THE VOLUNTEERS.

Colonist, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11668, 2 July 1906, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE VOLUNTEERS.

VALEDICTORY SOCIAL TO' STAFF SURGT. -MAJOR HEALV. On Saturday, Juno 23, tbe officers and non-commissioned officers of the local centre gathered at tho Wakatu Hotel .for the purpose of saying "Good-bye" to (Sergeant- Major Healy, who leaves to-raorrow for Tituaru, to which station he has been appointed. Sergeant-Major Healy has boen associated with tho district, for thirteen years, and bas been closely connected with every corps, both mounted and infantry, and has earned tho esteem of all J from L'leubeim to the West Coast, 'and it vvas not unnatural that after ,so successful a sojourn, that every corp3 should assist in showing their esteem for him. Tho function .on Saturday evoning was made as mii formal as possible. Amongst those present wore : Colouol Wolfe, Liou--1 tenant- Colonel Harkness (the senior i officer of tho infantry branch), oci oupying tho chair, Captain Simpson, ! V,D. 7 Captains Bryant, Stiles, Mudiagan, Trask, Glovor, Hammond, j (Jhing T Harris, Deputy -Ca-piaiu I Jones (N-D.R.C. ), ex-Lieutunant I Watson, Lieutenants Stewart, Hill, I Bell, Drum-Major Simpson. Stall j Sergt.-Majoi Redmond, and Serg. - j Major Wanstall ocupied vice-chairs. ! The toast of th«i King was honored, ! and tht> toast of the evening, thai of Sergeant-Major Healy, was proI posed toy Lieutenant-Colonel Hark* ness, and drunk with much enthusi asm aDd cheers. He said Sergeant- | Major Healy was as good a nonI commissioned ollicer as they had ever had in the district, and when ho romembered Sergt. -Major Alborough it meant a good deal. He had found him ever ready to assist in all matters pertaining to tho efficiency of tho Volunteers: no task had proved too hard for him or duty too irksome, cither from tha practical or theoratical side. He was a good office- roan, and would be missed, especially at their camps. The Volunteers Lad found him a close friend, and he trusted he would make as many friends in bis new sphere us he was leaving in Nelspn. He regretted his departure, and he voiced the feelings of all officers, Mf.C.O's and men in saying that they also regretted his leaving, and, as showing the practical side of their feeling he made a presentation to SergeantMajor Healy, which was only a small demonstration of the esteem in which he was held. He wished, in j addition, Sergeant-Major Healy every i success in nis new field of actioa, j and long life and happiness for himi self, hi 9 wife and family. (Loud cheers, )Sergeant-Major Wanstall (of the Battalion staff) echoed similar sentiments on. behalf of the JN.C.O. 's, who also made a special presentation. Captains Simpson, Smiles, Madigan, Trask, Hammond, Glorer, Deputy-Captain Jones (iN.D.KC), and Drum-Major Simj>- | son (Gammon Band), and SergeantMajor Bowman (Returned Trooper) also made suitable recognition of | Sergeant-Major Healy's services in j connection, with their respective units. | Sergeant-Major Healy feelingly i replied, and, in an interesting narraj tive, traversed his period of IJJ years 7 service in Nelson, during which time there had been fire Commanding Olfiers and two Adjutants. He acknowledged their kindly feeling always displayed towards him. and the kci'iiness which all ranks took in their work. His first servico had been with the Ist North Lancashire; Regiment, and he toot the gather- 1 ing that, evening, in addition to being si compilmeut to himself to bo a j compliment to his old regiment, of which ho was proud. He hoped the corps _ would extend to Sergeant-Major Jones the same good feeling and assistance they had always showed to him, and they would find in tho new Sergeant-! Major no mean successor, he being] an expert ab gymnastics, fencing, ! and in tho art of self defence, lie! thanked them heartily on behalf of; himself, his wife and family fur' their tokens <jf goodfellowship, which would ever remind him of hus old district and associates. ( Applause^, Other toasts honored were "Ireturned Troopers, '" proposed by Captain Bryant, and responded to by Sergeant- Major Sownjan (who, as a representative of tho Waka-iu , Mounted Kirles at the late Premier's funeral, gave an account, of the mournful proceedings m connection therewith). <% Army» Na-vy and Voiuntoors,'' proposed by Captain Simpson, and responded to by Deputy-Captain Jones. "N.C.O, 's of the District,", proposed by {Staff Sergeant-Major i\edmoud, and responded to by Color-Sergeant Oukley. A most pleasant gathering torminatoa with "Auld Lang Syne" and "God Save tho Kingv'aud further cheers for Sergeant-Major Healy and family. Apologies wree received from Lieu-tenant-Colonel Pearl ess, Majors Broad and Coleman, Captain Arnold Lieutenants Grace and Stringer, and Sergeant-Major .Robertson. A letter was read from Cautain Wilson (N.D.R.C. ) regretting'his inability to bo present, but on behalf of his Club he paid a parting tribute to Sergeant-Major Healy. The harmony of the evening was contributed to by Captains Glover and Harris, Sergeant-Major Sowman, Sergeant Richard, and FarrierSergeant Wimsott. The Nelson Kifles paraded on Juno 25, for the purpose of having Staff Sergt. -Major Healy on parade tor the last time prior to his leaving Nelson. There was a large muster, acd the company turned out smartly. After parade a farewell social to Staff Sergeant Major Healy was held aad proved a most enjoyable function. Amongst those present were tho officers of the corps, Ser-geant-Major Healy, Lieutenant Swanwick, of tho Waitobi Kifles, and the principal officers of the Nelson Defence Kifle Cub. Captain Sfiles, in proposing the health of Sergeant-Major Healy, referred to the many seivicos the latter had rendered to the corps, and expressed trie regret of members at his departure. The toast was spoken to by Lieutenants Stewart and Hill, Color Sergeant Johnston, and Sergts. Day. Mitcbener, Frank and Hill. A presentation was made, as a further token of the esteem in which tbe Tergeant-Major is held. SergeantMajor Healy suitably replied, and thanked all ranks for the' hearty cooperation they had given him. References to Lieut. -Colonel Pitt. Colonel Webb, Colonel Wolfe, and Major Littlejohn brought forth cheers in every case. Amongst other toasts proposed were:— "The Visitors.' 7 replied to by Lieut. SwanwicU; "The Nelson Defence Rifle Club." replied to 'fay Captain Wilson. Deputy Captain Jones, Secretary W. Bradley, and Mr J. Milroy (ex-champion): ''Tbe Officers,'"' proposed by Sergfc. Hill and responded to by tbe officers of the corps. The greatest enthusiasm prevailed, and a most pleasant evening was concluded by further cheers for Sergeant-Major Healy aad family, the singing of "Auld Laug Syne, "and the National Anthem. Several members contributed to the evening's harmony. On June 2r> t b the members of fche Nelson Defeuce Rifle Club mat at the non-commissioned officeis' room at the Drill Shed to say good-bye to Ssrgt.- Major Healy and to present I him vifch a souvenir ay a token of j their respect and esteem. Captain { IVil.-win, in a few weil-cnosen *rej Jii.-ii-k.s, said that although his Club bad not been so much in touch vyith Sergt. -Major Healy as the Volunteers had, still they Knew him to be a smart ollicer, oue who understood his duties thoroughly, and who would be much missed in the district. On behalf of the Club ho had much pleasure in presenting him with a silver - mounted ■ oak hall bracket, with a set of clothes brushes, ahjo silver mounted, each bearing the recipient's monogram, while the bracket itself has a silver shield with tbe inscription: "Sergt. -' Major Healy, from the Nelson De- j fence Rifle Club, June, 1900." Uaptaia vyiJaou eald that he hoped J

that the sotivenir would fiot be valued by its intrinsic worth, bat by the goodwill ol the Clab which, ac- ; eompanied it Deputy Captain Jones endorsed all tfiat had been said by tbeir worthy Captain, and remarked that Sergt. -Major Healy's good qualities had boan known to them individually long before his Club was formerJ. Ho assured their guest that he wns leaving Nelson with the beßt wishes of every member of the Nelson Defence Kifle Club. Cheers were then given for Sergt. - Major Healy, Mrs liealy and family. Bergt. -Major Healy, in replying, said that the Nelson Oefenco Club was one that made rilio shooting a study, and the result was, although they had only been a club for a few yoars, they had produced the cham pion shot of the Colony. Ho thankorl them all sincerely for their kind and valuable gift, and more* especially ior the kind words which accompanied it, and in wishing them goodbye Baid he that bo would retain very pl a ns',nt m^nviriw rf hip ns«>nci;ition with the N«l-or> l>f».-u<:p K'lilo Club. ! I