ON TREK.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 31 May 1927, Page 12

ON TREK.

SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS

A party of twenty South African veterans, from South Canterbury, left Timaru at neon on Saturday for Christchurch in one of the municipal buses, to take part in the 25th anniversary of the Peace of Yereeniging. The bus was driven by Comrade Mitchell, and Christchurch was reached punctually to scheduled time—s.3o p.m.—the visitors being met and welcomed by the Christchurch South African veterans.

The trek was a most enjoyable one. On the Ashburton plains the veterans were held up for a few minutes by a party of sharp-shooters—Boers whose heavy riflo fire was soon subdued, and they were made to scuttle tcj the hills. On the order to mount being given, the comrades sang “Soldiers of the Queen/’ Light refreshment was taken on the roadside near Itakaia, and with the singing of all the songs which were sung 25 years ago, and many others, led by Comrade E. Pcrteor, and announced by Comrade C. L. Eraser, they arrived at Oxford Terrace, with the Avon on the left, where the president and several members of tho Christchurch branch were lined up to meet their South Canterbury comrades. Here the veterans heard that their Dominion president (Capt. J. J. Clark) had come down from Wellington to bo present. At 7.45 a reunion was held in the new rooms built by the Christchurch Association, and it was pleasant to see men meeting who had not previously met since they were troop mates on tho veldt. Tho evening was spent in song and story and welcome, the latter being extended very heartily to the visitors.

On Sunday morning a line' of cars started oil a tour of the city, and morning tea was provided in the Gardens at 10..30. The parade left King Edward Barracks and marched to the Cathedral, where the service was held. The South African veterans then went t<x tho Queen Abetoria statue, whore wreaths were laid in honour of those who had given their lives in support of the Empire. At 4.30 p.m. the return trek was started. Tea was taken at Ashburton, whero comrade vice-president A Thoreau made some appropriate remarks and thanked the secretary for the able way in which the trek had been organised.

Comrade Fraser endorsed these remarks. The secretary thanked his comrades for their kind expressions, and for the fine spirit they had. shown in taking part in this never-to-be-forgotten trek, 25 to 27 years after the actual treks over the veldt of South Africa.

As each party left the bus at Winchester, Tenmka and Timaru respectively, Auld Lang Syne was sung heartily. All those who went will no; doubt have mot comrades whoso whereabouts were unknown, and will be able to tel! their South Canterbury comrades that Jack or Bill, of certain contingents, are well and hearty, and can be found at such and such an address.