ANNUAL REUNION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13917, 20 March 1909, Page 10

ANNUAL REUNION.

In the evening the veterans and a number of friends assembled at the Trocadero, where an excellent dinner , was served by the proprietor, Mr. Geo. Hale. Captain Mace, N.Z.C., presided. After the usual loyal toasts had been hdnoured, his Worship the Mayor proposed "The Army and Novy." In doing so he drew 'a comparison of the old time "wooden walls of England 'ac represented by Lord Nelson's "Victory/ and the modern ironclad "King Edward VII., both of which he saw during a recent trip to England. Captain Mace, replying'to the toast, related an incident in which the Taranaki Volunteers were practically reprimanded for marching in front of the regulars, It was frequently stated' that it wsls in South Africa the first or,gi*nised volunteers feught for England, but, k as they all knew, the first organised r British volunteer force under fire was in the. Taranaki Maori war, where tho volunteers not only fought side by side with the Imperial troops, but also led them into action and brought their rearguard out. Mr. W. F. Gordon submitted the toast of "The Militia and Volunteers." He recollected many of those, who took part in th© battle of Otautau and other engagements. Forty years ago he hag had the honour of being in- tho band which played the volunteers 9own to the Wellington wharf when they left for Patea^ prior to the battle of Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu. Referring to the valour shdwn by the militia and volunteers in the early days, he quoted the words of the late Colonel Mac Donald, who said the men who covered the fotreat from Te Ngutu deserved to have their names inscribed in gold and encircled with laurels.. Amongst those men the colonel had mentioned their comrade Captain William Newland. ■ Captain Bollringer, Taranaki Rifles, responded. Ho said he considered i* an honour to be amongst men who hud done so much for their country. When he took up volunteering first, only a few years ago, he -was struck by the paftcity of the records of tho old volunteers, and ho was fortunately able to secure the aid of Mr. Ponn to compile a history of the Rifles. He hoped someone else would take up the matter of compiling the history of the Taranaki Militia,.. He then presented to the veterans a reduced facsimile of the Taranaki Rifles' colours and the inscription as a memento of their <?afly days. The inscription reads: — "Presented on June 25, 1861, by the ladies of Taranaki, as a. token of their grateful and affectionate interest and their deep sense of the bravery and devotion displayed by the corps, especially on the occasions of the battles of Waireka (March 28, 1860) and Mahoetahi (November 6, I860)." Mr. W. F. Gordon explained that the colours were to have been presented on June 18, Waterloo. Day, but the rain was so heavy that the ceremony had to be postponed for a week. < The actual . presentation was made by Mrs. Warre (afterwards Lady Warre), wife of Col. Warre. Captain Mills, of . the Taranaki Guards, also responded to the toast and addejj his .td&ute to the men who bad r tne homes of Taranaki \vn the early days. He also took the opportunity of congratulating the veterans upon their shooting performances that afternoon.

Captain J. C. Davies proposed' "The Mayor and Borough Council of New Plymouth."

The Mayor in response extended an invitation to the veterans to attend the function to be held at Moturoa to celebrate anniversary day. His Worship then proposed "The Veterans," the toast being acknowledged by Captain .Mace. He thanked the local volun-

teers and other people for coming together with the veterans for the enjoyment of that social evening. lie would like to see the function made an annual one. He impressed on the veterans the necessity for "turning up to a man at the anniversary celebration in the course of a week or two ; at the unveiling of the hatchments ; and at the unveiiing of the monument on Maryland Hill. He had always hoped to see this monument erected, and he believed now that lie would live to see it; though at one time he "thought it was a Ctis€ of 'pickles.'" ' Captain Black thought tho toast of "The Veterans" would be incomplete without giving credit to Captain Mace, N.Z.C., for valour in the field. To Captain Mace was due the credit for promoting the movement to erect the monument on Marsland Hill. Captain Mills proposed "The Ladies," Sergeant H. Newland, Privates B. Eva and W. King responding. "The Press" was submitted by the Chairman and akcnowledged. On the/ motion of J. Andrews a vote 0% thanks was accorded to the committee who had arranged the day's and evening's enjoyment. Mr. G. A. 'Adlam responded. Veterans contributing to the musicaJ programme were Captain J. C. Davies (Mounted Volunteers), Lieutenant R. Wells (Volunteers), Colour-Sergeant C. Oliver, Sergeant Frank Oliver, Sergeant John Duffiia, Private G. A. Adlam (Forty-third), Private John O'Donnell (Fifty-seventh) . and Private^ Loveridgc. Sergt. Duffm's song, "The Diehards," was composed by himself. Other items were given by Captain Mills, Messrs. Perry and Staples, and one of the markers. Mr. W. Perry played the accompaniments. "Auld Lang Syne" brought a very sociable evening to a close at about 11.S0 p.m.