso present. A short programme of songs and recitations had been arranged, and was successfully carried through with evident satisfaction to the audience, who marked their appreciation from time to time by hearty rounds of applaizse. Songs were given by Miss Loiidon (" Brothers," or " The colonies will fight at England's side "), Mis? J. Loudon (" Afton water "), Mr Alexander Gray (" Sons of the Empire "), and Mr J. M'Lean ("The song tkaiT'wiH live for ever ") ; Miss H. Westfield and Miss Ha-talie lecited " The Pride of Battery B " and " The Dandy Fifth " respectively, ea-eli item being well received. During an interval the Chairman said that they had met not only to welcome their friend, but also to present him with a tangible token of their regard. He said that Kitchener's Light Horse was a body of men similar to our own fourth and fifth contingents — men who were ready to fight their country's battles and to rough it on the South African veldt. He then referred to tlie precarious cond;tion in which British arms were in prior to our sending away the above mentioned contingents, and said that m every sense of the word those contingents were going forth to uphold the integrity and solidarity of the British Empire, and to guard the best interests of mankind in general. Kitchener's Light Horse was practically in the same position, and although our interest in them was not so great as it was in regard to our own contingents, yet they all felt that the men who composed that company did their duty to a man. Turning t^o Trooper Miller, Mr Loudon said . "We aie all very, very glad to be able to welcome you back safe and sound, and on behalf of tin Saddle Hill and Fairfield lesidents I have much pleasure m presenting you with this excellent silver watch and handsome gold albert and locket. May you long be spared to wear them." — (Applause.) Trooper Miller briefly lesponded, and then three rinsing cheers were given respectively for Lord Kitchener, Trooper Miller, and the " Taieri. contingents. During tkot evening refreshments were handed round, and after the concert dancing was kept up until the early hours of the morning.

The u-ual weekly meeting of the Land Board on Wednesday was adjourned for a week out of respect io the memory of the late Sir John M'Kenzie. All the members were present, including- Mr Clark, who has been absent from several meetings through illness, and 'who doe* not appear to be quite convalescent yeL