FAREWELL DINNER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17570, 22 June 1925, Page 11

FAREWELL DINNER.

CANTERBURY REGIMENTAL FUNCTION. A complimentary dinner was given to Lieutenant-Colonel Murphy, the commanding officer of the First Battalion, by the officer? of the First Canterbury Regiment on ■Saturday night, on the occasion of the completion of his command. Colonel the Tlon G. .). Smith proposed the health of Lieutenant-Colonel Murphy. He said that for ten or eleven years. LieutenantColonel Murphy had commanded fh© Battalion, and his total service extended over ‘27 or 28 years. Ho thought that was a record of which anyono could he proud. Lieutenant-Colonel Murphy had commenced as a ‘•full private’ 5 and had occupied every position, from non-corn missioned officer to the officer commanding the .Battalion. Included in that service were three years with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, of which eighteen months had been spent in France. On every account their guest had cause for pride and tho chief cause was the fact that lie had commanded the First Regiment, an excellent regiment, and one. with traditions behind it. In replying, Lieutenant-Colonel Murphy said ho appreciated the kind sentiments and the esprit-de-corps which had caused those present to give him a farewell dinner before ho went on tho Reserve. That fact demonstrated that they appreciated whatever he had attempted to do. He never realised when ho joined tho old C'bv Guards that, he would one day Iks C.O. of the Battalion. nor did he. or anyone else, anticipate that the Volunteer work and tho Territorial work would he useful in defending the rights of the Empire. He trusted that all the junior officers would fit themselves for the task that lay ahead of them. The toast of the Regiment was proposed by Colonel-Commandant Y oung, who dealt with the history of it. Colonel Dobson welcomed the new commanding officer, Colonel Newman AYilson.