FIRST CONTINGENT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2287, 22 October 1914, Page 6

FIRST CONTINGENT

■ ANNUAL REUNION. ' The fourteenth annual reunion , and 'dinner of the First . New Zealand Mounted Rifles Association was held in Godber's rooms last night. Colonel A. W. Robin (Commandant, New Zealand Forced) presided over' a representative gathering from all parts of New Zealand of members of tho First Contingent. Captain Rogers, ..who was regimental sergeant-major of the "First," was down from New Plymouth, while there were representatives. from Auckland; Napier, Main- Trunk, towns, ; Now "Plymouth, Mariborough, ', Otago, and other inland towns. '■-...

..A large number of telegrams were received from First Contingentors, some of : whom stated they were ' again on active service. All expressed regret in characteristic vein at not being able to be present at the reunion. , The toast of "The King," ' proposed by the chairman, was honoured enthusiastically. -. :' ' ■',: . ; ' • '

Comrade Tuck, in proposing the toast, "Navy and Army, said 15 years ago ihoy were privileged to rub shoulders with the finest army ever known. At-tho present time some of their number were, again in active service. In replying to the .toast, Colonel Robin said it was a tribute to the invulnerabiliy, of the Navy when they. could say that the seas wero practically ■free at the present day. Tho speaker remarked that it was a practical certainty that Britain's Navy'must meet the German Navy ere the war came to an end. Turning to the Army, Colonel Robin eaid' thero was ■ not a man present but did not' -regret that lie was riot off to tTie front. Captain Whitehall also spoko in respqnse to the toast. The toast "Firsts Serving Abroad" was proposed by Captain-Rogers. These were mentioned as follow: —Major-General R. H. Davies; C.8.; Lioiitenant-Oolonel D'Arcy Chaytor; Majors W/ R. N. Madocks, R.A., H. D. O. Ward, E. Bartlett, D.5.0., H. Why/te, Orbell, and E. Harrowell; Captains M. E. Lindsay, G. R. Miller, F. Wood, 'A. Wilkie, and H. W. Smith; Lieutenants A. Batchelor and Emerson; Regiment Sergeant-Ma-jor Bould; Quartermaster-Sergeant M'Donald, Provost-Sergeant W. Mahood. The nanie of Comrade Pitt, who has been chosen for official duty, in the Native contingent was added to these. Comrado Pitt and Captain Morrison responded to the toast. The toast "Comrades Wlio Have Gone Before" was drunk in silence, and Comrado Brown read over the list of honoured dead.

Other toasts honoured were: "The ladies," "The Press," and "Absent Comrades."

The toast list was interspersed with an enjoyable selection of musical items contributed to by Comrades J. Cummings, Tuck, Rankine, Pitt, and Newman.