INTERRED WITH HONOURS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1176, 11 July 1911, Page 6

INTERRED WITH HONOURS.

■WELLINGTON ZEALAXDIA RIFLES. To the convivial clink of classes, and mirth and music, the Wellington Zealandia Rifles last night "gave up the ghost" of their oM identity—"the Zealandias" of tho First Wellington Rifle Battalion—and henceforth will bo known to the.public as F Company, Fifth Regiment, N.Z. Infantry. The ''interment" took place at Uodber's Booms, Cuba Street,. the deceased being accorded all the honours due to. an illustrious,-and. to quote the description applied to it last, evening, "good, fat, healthy corpse." There was a very large attendance of past and present members of tho company. Captain A. A. Corrigan presided, and amongst the visiting officers were: Colonel R. J. Collins, C.M.G., Colonel J. R. Purdy. Director of Medical Services, Colonel G. F. C Campbell (Wellington Garrison Artillery Division). LieutenantColonelW. G. Duthic and Major C.Harcourt Turner (Fifth Regiment, N.Z.1.), Captain C. B. -Morison and Captain J. Hobbs (past officers commanding the Zealandia Rifles). The principal toast of ■ the evening was "The Zealamlia' Rifles. Past and Present," proposed by Colonel C'oilins who paid a high tribute to the career of the corps since its inception in 1«!)8 Since then, he Mid. no fewer than 404 men had. passed through the company. It had been formed as a corps of -New: Zealanders, native born, with a high and fixed standard of physique, fhey hid had good officers-Captain Monson, Upturn John Kcir. Captain Hobbs. and, lastly .Captain Corrigan. . They had now lost identity. There would bo no more Zealandias; but as F Company m the Fi h Regiment he hoped that he, corps would prove itself as of old, and that its work and osprit-do-corps would be an example to the other companies. (ApD Raving io H,e toast. Captain C B. Mormi, one of the former commanders , c orps, referred with pride to the ?nct that ai- the time of the Boer AUr the Zealandias sent 3S of their iiumber to South Africa. Referring to the attitude of the Socialist party towards he new defence system, and especially to the sentiments expressed by a member of that party in a recent letter to the press the speaker remarked, with spirit, that a man who obiccted to military training because be had m> property to defend was unworthy of the dignity of true citizenship. Britishers did not fight for the mere sake of protecting their property. Tbey fought because their instincts were tlio='e of a fighting race; because they desired to retain their freedom of speech, as Britishers, under the British flag. (Cheers.) , " Captain Hobbs, whose name was also coupled with the toast, urged the. men not to neglect their shooting. Captain Corrigan. who also responded, paid a high tributo to the past and present "noncoms" of the corps. Other toasts wero "The Parliament of Now Zealand," "Success Io the New Defence Scheme," "Our Guests." and "The Press." Altogether, the "obsequies" of the Zealandia Rifles was a happy event, In be followed by an inspiring resurrection in the shap?. of F. Company, Fifth Regiment, New Zealand Infantry.