HONOURING A SOLDIER.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5361, 19 February 1916, Page 5

HONOURING A SOLDIER.

WELCOME TO PRIVATE HUNT

A welcome-home social to Private Ed. Hunt (son of Mr E. Hunt, of Mangaraina), was held in the Mangu» rarna school-house last evening, and was very largely attended, visitors being present from Pahiatua, Mangatainoka, Kaitawa and other places. The school-room was fittingly decorated with patriotic flags and bunting and the function passed off very successfully. Mr E. F. Le Lievre presided. The Mayor of Pahiatua (Mr J. D. Crewe) and Mrs Crewe attended. The Mayor mentioned that Private Hunt wa< a member of the Alain Body of the New Zealanders in the original landing at Gallipoli, he had been Twice wounded, while a brother had been killed. The Mayor said that .Mangaraina had done more than its share. There was only one or two more men available from that district. Some had offered themselves and had been turned down. Private Hunt had done liis duty while others had been piling up fortunes. (Applause.) On behalf of the settlers he handed Private Hunt a cheque for several pounds and trusted he would have a pleasant and prosperous future. (Applause.) Mr J. A. Walsh (secretary of the Pahiatua Honorary Territorials Association) .said that there was a tinge of sadness in the gathering at the loss action of Private Hunt’s brother . The S]ieaker made some observations on the sacrifice of one's life and the sacrifice of wealth, and {the unscrupulous nation we wen* fighting. He accused the Government of tinkering with the recruiting question and strongly advocated conscription. He predicted that the time was coming when we would all have to go to the front, and ridiculed the statement that one volunteer was worth two pressed men. The recruits from Mangaraina were a credit to the district. (Applause.)

Mr G. H Brown (chairman of the Mangaraina Cheese Co.), in returning thanks on behalf of Private Hunt, sail] the latter was not a speaker. )iut a fighter. With his brother he was one of the first to volunteer, and the first wounded soldier to return to Mangaraina. At first the two brothers were rejected, but persistency prevailed and they were finally accepted. They had shown that they were true types of the bulldog breed. Mr Brown urged that it was the duty of the Government ujid people to see that the returned soldiers did not want. (Applause.) Rousing cheers were given for Private Hunt, followed by musical honours. During the evening songs were given by Miss Brown, and Messrs C. Mills, Greqftrea. and E. Hunt, snr., and recitations by Messrs J. A. Walsh and O. Johnson, and Frances and Jim Walsh. Frances Walsh also performed a dance. Refreshments were handed round. Tlie pianoforte music for the subsequent dance was supplied by Mr C. Mills.