OMIHI RETURNED SOLDIERS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16856, 9 June 1920, Page 3

OMIHI RETURNED SOLDIERS.

—$ COMPLIMENTARY BAHQTTET. June ,4th v.ill long bo remembered by tho - , returned soldiors ol tlio Omihi district. A. ■ banquet bud been promised when all had safely arrived home, and this took pi ace on Friday. The? preparations would liavo done honour to the Piiucc of Wales himself. The goods sksd lost entirely its cold commercial look, for with evergreens and cabbago ire-os guarding" ths entrance, it had been eonverted into a veritable fairyland. Bright flags showd hero and thero, and m&ssos of autumn and winter berries added to th& colouring. The Epv. Canon Ptirchas presided, and the coldieis with their partnois took their places at the central tablo The matrons of thedistrict, with s;rp.o "willing male helpers, had a big task in supcrvicing the banquet, but they managed ovtiyihing exceedingly well, j-he young ladies and gentlemen waited, and, with tables fairly groaning beneath their loads cf choice viands—ham, fowl, tongue, trifle, fruit ealad, joilico, and cream in abundance—"all went iaeny as a bell." Tho Bev. W. Duulop said grace, and tho soldiers appeared to relish their "six o'clock high tea." Among those who were invited were Mr G. W. Forbes, M.P., and Mrs Forbes. Tho chairman read eoveral apologies, among them being qno from ths Rev. W. Walker, chairman of tho E.S.A., Christchurch, -vho was absent at a conferonce in Wellington, but sent tho very warmest greetings from his Association. Tha toast of "The King" was proposed By Canon Purchas, who also proposed "The Returned Soldiers," which was responded to by Mr H. D. Greenwood, who said that tho New Zealand so.diors had been the envy of all the men, as they were fo well cared for. fie put in a. plea for tlve Ambirley branch of tho U.S.A. Air A. Lcainan also responded to tho toast. "The Soldiers' Wives" was proposed by Mr H. Brown, and humorously responded to by M?esrs F. C. • Cole, Eli Scott, and It. Wornall. "The Ladies" was proposed by ths Rev. Mr Bolshaw, and v.as responded to by Mesdames \ Doak and Waugh. ! "Tho New Zealand Parliament" was proposed by Mr Wnragli, who referred to the | great responsibility devolving on any Par l liajnent, and praised tho New Zealand Parliament for doing justice to tho soldiers, j Tils toast vas rcapondsd to by Jlr G. W. j Forbes, M.P., who complimented the settlors i on remembering tho soldiers. Ho referred to tho largo number cf so'diers who had returned ill-fitted for tho battle of lite, and of the country's duty towards those men. While '.£12,000,000 had been spent on soldiers' settlement very mu'Jh more rcuired to bo done, and tho only moans of paying off this debt was by increased production, thus also reducing the high cost of living. Mr Harrison proposed "Tho Agricultural and Pastoral Interests," which wero most important to the progrcM of both city i'-r.'l country, ikesrs D. I\lcLacli2an and Wm.' Baxter, in responding, stressed tho importance of agricultural products, and cf "turning our swords into plough-sharea." Mr Doak proposed '"Tho Labour Interest," to which Messrs Alexander and Waugli replied, Jlr Alexander cpeaking of the large proportion of railway servants who had besn on active sen-ice, and ilr Waugh upholding tlis vast body of munition v.'urkerr, without whom tho soldiers would have been helpless. Mr # J its. Baxter propoec-d the health of "Tho Original Settlers," and spoke of how they had prospered, and were now enjoying tho fruits of their labour. This toiwt was eoupled with tho names of Mcs3rs D. Brock, H. Symonds, L. Burrows, A n ex. Love, arid Thos. Croft. Mr Syrnonds said that on July 14th he would have completed CI years' residence in the Omihi Valley. (Applause.) From Waipara to To Papa there wiia r.ot a houso when h» Crrt camo into the district. He attributed the succcsa of the valley to tlife late Mr Moore, who had given tho most r<_-a.Tonabl2i 'terms possible, und encouragcd the settlers in many ways. Mr S. Burrows was also reminiscent in his remarks. During the evening Canon Purchas expresiwd a hope thai, while perpetuating the i memory of thccc who would rover return, they would also have in some lasting form a. memento of tlios.? who had returned. The danco following tho banquet proved mos-t enjoyable. The Grand March ar.d first waltz were exclusively for </o'di- r-, and nearly all the returned mrr. took part. Mr A. Staekboi!so controlled tho d-.ncei. Mcsclames Purchas 'and Harris and Mr Waug'i contributed songs, while n lady visitor cuaplied a pianoforte eo'o. M:s W. Cole provided at the piano The whole function paf'x-d off most harmoniously.