R UNION OF CANTERBURYITES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7201, 12 September 1901, Page 2

R UNION OF CANTERBURYITES.

ATILKRIIVO IN WELLINGTON. [Special to the "Sta_*.."J " Though absent in the body we are with Canterbury in spirit was t1:,2 sentiment eXprESsed by a m-embrr of tiie Canteibiny Society cf Wellington, a-fc a meeting ii. che Tvecadero, en Monday night, and th.. I aptly expresses the feeling of tho?e who, formerly resident in Canterbury, IhougL now ..ns.tered in many lands, cherish toward. th.3 Province of the Plains. The occasion was the quarterly meoting • of the Society, and there was a large a.id merry gathering. The President . the Hon W. C. Walker, C.M.G., presided, aild in his opening address that gentleman referred to the loving association." that bound ail present to C'u;r.':_rbury. The Society kept alive a spirit of good fellowship, and it was like a little bib of their old honi- tc gather together there th;.b evening and talk of old times. The Society had gr.nvr. out of a dinner afc the timu of ths Jubilee of Canterbury, and it <jwW numbered well over a hundred. They hoped to hokl an annual dinner each year on the occasion of the anniversary of Canterbury's Jubilee. Invitations had been sent bo thirty-nine members Of both Houses of the Legislature, but unfortunately the Hon E. C. J. Stevens, Major Steward, and Messrs G. J. Smith and A. L. 3D. Fraser were unable to be present. Aihongsfc those present were the Hons H. Feldwick, and J. M. Twotft.y, M.L.C's, Major N. L. D. Smith, Lieutenatt. Gardiner (of the Fifth Contingent), Messrs W. W. Collins, M.H.R., D. Buddo, M.H.R., CX Laurenson, M.H.R., C. A. C. Hardy, M.H.R., C. B. Brlggs (the genial chairman of the comniibt_e), Ut. Hogben, H. M'Card'ell, A. Kerr, J. W. Davis, F. W. Barnett, and L. Sawtell. There is a Latin quarter in Paris, and I believe there will soon be a Canterbury quarter ih Wellington. The patron of the Society h our own " King Dick," the chairman of the committee the well-known Mr 0. E. Briggs and his trusty lieutenant, Mr F. W. IJarnstt is secretary. Mr-E. D'Esterre wns elected a new member. The evening was passed in pleaisanfc song and story, thab Canterbury veteran Mr A. Kerr, being the life of the gathering, with his ininkitable fund of song and dialogue, and Mr C. E. Brlggi' brought back old recollection- with lycit-atioris of Thatcher's verses, one being that well-known piece relating to the lull journey from Lyttelton to Christchurch. One of "the events of the gathering was the farewelllng of Mr J. W. Davis, of the Landa and Survey Department, who formerly resided in Canterbury, and now, after an absence of many years, has been transferred- ba.k to Chriatchurch. He leaves many friends here, but he goes to many in Christchurch. Though his sporting days aa*e, perhaps, over now, Mr Davis still takes a keen interest in all matter, pertaining to athletic sport, and in thab confi«otion he will oe tenaemberod with kindly recollection by a great many in Chrtatchm-h. During the evening songs w.re oonti'ibiifced by the Hon H. Feldwkk, M.LiC, Messrs E, J. Hill, H. Mt!ard«ll, K. J. Applegarth, A. Kerr, amd S. Halioy, and a -.citation by Mr L. Sawtell. The Society ia a very much alive org_t_sation, and the membership list is rapidly increasing, so thaib fchottgh in anothef island we still have "a little bit of Canterbury" with us.