FAREWELL DINNER

Taranaki Herald, Volume IX, Issue 427, 6 October 1860, Page 3

FAREWELL DINNER

By the OrFiCERs 65th Regt., to their late Colonel, Major General C. E. Gold.

The Officers of the 05th Regiment at head quarters entertained their late Colonel, Major General Gold, at dinner on the let instant. The regiment furnishing so many detachments throughout the island the number of officers at head quarters is consequently small, but they evinced their esteem and regard for the Colonel in the warmest manner. The party was confined to officers of the regiment, the to) lowing gentlemen being present : — Major General Gold, Capt. Paul (acting Major of Brigade), Capt. Strange, Dr White, Lieut. Bailie, Lieut. Uiquhurt, Lieut. Whitbread, Lieut. Toker, Lieut. Wrixon, Dr Neill, Lient. Lewis, Lieut. Pennefather, Lieut. Cheidlier, Mr Withers (Quarter Master), Lieut. White, Lieut. Talbot, Ensigns Pagan, Muttit, and Butler, After the cloth was lemoved, Her Majesty's health was proposed and honoured as usual, the Band of the Regiment playing the National Anthem. Captain Paul, (the senior captain of the regiment,) then proposed the health of General Gold, the guest of the evening, and said: — Gentlemen, the sad duty to say farewell to our much-esteemed, honored Chief devolves on me. I say 6ad, because it is always sad to part with those we have long known, and with friends with whom we have been long associated, and particularly so with him who has endeared himself to us all by many acts of kindness. I had hoped Colonel Wyatt, our new commander, would have been here from detachment at Wangamii, to convey in suitable language our warmest, our best wishes to the Chiel who, before patting with us, honors us with his presence this evening. No doubt Colonel Wyatt would have done justice to the toast 1 have the honor to propose, but it would be presuming on my ]>;ut to speak the praises of our guest, though I will say we one and all pait with him with regret, and nish that it lud been in our power to entei tain him better; but we can only hope that on some luture occasion we may again meet, and be able to welcome him at the mess table of the old corps of uhicb he has been so long a member, and which he has for so many years commanded. We would, indeed, heartily welcome him, our old chief; and, therefore, let us now drink to "the health of the Chief of the gal lant, the brave old Tigers : lot/g may he live to enjoy happiness and proiperity," with all the honors and three times thiee. Band — Auld Lang Sijne. General Gold returned thanks in the following words: — Gentlemen of the 65th Regiment, or, as you are (in every acceptation of the term) my bro-ther-officers, — It is with feelings too deep to describe that I now lise to return thanks for the toast so eloquently and with such feeling proposed by my very old friend Captain Paul. He has indeed permitted the warmth of his good heart to carry him away in my praise, but as Fate resolves, after Si years in the Old Tigers, in which I have from youth up rejoiced to serve in all varieties of clime and duty, I must at length address them for the last time. I am proud to Sriy, Gentlemen, that for the 15 years I have had the honor of being your Chief, no party feeling has ever existed amongst us. I have found at your hands the utmost good-will and support, and I earnestly hope that the same feelings will cheer the onward career, and lighten the duties of my worthy successor, Colonel Wyatt. Gentle, men, when I consider the body of officers, noncommissioned officers, and soldieis I am about to resign, my grief is redoubled, for they have ever shown a mutual good feeling of respect and honor towards each other, and as the officers spare not themselves, neither do the mon, and many a time has my heart throbbed with delight when I beheld you all smiling at difficulties and dangers, confident in one another, determined to work to the utmost the weal of this Province. I can appreciate, and shall not soon forget your services in the Southern Expedition, where, with the gallant sailors of the ships Pelorus and Coidelia, you destroyed the villages of Warca and Wareatea, some 30 miles down the coast, with no end of pas, a mill, canoes, and much valuable property and corn and crops, belonging to the Taranaki tribes. My last advice to you, gentlemen, is— stick to your men, and your men will stick to you. I must now advert to a strbject for which I regret to say I can obtain no redress; which is the deliberate insult passed upon my old Company (the Light Company) by the Provincial Council of a neighbouring Province, who, in a vote of thanks to the Navy, Volunteers, and ' Militia, for services at tho Waireka, purposely '. omitted to mention the soldiers, whose conduct on < that occasion is universally acknowledged to have i been beyond all praise. I need scarcely now inform i you that the reasons for my not being allowed to attack William King for a considerable period were I Political ones ; nor jay, that Ido not regret having J

foregone my own aggrandisement, and Mat as a military officer in the eyes of the world, lather than risk some 2,000 women and children being barbarously murdered by a sudden nocturnal onslaught of the ferocious and bloodthirsty savages, concealed in the closely approximating bush. Come what may, I have the " mcns conscia recti," and can afford to pity the anonymous scribblers who pollute the pages of the Press. My Regiment tells a talo that ought to make them blush, as the love anil respect of such a body could not be lightly earned ; and its expression sends me forth from amongst them, doubly armed against false and calumnious accusers and slanderers. Gentlemen, much would I say to you, but I have already, I fear, been too long; but let me truly declare, with every feeling of respect and brotherly love, that as long as memory lasts, I shall cherish the recollection of my dear old Regiment s their valour, their numerous virtues, and, above all, the kind feelings they have ever evinced towards me, shall never, never be forgotten. Once more, my friends (with my adieus), let me add, — May every blessing attend you M. Dr White proposed the health of Mis Gold and family in short and very appiopriate words, to which Gineral Gold responded. Brttid— Ever of Thee General Gold then proposed "The Regimental Stall'," and thanked them for their zeal, intelligence, and attention to their several duties, during his command of the Regiment. Band— For they are Jolly Good Fellow 1 !. Dr White replied for the Medical Officers of the corps. Lieut. Toker, as Instructor of Musketry returned thanks in a short but facetious speech, which gave great amusement. Lieut. Lewis, also, as Adjutant, returned thanks in a very few words, and Mr Withers, the QnaiterMaster, said : Col. Gold, I lise to thank you for the very kind manner in which you have been pleased to notice my services to the regiment during the time you have known me for the last 32 years. My friend Snigeon White has just now boasted that he has 15 yeriis service in the Royal Tigeis, but I have a far greater boast to make, for my service extends over a period of 38 years, all of which, I am proud to say, has heen spent with the old regiment, whose honor is as dear to me as that of my own children, and I only legret that ciicmnstances will not admit of my serving 38 more with them. I beg to offer a few words of advice to all young officers which I have found always to avail. First, treat the soldier well and then he will never forget hit, officers. My best wishes attend the old regiment, and I only hope they may have the honor and pleasure of serving undei their old chief again, if not on this, at least on some other utation. General Gold proposed— "The old corps, its non commissioned officers and men," which was received with rapturous applause. Band— British Grenadiers. Captain Paul replied <is follows: — In thanking our Chief about to leave us T would say for the noncommissioned officers and men of the old corps, that there is not one who would not be delighted to again serve under his command, and I speak the feelings of all present as well as those absent, when I say that he will be long remembered by us, all i and his memory will be cherished and engraven on the heart of every soldier in the regiment, of which he has so long been the head ; we all love and value him as he has ever been a friend to all, to eveiy one; and the Royal Tigers were pioud of him as (heir Chief, and part with him with deep regret — we are indeed unwilling to say farewell, to bid him good bye. At 10 p.m. the General letired, the officers in a body escorting him to his quarters, when they wish, ed him Good night, and returned to drink his health with Highland honors.