A MEMORIAL TABLET.

Otago Witness, Issue 2667, 26 April 1905, Page 56

A MEMORIAL TABLET.

A special full-dress parade of the Dunedin Engineers and Cadets was held at the Garrison Hall on Wednesday evening to mark the occasion of the unveiling of a memorial tablet which has been erected in the company's orderly room to the memory of the late Sergeant-major Henry and the late Sergeant Russell. Major Beal and Major Barclay, both former captains of the Engineers, were also present. Major Beal. who was asked to unveil tliG tablet by Captain Ross, said that the late Sergeant-major Henry and the late Sergeant Russell -were well known as efficient noncommissioned officers, who had been p, credit to their company and to the Volunteer district. He had seen a good deal of their old sergeant-major during- his Jast illness, and it had pleased him to find how great bad been the attention paid to him by the Volunteer medical officers. The late sergeant-major and himself had always been the best of friends, bound together by close and long Volunteering associations — associations of tho pa«r which, they had often talked over together._ His acquaintance with the late Sergeant Russell had also been an intimate one, and he thought that the Volunteer careers of both men could always be held up to their young members as an encouragement, example, and incentive to duty. Old associations were dear to them all, and it was very pleasing to find that the company had taken steps to perpetuate the memory of its departed comrades in such a manner. He felt that it was also a great honour to be called upon to unveil the tablet.

The memorial, which took the form of a handsome Carrara marble tablet, was then unveiled by Major Beal, and the. company stood to attention while ex-Sapper Wilhclm-

son sang " The throne of grace " in a feeling manner

Major Barclay, being called on by Captain Ross to address the parade, said that such an occasion must be regarded as a unique one in the history of a Volunteer organisation, because they had assembled to assist in perpetuating tho memory of two honoured Volunteers and tv.o highlyesteemed comrades. A meeting such as theirs carried with it an element of sadness, because they could not hide from themselves the fact that their tv\ o comrades had ser\cd their allotted span and left this lite for c\or. Major Beil had already referred to tho distinguished ser\ices lendered to Volunteering by them, and no one was more fitted to do so. because he had been associated with thorn since the formation of the company, of which he and they had been original members. His (the speaker's) own acquaintance with the late Serg-eant-majo-- Henry and the late Sergoani Russoll had extended back for a good many years, and he felt that he would be failing in his duty if he did not add some small tribute to their memory. Speaking for himself and ioc a large number of members and ex members, he could say that no tablet or other artificial memorial "was necessary io keep their two comrades in their memory, because whenever their thoughts reverted to the old corps foremost among- the faces in their memory would be those of Sergeant-major Henry and Sergeant Russell Notwithstanding this, he congratulated the company on the erection of the tablet, and he hoped it would remain long after the present generation of Engineers had passed away to remind future members of two of the finest Volunteers who had ever worn uniform in Otago. He had first become acquainted with the late Ser-geant-major Henrj- in 1887 or 1888, and their friendship had continued unbroken up to the time of his death. He had been the first sergeant-major of the corps, and had held that position for 17 years — a somewhat remarkable record when the trying and onerous nature of the office was considered. He had not come among them as a novice, tor he had already s&en active service under two flags. So keen was his enthusiasm, that, as some present would remember, on the occasion of the camp at Woodhaugh in 1901 he had risen from what subseqtiently proved to be his deathbed and put on his uniform in order to see the company on parade once more As regarded the late Sergeant Russell, his one hobby had been Volunteering. And his services had been especially valuable in connection with the company's shooting. It had been a great blow to him when failing health had obliged him to sever his connection with them, but they had endeavoured to smooth it by electing him an honorary life member and allowing him to retain his uniform. It was not long, however, before they had been called on to accord him a soldier's last honours If the company continued to enrol such members as it had had in Its first 20 years its future would be prosperous indeed. He hoped that the tablet -would always remain wherever the headquarters of the corps might be, and that it would serve to remind future members of two noncommissioned officers who had largely helped to make the company what, it was. Captain Ross, in the course of a short speech, also paid a tribute to the memory of the late Sergeant-major Henry and the late Sergeant Russell, and said that they had present with them that evening Sapper Henry, who was a son of their late Ser-geant-major, and they also had with them a son of the late Sergeant Russell. He hoped that they would in time occupy positions in the company similar to those occupied by their respected fathers.

Short speeches were also made by Lieutenant Midgley. Staff Sergeant-major Towler, ex--Serg-eant-major Bryanf, and ciSergeant Morgan.

_ The tablet, on which is carved an effective design showing a helmet and crossed' swords on oak leaves, bears the following inscription: — " Offiiciis functi jam dulci in pace quiescunt. Erected by the members and ox-members of No. 2 Company, N.Z.E. (Dunedin Engineers), in memory of Ser-geant-major C. Henry, who died i7th January. 1902. Also Sereeant R. Russell, who died 23rd April. 1900. Erected in recognition of long and faithful service to the corps."

Mr T. J. Fleming, travelling agent of the New Zealand Alliance, states that sly grogselling has been knocked on the head at ETawhia,- Taumarunui. and Te Kuiti, chiefly through the inoreased power conferred on the police. The Maori chiefs and the polio© are of opinion that the Natives have become quite sober.