FIRST CONTINGENT RE.UNION

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1886, 22 October 1913, Page 8

FIRST CONTINGENT RE.UNION

On October 21, fourteen years ago, the first regiment •of New Zealand soldiers sailed from Wellington in the Waiwora for South Africa to bear .their part in tho defonco of the great British - Empire. Last ovening tho remnants of the regiment met for their annual reunion in Godber's rooms, Cuba Street. The function was in every way most successful. J. G. Hughes, D.5.0., the only commissioned officer o'f tho regiment present, presided. Every year . the company assembled becomes smaller, ■ but thero is no lack of enthusiasm - amongst thoso "firsts" who manage to attend. Last night's dinner was ono i of the most successful yet held, and was i marked by a spirit of the utmost cordiality. The only sad moment —and a solemn moment .it was —was that in which tho secretary of tho association (Mr. Claudo L. Jewell) read tho list of thoso "firsts" who had given their lives for the flag. All kinds of toasts wore honoured, but tho gathering' was marked by the spirit of true informali ity, and no set programme was adhered ! to. The ovening was occupied by stories • of experiences on the veldt, and the • words "spruTt" and "kopje" and many ; others which were added to the language • during tho long and weary strueglo in ' Africa were much in evidence. "Firsts" , from all par,ts of the Dominion wero ) present. l ===== Sir Charles Bowen, Speaker of the Legislative Council, left Lyttelton for Wellington by tho Waliine last evening. Tho Hons/E. E. J. Stevens, J. T. Paiil, t and G. <T. Smith are also passengers by i the W'ahine. , Two petitions, from the Wellington 1 City Council and the Tramways Comc mitteo of the Dunedin City Council, s wore presented to tho House of Re--3 presontativos yesterday, asking that the ; two bodies should have an opportunity 1 of giving evidence on tho Tramways - Bill before a Committee of tho House. 1