SOCIAL AT BLUE SPUR.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4835, 2 March 1901, Page 3

SOCIAL AT BLUE SPUR.

PRESENTATION TO TEOOPEB D. J. M'AULAY. Probably the largest gathering that has been seen at Blue Spur for a number of years took place there on Wednesday evening last, when a complimentary social was tendered to Trooper David John M* Aulay, who went to South 4frica as a member of Fifth New Zealand Contingent, and who had been invalided from the front. Trooper M'Aulay arrived in Lawrence on Tuesday evening, accompanied by a comrade-in-arms (Trooper Hunter, ot Southland), also invalided. Both men had apparently recovered their health, and did not show any signs of their misfortunes. The Tuapeka Brass Band were present in full force, and by playing a number of appropriate airs added considerably to the enjoyment of the occasion. The proceedings commenced in the Oddfellows' Hall, where the guest of the evening (accompanied by Trooper Hunter) was entertained at a tea meeting, at which the whole population of the Spur (old and young) and a large number of Lawrence residents sat down An unlimited supply of eatables had been provided by Sutherland Bros., and the tables were waited on by the committee, assisted by a number of young ladies, vicing with each other to make everyone at home. After ample justice had been done to the many good things, an adjournment was made to Mr Beaton's Assembly Rooms, where promptly at 9 o'clock the social part of the programme was entered upon. Mr A. W, Tyndall presided, and also on the platform were Troopers Hogg, Hunter, and M'Aulay, These gentlemen on taking their places were greeted with much enthusiasm, and when this had subsided, Mr Tyndall, in opening the proceedings, said it co'ild safely be said that the occasion for which t' ey were assembled that evening — to welcome back a soldier from tbe seat of war — wa« an uuique one in the history of the Blue Spur. If anyone had predicted sucb a possibility a year or two ago they would simply have been laughed at. They would probably have heard some remark like this: " What! young colonials go to the front and fight in the same ranks as British soldiers ! Ridiculous ! Why, a couple of thousand British soldiers could go through New Zealand from end to end," Such a poor opinion could now no longer be held. He was himself a native of Australia, and he remembere4 perfectly well when he was a youngster listening to the accounts' recited by his elders of the heroic deeds of the British soldiers and the supreme contempt they always expressed for the young colonial as a fighting roan and a working man. I heir young men had now proved the utter fallacy of those opinions ; they had proved themselves equal to any soldiers in the world in fighting or workiag, and he had much pleasure in congratulating them on the way in which they had proved themselves the equal of men who had been trained for centuries to fight the battles of our Empire. The pioneer residents of these British colonies bad, he thought, in belittling their own progeny, been running down themselves; Surely if in a new country where the conditions were so much better than in the old land they could not improve on (he breed they were a poor lot. — (Laughter.) He predicted a fine future for these lands and. also that they would keep up the name of Britain }n the penturies to come. London, which was tbe heart of the Empire, or other parts of tbe United King, dom might some day be oppressed by foreign powers but if such a contingency did arise he ventured to predict that with the assistance available from her loyal colonial sons the name of Britain would never be lost and that British blood would still be predominant. There were many reasons why they should honor aud treat well their returning ti'oopers from the front. Some people might say " What a lot of fuss you are making oyer those men j they are only doing "their duty. Tommy Atkins does not get those receptions, etc., etc." He did not think that was tbe way they should look at it. It was a remarkable occasion. It was the first occasion in the history of the Empire of the oolonies uniting with their mother xjountry fo»* protective purposes. — (Applause.) If those who were disposed to criticise and cavil at the enthusiastic receptions they were giving their troopers would only reflect a moment and consider what might have happened had the colonies, when appealed to, not responded and left Britain to fight her own battles in South Africa — for action in that case would have been interpreted by the foreign powers to mean that we were not in sympathy with the Mother Country and were desirous of separation — the result would have been that by this time a Jarge number of foreign animals would have tjeen picking at the British lion. On the other band, the noble way in whioh the youth of this and tbe neighboring colonies had responded to the appeal had beon an objeot lesson whioh would not be lost upon the foreign countries. Another reason why they should honor their returning troopers was that they had learned — and they had to tharik ttair eritfmW^&e Boera, for th»ie&Q&

— a new style of fighting ; they learned that the days of the complete subservience of the private soldier to the commanding officer was past. The private soldier in the future must be a man of intelligence and fight independently. The days of going into battle shoulder to shoulder and forming squares were past. The soldier of the future must, as exemplified by the Boer war, be able to act " on bis own " and take covsr as best he could. The colonial troops adapted themselves to the circumstances in Sottth Afrioa in a manner whioh had surprised their best generals — in fact, they had proved themselves adepts at the Boers' own game, A third reason — and he considei ed it the best reason why they should honor their troopers was because they had proved to the world that in the British dominions, at any rate, a standing army was not now necessary ; that they could depend upon their citizens — men who were at the plough to-day and could take up the rifle in defence of their country to - morrow. This, he considered, was a great matter. True it had not yet received much consideration, bnt in the long run it was bound to receive the consideration of our rulers and prove better for the world. They all knew that the large standing armies of the continental countries of Europe were a fearful drain on the resources of their respective countries, and one reason why Britain bad been so great a colonising country was tbat her capital bad not been wasted in keeping up a big standing army. And to the young colonials was due the credit of nhowing the Mother Count y in the most practical way they can be absolutely depended upon and that a large standing army is not now required. He was a democrat himself and he congratulated the colonial boys on the manner in whioh they had acquitted themselves and done honor to their country. Before concluding, he had to thauk them for the honor they had done him in asking him to preside at so important a gathering and mentioned that he had also a very pleasing duty to perform — viz., the presentation to Trooper M'Aulay of a gold albert and locket in recognition of his services at the front. A fact which he thought worth mentioning in connection with this presentation was that the necessary steps for making it were entirely taken by his old schoolmates and he was pleased to be able to say they had carried tho matter through in a most business-like manner, though the time at their disposal had bpen very limited. This feature he thought reflected a certain amount of credit on on himself as he had had a good deal to do with their training. - (Laughter.) He- had, therefore, very much pleasure in asking Trooper M'Aulay's acceptance of this gift as a slight token of respect and esteem in whioh he was held by his comrades and playmates on the Spur. In presenting Trooper M'Aulay with this token of regard to him they, one and all, welcomed him back with pleasure. They were glad to see him back in comparatively good health and they hoped that he wonld very soon be completely recovered from the sickness that had attacked him in the Transvaal. They wero certain that though he was with them that evening in body his spirit was still with his comrades in South Africa. He trusted he would be long spared to wear it and that it would always remind him of his many friends on the Blue Spur,and if atany time he should be tempted to do anything that was not quite right that a look at this token of their esteem would prevent him from doing what otherwise he mierht have done. — (Applause.) Trooper M'Aulay, who was warmly received on rising to speak, said he could not find words to adequately express to them his thanks for the very hearty welcome they bq,d given him and for the handsome token of their esteem with which they had presented him. He assured them it would be always highly treasured by him as a memento of one of the most important events in his life, and he would also endeavor to merit a continuance of their friendly ' feeling towards himself. He again thanked them for their most generous gift. The Chairman mentioned that they were pleased to have with them a friend of their guest— Trooper Hunter, of Southland -and he felt very much pleaßure in giving that gentleman, on behalf of the Blue Spur peo. le, a hearty and cordial welcome to their district. — (Loud applause.) They bad also Trooper John Hogg, of Evans Flat, and to him also he extended a cordial welcome. — (Applause.) Trooper Hunter, who had evidently during his brief visit become a great favorite, was enthusiastically received. He said it afforded him very great pleasure indeed in thanking them all for the very warm and hearty reception they had given him, a comparative stranger. He had been thrown a good deal into the company of Trooper M'Aulay, and this had resulted in a warm friendship, and lie had accepted his invitation to spend a couple of days with him before returning to his home in the South. When they had left for South Africa a number of people had characterised the sending of the oontineents as a kind of holiday, and expressed the opinion that the fighting would be over before they reached there. Their prophecies had not worked out, for they all knew they had seen and been engaged in fighting and had gained experience whioh would be of life-long benefit to them. Personally he would not have missed the experience for all the sovereigns they could give him. He again thanked them for their hearty reception. — (Applause ) Trooper Hogg said he was pleased to be present with them on so auspicious an occasion, and also to meet his fellow troopers from South Africa. He had been highly gratified at the reception they had given him with the gu,est of the evening and his comrade. Eis experience was that the people of New Zealand were proud of their troopers, whom they never missed an opportunity of honoring in the most hearty manner. A lengthy programme of songs, reoitations, and instrumental music was then gone through, every item being enthusiastically applauded. This part of the proceedings was brought to a close at 11 p.m., when tbe hall wan speedily cleared by a large army of willing workers in preparation for the dance, to which a large number of the younger people remained. Excellent music was supplied by Messrs M .Donald Bros, (violins), assisted by Mr p. Itoughan. Mr Geo. Potts acted as M.C. and Carried out his duties in a very efficient manner. At intervals songs were sung by Trooper Hunter, Messrs Stevenson, Jaryis, W. Dawson, J. Johnston, and D. Tippet. The oommittee desire to tendor their sincere thanks to the members of the Band and also the performers for their services rendered during the evening.