EARL ROBERTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2269, 1 October 1914, Page 6

EARL ROBERTS

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS FROM NEW ZEALAND, Yesterday- was the eighty-second birthday-of Earl Roberts, and when the Legislative Council met in the afternoon tho ,Hon. H. D. -Bell, the Leader of the Council,-moved: — ' . ■ "The Legislative Council of New Zealand, ori the ' occasion, of . the : 82nd" anniversary of the birth of Earl Roberts, Colonel-in-Chief of the Forces of. His Majesty's - possessions beyond the l>«as. desires >to, recognise the splendid service which His Lordship has rendered to the Empire in the past, and to express its hope that he may bo spared for many years to conro to com ? mand tl\o New Zealand, soldiers who are proud to have the. privilege • of serving under him." Mr. 801 l said that the recent experiences of tho- Empiro had 6hown how wise had been tho advice which Earl Roberts had. offered recontly to us all. He. (Mr. Bell) felt sure that that fact was more in tho minds of the Council to-day than the thoughts of the great- ; service Earl Roberts had rendered the Empire from tho tinw when as a subaltern ho won tho Victoria Cross at Delhi to the time of his participation in-tho South African war. The Hon. Captain Baillie seconded the motion, and said that he had served under Earl Roberts's father (General Sir Abraham Roberts), in the Punjab. Many of our troops had'scryed under Earl Roberts in South Africa. I Tho motion was carried.

Judging by the programme ' which ivas presented to troopers; and 'sailors iit the II shed last the organiser, Mr. J. Dykes and his assistant, Lieutenant F. Waito, had a splcn r did success with the entertainment [riven for '.he troops. Songs woro rendered by Mr. F. V. .Waters, J. F. Carr, A. B. Jasper, Private Barnes,' A. B. Christmas of H.M.S. Psyche, Bugler Price, and Trooper Price, while Bandsman M'Leod gavo a whistling solo, and F. Andrews a clog dance. Mr. Dykeo ivas a host in himself. During the cotirso of the evening it wa.s announced that tho ladies of the Pioneer Chib, under the direction of Mrs. Salmon, had arranged to provide refreshments every evening during; tho troops' stay in Wellington.