REGIMENTAL DINNER.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18414, 22 June 1925, Page 15

REGIMENTAL DINNER.

lewell to colonel MURPHY. V'arncr's Hotel, on Saturday evenie officers of the First Canterbury ent gave a farewell dinner -to 1-J.'Murphy, T.D., who is relinng command. of the regiment in of Lieut.-Colonei Newman Wi1.5.0., .5.0., M.C., of Timaru. Amongst present -were 1. Young, C.8., C.M.G., D.S.O. ).C. Southern Command; Colonel >n. J. G■ Smith, C.8.E.; Colonel urphjr, T.D.; Colonel Wilson, ~ M.C.; Colonel Dobson, M.C.; l Wiekens,. D.S.O. Major Furby, Major C'arrlngton (F.), Major D.5.0.; Major Bell, D.S.O. (F.), 4 "\\ T estmacott, 6.13. E.; Major M.C.'; Major . Milliken, Gresson, . Captain Walker, n Coe, . Captain, Murphy, Captain Neal, Captain Captain Mason, Lieut. Toomey, Cooper, Lieut. Bowron, Lieut, ton, Lieut. Burns, Lieut. King, Sirason, Lieut. Hoskin, Lieut. Lieut, Konaldson, Lieut. Heald, Smith, Lieut. Kippenberger, Nicoll, Lieut. Munday, Salter, Lieut. Morrison, McDougall and Lieut, i. Apologies we.ro receivert from 1 A. E. Stewart; C.8., C.M.G., Captain Innis and Lieut. Gray. Ibe tables were a,yprophattly laid out ? and decorated with the colours of tho Colonel tho Hon. G. J. Smith' was in the chair, find on his. »right was the guest of tm evening. The following torists were honoured: ** He King,' "Absent Comrades" * (Major Westmacott), "The Guest of tho Evening ' (Colonel Smith), "The .Regis went and''The New Commanding Offi%gieer" (Colonel Young), if In proposing the toast of ''The Guest sggtf the Evening," Colonel Smith made igtailijgißLii; reference to Colonel Murphy's |||||bjjtby service of just on 28 years, in Ifprhich was included a very fine record on active service during the late Ifflif- Colonel Murphy had, like himself, J||co!tnmenced as a private and had risen, 'Mgbj successive steps, until he had reach?|pa the ambition of every officer, that commanding officer or the regiment, concluded by calling on the mess Igjgtb sing that tiine-honoured 6one, "For ?l|2le's a Jolly G.oo<l Fellow.'' ||||sColonel Murphy said he very much Spjtepreciflterl the action of tho officers of i n bringing about such an Kjccasion, of which no was. extremely to bo the honoured gviest. At commencement of his service, as a || in the regiment, he had nevor sd that he would some day he jlonel in command, and he urged ung officers to fit themselves for a command, for they never knew ay it might come to them. The Canterbury wjis the oldest regiin New Zealand, and its excellent 1 m the past had been very ably a by its late commanders, Colonel is, Colonel Day, Colonel Cressweli, Solonel Smith, and he himself had lone his best to emulate these offiWhat the regiment had red in late ware was in a record and young s must live up to it. He regretted Wn drifting .of the regiment, imitely after_ the war, owing to few J and training periods, but ho that this would be improved, and. is-not now divulging any secret h© said that the period of traini campswould shortly be extended' lerably, which would bo a distinct to tho Territorial movement wnole. It was not through old hat he was retiring, but with «. a. to, make .room for younger offi- : whose aim shoulj be to qualify pomption and eventually tako oiver igher commands. proposing the toast of "The Regi- , Colonel Young regretted that were x ho. historical .records of the tent-, tvhich dated ] back to ".the. .old Tuaxds in 1864. There was, of course iin Ferguson's record of tho region service, which was well worth tig. He made reference to the ecofd of ; the regiment And said he proud to have commanded it e- £e!d >and .to 'be still associated it as/'O.C. Southern Command, rs of the regiment after the late and he wished to on reeord the •excellent work car--sut _and tothaiik all those who mt in the spade work -of bringing lament lip to its.present standard eiency. Old soldiers never die, he lued, but " room should Ire made ranger At the last posthe Third Infantry Brigade- was three officers under strength and . surplus of between 600 and 700 Camps and mess dinners served ike' the younger officers, and he id that such occasions would be ra'ed. He asked Lieut, Hoskin to ide by playing the Canterbury ental march, which all joined in >nel -Murphy suitably replied to the "and Colonel Dobson, who was also . upon to speak on behalf of the ent, supported Colonel Young's ntiou 'that efforts should be made npile the regimental records. He touching reference to Colonel an Stewart j jvho was the first to wid'the regiment in the late war, ho fell in the early days on GalliHe also referred to his first meetith Colonel Newman Wilson when ivere lieutenants at Quinn's Post, t thai'time the surroundings were io pleasant. >uet Young, in proposing the toast lie New Commanding Officer," said el Wilson had commanded the d Battalion in France, where he excellent record and be was ionfideht of the re.utts that woui"j l on his taking over the Fir st Canity Regiment. anel Wilson suitably responded, ns, which were much appreciated, given by Lieut. Heald (concertina ions) arid Lieut. Watts (stories), adjournment was then ninde to. Steers' Club, under the chairmanjf Colonel Dobson, where a good lg was concluded.