SOCIAL TO RETURNED TROOPERS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 4966, 7 June 1902, Page 2

SOCIAL TO RETURNED TROOPERS.

A Booial, under the auspices of tbe Lawrence Football Club, was tendered to Trs. B. M'Kay and A. Wilson, of N.Z. Sixth Contingent, in the Town Hall on Wednesday night. The evening was fine and there was a vtry - large gattwring to do honor to tbe returned soldiers. The ladies, who had kindly volunteered their assistance in carrying out the de. tails of the social, had the hall tastefully de* coratedwith evergreens and numerous flags, the Union Jack being prominent. Over the proscenium the motto " Welcome " aras prominent, other mottos and pictures of Lords Roberts and Kitchener adorning the sides. His Worship the Mayor (Sfr W.F.Smyth) presided, and on the platform with him were Mr Eyes (President of the Football Club), Bey. J. A. Will, Mr B. Wiun, and Trs. M'Kay. Wil. son, Labes (Tuipeka Flat), and M'Ksnsie (Waitahuua). The Tuapeka Brass Band played several appropriate selections in front of the hall prior to the social.

The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, said one had only to look around the hall at the very large audience to do honor to their younij friends to realise the splendid loyalty that existed towards the Mother Country Hehoped all present would thoroughly enjoy themselves^ ° * ™

' A patriotio med'ey was then sung'by a quintet of ladies (Mrs J. T. Black and Misses Leech, Smyth,, Jeffery, and" M'Lareri), the chorus being lustily taken up by.Vnumber of voioes at the rear of the stage. Miss MorriBon followed witbihe pianoforte solo, " Home, sweet home," finely played. The Chairman said they were present under the aoepiceß of the Lawrenoe Football Club to celebrate the home-coming of Trs. M'Eay and Wilson, ex-members of the Club. A characteristic of the British was their love of field spor» 8 aud athletic games, and. among the latter football and cricket held a prominefat plaoe. It had been said that the British Boldier was mads on the orioket fields of Britain, and he thought the same remark applied, equally to the footbaU ground. Whether that was go or not, they found their young" footballers taking with them to the battlefields of South Africa all the* qualities of their ancestors ---bravery, endurance, and devotion to the toother Country. They would r. member how, when the first oall for- aid was made, the young New Zeaianders came forward in thousands, eager to risk life and all its pleasing associations in defence of -the triple oroßS.'the grand old Union Jaok, benea'h the iolds of which their forefathers both on land and sea had won honor and renow.o. It \fft6 gratifying to knem th&t the New Zealanderß had, throughout the campaign, taken a distinguished part, and that their soldierly qualities had won the admiration of their generals and commanding officers. They knew tnat they were fighting aya v brave, subtle, and stubborn foe, who by their continued fighting — now happily at an end — endurance, and devotion to a lost cause had merited admiration. New Zeaianders had, by their conspicuous bravery and endurance in the great struggle, proved themselves, worthy scions of the fighting race from which they had come. He oould not pay them a ' higher compliment. He * was sure they were all proud to know that New Zealand was nurtoriog a* race of young men who, should the call to arms ever resound on their shores, would be found willing, ready, and able fo protect the hearths and homes of their native land. Ha oould not refrain from com- i menting on the fact that considering the number of men who had gone-from this distriot not one bad come home with a wound or Bear to remind them of their experience on the battlefield. He was sure Trs. M'Kay and Wilson would be highly pleased at seeing Buch an enthusiastic gathering to celebrate their home-coming and he had no doubt the memory of the event would be oherished by them during the remainder of their lives. He concluded by wishing them both a very hearty welcome home. — (Loud applause.) After an original song, on the news of the reoently-deolared peace, had been sung by Miss Morrison, and a duet contributed by Misses Leech and Jeffery,

Tneßev. J. A. Will addressed the meeting. He expressed pleasore at being asked to take part in the welcome to their returned troopers. He was glad to see such a splendid gathering to welcome them home. They had all taken part in a similar function at the home-com-ing of their representatives in the fourth contingent and he was pleased to see by the enthusiastic gathering before him that they considered their representatives in the Sixth Contingent equally entitled to recognition. In some respects he thought they were more entitled to public recognition than those of the earlier contingents. They had gone knowing that the work that lay before them was no child's play ; no mere dress parade ; but down-right hard work, and dangerous at that. Before volunteering they had read accounts of the hardships to be endured and the showers of lead to be encountered. They knew of the havoc wrought by fever and the many victims claimed by enteric. They knew also that not only would they thty be required to oonfront those dangers without flinching but would be expected to manifest a courage and skill in war above the average, for they had to maintain the high reputation gained by the earlier contingents. Their friends on tha platform had done their part in maintaining that high reputation. Had they fallen in battle their names would have been held by us in honored memory. By God's grace they had been permitted to return, and as they welcomed them that night they thanked Him who bad kept them safe in danger's hour and restored them to their dear ones. Jn their rejoicing that night they had the additional joy of knowing that peace had been proclaimed and no more contingents would be wanted. Had an Eleventh Contingent been called for it would have been raised with ease, for the source from which those others came was by- do means exhausted. However, they rejoiced to know that the consummation so long and so devoutly wished for was reached and that the sounds of war and its far more terrible 'sights were becoming things of the past, and they hoped those who had been so successful in the 'conduct of the war would prove equally successful in the conduct of peace. Great patience and much skill would be required if the dead past was to bury its dead and Briton and Boer stand "shoulder to Bhoulder with united hearts. Many things connected with the South African war distinguised it from any previous war - for example, the thorough preparation for war made by the Boer 3. Secretly and thoroughly had they laid in stores of weapons and ammunition of the best before they sent Iheir ultimatum to Great Britain. Indeed, at the commencement of the war Britain stood outclassed with regard to weapons used. Then there was the wonderful fact, pointed out by Mr Justice Williams, that while before the war in the Orange Free State some 8,000 children were attending sohool, during the war Great Britain was doing her best to provide education for some 13,060 children of those who were opposing her in the field. Then there was the oft-noted enthusiastic rallying of the colonies round the Mother Land. There had been those who had looked with extreme disfavor upon Britain's colonising schemes. They did not hesitate to say jbbak each new colony was bat an added source of weakness. JJow they would tain hope that that cry bad been .silenced once and for ever, and that those in the Home Lard would believe now what had been known all along in the colonies: Colonial hearts beat true; to King and country and would not be found wanting in time of need. Might they not also say that this war waß noteworthy for the chivalrous way British eoldiers had acted towards the enemy. Of necessity, very fierce passionß were kindled in such a war as that which bad just ended, but their man had kept a wonderful control over themselves, and had not given way to those outbursts of ferocity that had so frequently occurred in connection with other wars'. And that those things were so would exercise a beneficent influence now in allaying the, irritation that could not but exist for some time between the conquering and the conquered. Their prayer and effort now must be to win thejtffection as wall as the submission of those who were so lately in the field against them. It was by no means a hop* less task and they might confidently look forward to the time when the rule of Britain's King would be as heartily acknowledged in South Africa as it is in New Zealand. They talked of the lesbobb the Wat Office Snoold \ear n horn the events of the past so as to be always ready, with well-selected officers aod up-to-date weapons. Might not they in New Zealand take that part of the lesson to themselves and attend to their colonial defence. In Mr Seddon he considered they bad the man who, if he gave his heart to it, was able to give them a system of defence that would enable them to stand alone. If they wanted to occupy a place in the forefront of the world's progress they must not only be skilled in the art of war they must be true men— must live not only for the present time, but with a due regard for the life that was hereafter. We were too apt to forget this and he could not do better than conclude by quoting Kipling's well-known lines:— God of our fathers, known of old, Lord of our far-flung battle line, Beneath whose awful hand we hold pominion over palm and pine, Lord Cooof Hosts he with us^et, Lest we forget, Lest we forget. Songs having been contributed by Mr M'Clymont and Miss Leech, Mr Eyes, president of the Lawrence Football Club, said he had a very duty to perform, v \%. t to make a small presentation to Troopers M'Kay and Wilson. He expressed hist great pleasure at seeing so many present to take part with the Football Club in according them a thoroughly enthusiastic welcome honie from the Transvaal.— (Applause.) The movements of the Sixth New Zealand Contingent had, he Baid, been watohed with considerable interest by members of the Club knowing as they did that it contained two of their old comrades in the football field: The members of the Club were proud to see .them go forth to fight for their King and country •and they were now equally pleased to have the opportunity of welcoming them back to - their native town. In appreciation of their service to the Empire, be had now much *• pleasure on behalf of the Qlub in presenting ' eaotrot them with a gold medal which they all .hoped they would be long spared to wear and at the same time wishing them, " good luck, prosperity, ana happiness." He then ~- called for three cheers for Trs. M'Kay and WUwo which were heartily responded to.

Trs. M'Eay and Wilson each briefly expressed their thanks for the very hearty welcome acoorded them by. their football comrades. The first part of the programmes was brought to a olose by the footballers giving an enthusiasts rendering of their well-known football song, «• On the ball."

At this stage a liberal supply of refreshments were handed round, the wants.- of all being eagerly attended toby quite' a host of willing assistants. » ■ ,

The sf eond part of the programme opened with a song by Miss Le Brun who had to respond to an undeniable encore. Miss Morrison and Mr D. Mitchell followed with a duet, the theme of which was domestic troubles whioh kept the audience in continual laughter during its reoitaV An%rioore was demanded, but the singers merely bowed their\acknpwledgment. Mr B. W. Winn, vice-president of the FootbaHjeUrbx Baid he was pleased to have an opporTUaßjf of saying a few words on so important an occasion.- In the coarse of a lengthy speech he eulogised the loyal spirit that had been manifested by the young men of the distriot in volunteering and going to the front, and said it was only right on the part of the inhabitants when they returned, that they should receive some recognition for their serI vices and a hearty welcome home. He 'gave | it as bis opinion that had it-not been for the great assistance rendered, by the colonies in South Africa they would not yet have celebrated the declaration of peace. He referred " to the excellent health that had been enjoyed by their looal representatives. So far, they had all come back better men in every respect than when they went away. He referred to the unfriendly feeling that had been shown towards Britain by the Continental nations during the earlier stage of the war. They looked upon her as a worn-out old lion with a lot of useless cubs, whicb, instead of being a source of help were a source of weakness to her. To their amazement they had found it i to be exactly the reverse. The colonies had \ rallied round the Mother Country in suoh a j manner and with suoh efieot as to oause them to alter their views and probably to think twice before picking a quarrel with the anoient lion. He predicted that in a very short time we would find the Boers .a source of strength to the British Empire. They would quickly recognise-the benefits of British rule and heartily join in upholding it in South Africa. He concluded a very enthusiastic speech by calling for three cheers for the parents of the returned troopers. The Chairman said he did not think they oould bring this celebration to a olose without awarding a just meed of praise to their Premier, the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon. To him was due the honor of proffering to the Mother Country the servioes of the First Contingent and by his subsequent actions during the war he had placed himself in the first rank of colonial statesmen and won for himself a niche in the roll of Britain's patriots. He bad no doubt when he reached London for the Coronation ceremony he would make a name for himself there as he had lone in the colonies. — (Applause.) Cheers were then called for Trs. Labes and M'Kenzie.

Mr J. Bryant, captain of the Football Club, thanked those present for their attendance and also the ladies who had so kindly come to their assistance in carrying out the details of the social.

This was carried by acclamation, and the meeting concluded by the singing of the National Anthem.

A dance was afterwards held which was very largely attended. Excellent music was supplied by Miss M. Black (piano) and Mr P. Boughan (violin).