HAEREMAI!

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 06, Issue 95, 3 August 1943, Page 5

HAEREMAI!

COMPLIMENTARY SMOKE CONCERT MEN THE GUESTS •SATURDAY EVENING'S GATHERING A welcome home, fully interpreting- the warmth of feeling felt throughout town and district at their arrival after so' long overseas, was tendered! men of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. by the citizens of Whakatane in the shape -of the splendidly successful complimentary smoke concert in the "Caliedonian Hall last Saturday •evening. His Worship the May•or of Whakatane, Mr B. S. Barry, presided! over an; enthusiastic gathering of over three hundred and l it would be safe to r say that the gathering was definitelyone of the best organised l and! conducted and most representative' seen in Whakatane for sl long time. While proceedings .never tamed down, there was nevertheless throughout a cert tain d'iginity and character, which was fully in keeping wiith the high standard of the spee- • ches in a cte and the items which ■were given by the l'ocal artists.

The gathering wi\l long be reiiucmberecl lor its wonderful sense of fellowship and the line sentiments expressed by speakers. Though refreshments were in abundance there was throughout a eomplete absence of anything other than a reflection of warmhearted welcome to the 'boys' of. whom there were upwards •of lifty present. The 'piece de resistence' was de.finitely the carving up of six sucking pigs which had been roasted ~ whole (a tribute to the interest of -Mr B. Benson) by four 'local butch- ' ers who wielded knife and Steele with professional skill and made "wonderful work of a difficult job. The happy note of informality •"Which characterised the . opening, "was never absent, and was assisted iby Lieut Stevenson's energetic community singing interludes and by Mr Tony Smith's popular humour and veteran yarns. There was only one more serious note struck and that was in the silent toast, to "Fallen Comrades" -which was honoured at the commencement and during the drinking -of'which it would have been, pos- . sible to hear the proverbial pin drop. Our Guests Proposing the toast to the 1 guests •of the evening,, Mr Barry said he i'elt sure that they would want to forget the war for the time being - and he trusted therefore that they would make the very best of their stay. It. was the most ardent wish of aM present that they Avould be ;soon home again permanently,. together with their comrades who were .still serving overseas. Speaking of those who had been repatriated home Invalided he extended to them tlii good wishes of those present and trusted that they wou'ld be speedily returned to health. Warrant Officer Jack Denham who rose to repily was accorded an • ovation. He disclaimed as Avell as possible the praise which had been .showered on the men who had returned and went on to say that as -one. of the 'glamour boys' of the : 2nd Echelon who went to England he had been told, with pride by . many ex-soikliers of the last war of the deeds of. the men of the Ist N.Z.E.F. It was largely he said the deeds of the men who had. fought, in the 1914-18 war that gave them the incentive to do what, they had .done in the .Middle East. If they had achieved any standard it. wa»s .due to the example of the old 'diggers.' The Fighting Services Mr W. Sullivan was at his best* In proposing the toast to the "Fighting Services and the Nursing Division." He asked permission to limit his remarks to the men of the New ZeaUmd Forces and went on to relate some stories of General Freyberg which he. had heard, lir.st hand, "lhe closer you get to General lTeyberg> he said, "the more you agree that he is a very humane, methodical and brilliant man, though he can .he tough in a tough patch. To hear jhim speak is to realise with pride .the great admiration he has for the New Zealand troops and. their ability to see things through."