ABOUT PEOPLE

Southland Times, Issue 17967, 7 March 1917, Page 3

ABOUT PEOPLE

Mr .1. Mackay, managing editor of the Gisborne Times, is on a brief holiday visit to Invercargill. Mr Eric Melvin, of the Invercargill Customs Department, who left with the 20th Reinforcements, has been promoted to company Sergt.-Major. Mr A. E. Dobble, Clerk of Court, Riverton, has received cabled advice that he has passed a section of the final division of the LL.B. degree. A cable from the High Commissioner states that the Military Cross has been conferred on Second Lieutenant D. C. Bowler, Lieutenant A. D. Herrick, and Lieutenant R. Matthias. The D.C.M. has been conferred on G. Bates. Mr Franks, who is leaving on Thursday morning for Trentham, was at the close of Monday night’s meeting of the Avenal Swimming Club, presented by the president (Mr J. A. Wesney) with a purse of sovereigns. The president spoke of the valuable services Mr Franks had rendered as secretary since the formation of the club five years ago. Other speakers also referred in glowing terms of Mr Franks’ ability. The recipient suitably responded. Mr .1. G. Anderson, M-Sc., at present' on the staff of the Wanganui Collegiate School, and the 1915 Otago nominee for the Rhodes Scholarship, has been appointed Science Master at the Southland Boys’ High School, of which he is an old-hoy. Mr Anderson will be unable to enter into his new duties until the beginning of the second term. A large gathering of friends «ussembled in the Federal rooms last evening to do honour to Mr Chas. Lewis, of the firm of Lewis & Co., who leaves for camp on Thursday morning. The Mayor (Mr D. McFarlane) presided, and kept things going with a swing throughout. The after-dinner toast list was as follows: The King: Army and Navy (Rev, Father O’Neill —Mr A. McNeill); Boys at the Front (Mr W. Timpany—Mr Geo. Forbes): Our Guest (proposed by Mr W. K. Taylor, supported by Mr .las. Collins and others); Red Cross Society (Mr G. W. Woods —Dr Collins); The Firm (proposed by Mr T. Pound); Commercial Interests (Mr H. A. Macdonald — Mr W. E. Taylor); Sports (proposed by Mr A. McNeil and responded to by Messrs L. E. Bell (cricket), .1. McGrath (football), H. Meyer (hockey), F. J. Lewis (swimming), T. S. Mitchell (rowing), H. Cunningham (racing), and G. Henderson (tennis): The Ladies (Mr F. Hurley—Mr V. Lea); The Chairman (Mr E. H. Whitmore). In proposing the toast of “Our Guest.” Mr W. E. Taylor paid a tribute to the patriotism of the Lewis family. They had always been ready with donations towards the various patriotic funds, and a collector never met with a refusal from them. He held that no one had any right to tell a private individual what his obligations to the country were. The State alone could do that. Therefore, while they would always bestow the greatest credit on the • volunteers, they must also give honour to the men called into camp, since no'outsider could know their position or be acquainted with their home obligations. Speaking as a second division man, lie was sure that when the single men were exhausted all married reservists would be willing and glad to do their part. He felt that one of the prime fruits of the great struggle would be the foundation of a firmer and a truer domacracy throughout the British Empire. People would be brought to realise that it was the human personality, and not money, which mattered most In conclusion, Mr Taylor expressed his pleasure at being entrusted with the principal toast to such a worthy guest as Mr Lewis, whom all recognised as a thorough gentleman. He asked Mr Lewis’s acceptance, on behalf of the assembled gathering, of a hand >me silver cigarette case and a Gillette razor as slight tokens of the feelings of his friends towards their esteemed friend —Other speakers supported the toast, each adding his little quota to the mede of praise accorded the soldier-to-be whom they all held in such high respect.—The toast was enthusiastically honoured with double musical tributes and hearty' cheering, w-hirh broke out afresh when the guest rose to respond. Mr Lewis said that he was not an orator so his reply would be short. He thanked all for the kindly remarks passed, the cordial feeling evinced, the hearty manner in which they had toasted him, and for the splendid gifts bestowed upon him; their use would remind him ever of Invercargill where he had made friends the like of which he could never again make the world over. With the 27th Reinforcement he would be playing emergency to the “Boys” who had preceded him, but he hoped to be in at the finish and to be back in Invercargill among all his old friends before a, verygreat time had elapsed. In any case he hoped that not many more men would have to leave New Zealand, but that peace might come at an early date. Once more he thanked them. Mr Lewis's reply was the forerunner of another enthusiastic honouring of the toast and fresh burst of cheering.- During the evening a number of vocal, elocutionary, and instrumental items were rendered by members of the company and the, gathering dispersed after a most pleasant evening with the singing of the National Anthem.