D BATTERY RESERVE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 107, 30 January 1920, Page 10

D BATTERY RESERVE

* WELCOME TO EETUEXED MEN.. A welcome home was tendered by members of tho 11 .Mattery Reserve at the Marine Engineers' Institute on Tuesday evening to those of the Reserve who went, on active service. Major A. 11. H'slop presided over a large gathering. Captain G. X. Goldie, who proposed the toast of "Kelurned Members,' mentioned {hat the. Battery Kesrrvc had sent 100 men into camp, JS more- were available, and there were 21 more to follow. In. between whiles they had innumerable applications for membership, and they could have kept up the supply for two or three yours more if the war had continued that long. He himself had received .'lO5 letters from boys who went away from Hie battery, and every letter breathed a desire to return to the country of their birth.

In presenting Captain Goldie and Mrs. Goldie with a clock and a cheque, the chairman said that they had met speci-' ally to recognise the valuable services Captain Goldie had rendered to the Defence Forces of New Zealand. It was an axiom that the Defence authorities never recognised merit, but he himself knew that Captain Goldie had spent much of his spare lime, in preparing men to take their part in the game they had to play. In reply, Captain Goldie said that when the war broke out a man connected with the Ot;ij?n High School-Mr. George l r aehe—cnirm to him and said: "We have to move." (Applause.) Major flislop and others put themselves into Ihe movement, and he (Mr. Goldie) was given charge. It was, he added, Major Tlislop who laid down the policy that they had carried out, and he expressed deep anpreciation of the services rendered by Mr. Buck. All of the 2GG on the roll' were out to do their jobs, and without exception they filled their jobs. (Applause.) "They were all triers, everyone of them," said Captain Goldie in referring to the men who had passed under his control, Mild when he madereference to the help afforded by Major Pctheriek (lie gathering rose and accorded the major musical honours. As to those who had "gone West," he said thev were the biirgesr men of all—and the'v went willingly. (Cheers.) Other toasts were honoured, and an excellent, programme of songs rHi instrumental items was given.