BACK FROM THE WAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2520, 2 July 1902, Page 66

BACK FROM THE WAR.

RETURN OF THE SEVENTH.

AN ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME.

The memory of the brave deeds of the Seventh Contingent will t^e a long life in this yoirng colony, and the name of Bothasbcrg will ever be emblazoned on the roll of fame whatever part New Zealand may ha\e to take in the defence of the Empire's supremacy in tho years to come, and the feeling of the people was well evidenced in the enthusiastic welcome home accorded the men of the Seventh, who arrived by the express from Ohristohurch on Saturday night. The ranks of the brave band have been sadly decimated, and though New Zealanders may truly and sincerely mourn the loss- of those who sleep on the veldt, there must Htill be pride in the reflection that these men died the mc*t glorious of deaths, and their work — their part in the firmer establishing of the ascendency of the Empire and the building of the great temple of peace and liberty in which the whote world may worship at some distant day — remains for the benefit of countless generations yet unborn. It was only to be expected that the reception on Saturday night would be an enthusiastic one, and long before the time for the arrival of the express the platform was crowded by relati\e* and friends of the men, which privilege had been accorded thiough the forethouglit of the Mayor in telegraphing to Sir J. G. Ward for instructions in that direction. The overbridge was . c oon crowded to excess, and outside the station large crowds, unable to gain admission, waited to cheer the men as they came through. The Pipe Band and a company of the Highland Rifles were drawn up on the platform, and his Worship the Mayor (Mr J. A. Park), Mr R. Cliiaholm, and several other representative citizens, Colonel Robin, Adjutant Freeman, and Surgeon Lieutenantcolonel de Lautour were also present As the> train steamed in there was a deafening icar of cheering, and the men, who were in the front carriages, lustily responded. When the train had stopped, there wa^ a scene of confusion, the people on the platform attempting to rush the onmages and drag the troopers away, but C'olonol Robin and Adjutant Freeman managed to htem the rush, and the men — 4 0 in all. — under the command of Sergeant-major Munro, .stepped out quietly, and were briefly addre c sed by the Mayor from a carriage p'atform.

The Mayor said: Offieerb and men of the Seventh New Zealand Contingent, — We have met to accord you a warm nnd a cheering welcome home. — (Cheers.) I welcome you now on behalf of tho city. — (Cheers,.) You, perhaps, wonder v.-l.y this immense gathering, why this enthusiasm, and uhy this welcome. Do we deserve tins, you say. Ye?, men, T say, we all pay, you do deserve this hearty welcome home. — (Cheers ) We remember "your bproio stand near Bothasberg.—(Continued cheering.) Six of you stood up for a time and faced 200 Bopi^ — (Cheers ) What were your thoughts in these terrible momenta? You thought of home. New Zealand, and your duty lo the fljg and tho Empire. Have we not read the thrilling pceountp of De Wet's defeat by you and of your gallant and brave itand, and do we not know that the Canterbury and Otago boys stood the brunt of it a^l. while their comrade?, were being .<-lioi. down and djing around them?— (Cheer,.) Your wa. ciy wai "Death or glory, New Zealand for o\cr.'" — ' (deer.- ) You came through it all victorious with glory for those who were left and greater glory for tho^c who were slain. The Lmc of New Zealanders as brave fighting mm wa= up'ick 1 — (Ch^cr- ) Ju-t let me ro] pat what your gaMant Colonel wired to Ni'iv Zr-aLind : " (Jrsitifipd to report a mo c t dashing <<i]turo by the Seventh New Zealt.ud.Gai6 10-iL.v lI De V.'ei'a &uu«— 9l& i&-

pounder, 2 pom-poms, — ammunition, waggons, etc. Important capture. The Seventh charged the guns gallantly and took them after hand-to-hand fighting." — (Cheers.) Can you wonder, therefor©, at our meeting you so enthusiastically upon your return? New Zealand is proud of such spirit and bravery. — (Cheering.) The Mayor th*n called for three cheers for " the Bothasberg boys," which were given lustily. He then called for cheers for the other contingents, and after the cheering had subsided he intimated to the troopers whose homes were not in Dunedin that arrangements bad been made by the Patriotic Committee to billet them, and Mr C. R. Smith, the secretary, would s«e to their comfort.

After another outburst of cheering the men were carried off by friends and relatives, and were again cheered as they left the station.

Sixteen of the men proceed south 10-day.

The following is the list of tho men of the Seventh Contingent who returned on Saturday evening: — Sergeant-major C. T. Munro, Sergeants Dobson, Wilson, Leckie, Todd, M'lvor, and A. F. Martin, Quarter-master-sergeants A. Baglcy, Farrier-sergeant Clark, Corporals Ash toil, R. H. Carr, John Grant, J. Skene, H. Harvey, A. R. Murphy, and J. M'Le-nnan, Lance-corporals C Had--field, Ledington, H. Popham, and A Anderson, Troopers T. ,T. Brown, C. Bare, J. Cole, Corkin, J. Cairn ey, 13. Evans, D. Forbes, D. Ferguson, T. Gilligan, A. Grant, H. Harraway, H. Ibhotson, J. Jenkins, T. Leslie, R. Lawrence, G. S. Moffet, J. Mills, J. Jtfsi3keir, J. Marsh, R. M'Gregor, J. T. M'Kelvie, J. M'Orackon, J. M'Gregor, D. M'Gregor, H. J. Quarterman. W. Smith, James Smith, J. Templeton, E. L. WhyCe, and W. Whyte. (From Opr Own Cobrespondk.\t.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 29. Over 100 of the Canterbury and Otago sections of the Seventh Contingent arrived at Lyttelton yesterday morning by the steamers Rotomahana and Talune. The men were in charge of Lieutenant Mathieson, of Wakaia, who went to South Africa with tho Fifth Contingent. At Lyttelton there were a number of friends and relations of the returned men present to welcome them. The Mayor of Lyttelton (Mr J. Grubb) on behalf of the people of Lyttelton extended them a hearty welcome. On arrival at the Christchurch station the men were welcomed on behalf of tho citizens by the Mayor (Mr Henry F. Wigram), and on behalf of the volunteer forces by Lieut.colonel Webb, the officer commanding the district. The Mayor referred to the manner fn which the Seventh Contingent had distinguished themselves at Bothaaberg. He believed that if any of the others of the New Zealand Contingents had been there they would have borne themselves with equal bravery. The majority of the South Canterbury and Otago men shortly afterwards left by the express for their homes.