P. AND T. ENGINEERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3136, 14 July 1917, Page 9

P. AND T. ENGINEERS

■SiIOKH CONCERT. Tho emoke concert of Nos. 7 aud 8 Companies of vsus I'ost ana Telegraph Engineers was held in the Masonic Hall last evoning. Tho chair was occtinicu. by Cain. V. Dunne, stall' officer of tlm Engineers.

After-tlio toast of "The Kiug" had been proposed, Mr. A. 1 , , llrydeu propused th» toast o£ the "Annyvand Kavy." it was a toast which appealed to all at, tho present time, aa alter three years of war New Zealand had suffered no material damage, thanks to the long and strong arm o£ the Navy. There was no doubt that the Kavy, which had swept our enemios from the seas, had , saved the Empire and civilsation. It had a great, history, but its achievements of the long ago must pale before those of the present lime. IU final ta-sk would bo to defeat, tliu German Fleet, which would only eonio out as tho last, throw of a. ruined gambler, and if it did not leava the shelter of its luin&s and lau<t forulicaiions, they had it from Mr. Lloyd George that our Navy would dig it out. (Applause.) The speaker also paid a tribute to the mercantile marine, tho members of the air service, aiid tho Army, to which he paid a glowing eulogy. Major Sleemau,' tu response, Epoke of the traditions of tho Navy—the great silent Navy—which at tho outset of tho war disappeared intu the unknown long before tho people of England realised that England was at war./ Thpro was no brag or boast or talk about the Navyit was against tho "tone"'of tho Navy to do anything of tho kind. lie only hoped that for its satisfaction the German Fleet would come out and give them >i show. As to tho Army, tho speaker gave some interesting particulars of the mobilisation of the British Army on the outbreak of tho war, and pointed out tho important part played in the movement by tho P. and T. service, who had to transmit the word "mobilise" to all wili-. tary stations. That was tho old Army. Thu now Army was something elso alto-, gether, and when the history of tho war was really written up ho considered that the expansion of aa army from 150,000 to 5,000,000 would bo accounted one of tho greatest achievements of tho war. As the bloc<l was to the body, running' steadily through tho veins and arteries, so were the post and telegraph and signalling men at the front to the Army, for if the telegraph, telephone, and signalling 'jorvkes break down, trouble must ensue. Major Sloeman said that there was only enc v ay to make war, and that was to be prepared, and to be prepared everyone should bo efficient, ana it only required enthusiasm to make the New eZaland Army as efficient as any in the world. (ApplausoA Tho toast of the "P. and T. Department" was proposed by Colonel G. F. C. Campbell, who spoke on tho efficiency of tho service. Incidentally ho complimented the hoad of the Department (Jlr. W. It. Morris) for the marked ability with which the Department's various activities were conducted. It could raise a million and a halt of money lor war .purposes, and it, would sell you a twopenny -'stamp over the counter. He referred interestingly to tho growth of the service, and gave-sound advice to its younger members who ivero present.

ia responding Colonel W.' E Morris quoted uio number of men who had taken up arms, and whoso ulaoes had been taken by others, including mauy girls, who iiau acquitted themselves with a great measure ot efficiency. So much so, indeed, that tho. Service of to-day had been in no way impaired.' A great many of their men had distinguished themselves at tho front ■' and he Quoted a lone iist of honours which* those men had won. Colonel Jiorris also paid a compliment to Captain Dunuo for the excellent work he was doiuc in connection with the 11,I 1 , and T. Corps The feeryice. had contributed 1721 men to the military forces, of whom 100 had been killed and 229 wounded. Other toasts wero "The British Empire.", proposed by Lieutenant T. 0. Lambie and responded to by Lieutennnt-Colonol P V Waters. "Our Boys at tho Front," proDosed by Captain B. K. I'arkor and resumed to by Major Walliugford. "The ■Donors of the Shooting Trophies." proposed by Captain Dunne and responded to by, the. donors.

The prizes wore presented by Colonel Morns. The prize-winners were as followChampion belt and trophy, Sapper A. V Mallingly. J?ire Fight Competition—Winning team, Lieutenant (i. B. Williamson. Sergeants N. H. Thorn, 0. «. Marple, J E. Prasor, Cadet G. A. Walsh. A Grado Competition—Sapper L. M'Keefry, 1- Sergeant D. , Whitmore, 2. B Grade Oompeti-tion-Sapper W. Weston/1; Corporal W Yates, 2. 0 Grade Competition—Sapper i/ H. Daniell, 1; Sapper W. A. Lcoining, 2' No. 107 Coy., P. and T. Oadets-A Grade Competition—Cadet E. J. Lonsdale. 1: Ser-geant-Major 1. Harvey, 2. B Grade Cdm. petition—Drummer C. O. Wallace, 1- Cadet W. J. Little, 2.

Musical and other items were contributed by li. H. Daniell. J. p. Thomson, F. V. Waters, Captain. Dunne and Sereeant Whitmore (self-defence), G. J. A. Blackie. W. G. B. Patterson. J. T. Evans, and Lieutenant J:, T. H. Korr.