PRESENTATIONS AT WAITAHUNA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3336, 20 February 1918, Page 55

PRESENTATIONS AT WAITAHUNA.

(Fhom Odr Own Correspondent.) WAITAHUNA, February 14

A most successful social gathering took place in Oarmody's Hall on Wednesday evening, when the hall was filled to overflowing. The presentations took the forms of enlarged photographs to next-of-kin of deceased soldiers and gold medals to returned men. Sir James Allen, Minister of Defence, made the presentations on behalf of the local Patriotic Committee and residents. The chairman (Mr F. Whelan) made feeling references to the sacrifices made by the district. Of some 56 who had gone to the front, 29 had been wounded and 11 killed. This was a heavy casualty list, and brought home to the hearts of the people the horrors of war. Sir James Allen then presented next-of-kin with enlarged photographs of 'the following deceased soldiers: Privates R. M. Low, Robert Blaikie, J. T. M'Caw, John Dath, Robert Kell, Walter Crozier, Malcolm M'Corkindale, and T. H. Bateman, . Riflemen Wm. M'Caw and J. W. O'Leary, Signaller P. D. Ryan. Gold medals to returned soldiers—Sergeant M. Blaikie, Lance-corporals E. Moen, James H. Craig, Privates A. F. Low, A. W. Bartlett, J. A. M'Taggart, R. W. Auld, James Mathescn, Ed. Webster, D. C. Webster, and Driver O. 0. Blair. Sir James paid a tribute to the excellent note struck in the chairman's opening address ori the strengthening of the national life as an outcome of the war. Although the duties he had come to perform were tinged with much that was sad and sorrowful, he felt sure that to the relatives of those who had made the supreme sacrifice, thore was the glad knowledge that no greater honour could be gained by their boys than that of laying down their lives for their loved ones.' The record of the Waitahuna district was one of which they could feel proud, and -he (Sir James) was proud to be 'the representative of a district with such a record. His electorate ■ae a whole, he knew, was behind him in < the great work ho had undertaken as Minister of Defence, and it was that knowledge that strengthened' his hand to go forward with that work. He could feel with those who had suffered' bereavement and sympathise with them in their sorrow. He would have been glad had he been able to tell thorn when the war was likely to end, but that he could not do, but 'they had great hopes that there was a probability of its ending this summer. Mr John Edie and the Rev. J. S. Ponder also addressed the meeting, and Messrs W. . Blaikie R. M'Caw, and Sergeant M. Blaikie replied on behalf of the recipients of presentations. Several vocal and instrumental items were contributed during the evening, the following taking part:—Mr R. C. Moore, Miss M. Woods, Miss B. M'Corkindale (Lawrence), Captain Stevens (Milton), and the Misses Oudaille (Waitahuna). During the supper adjournment Miss Eileen Oudaille (in uniform) collected for the Red Cross Fund the sum of £3 16s 7d. Tho singing of the National Anthem .terminated a most successful evening.