AFTER THE WAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 828, 17 February 1903, Page 2

AFTER THE WAR.

CELEBRATION OF BOX HA S B DKG ENGAGEMENT. A MEETING THAT FAILED. A meeting of returned contingeutcrs was failed at the Ciuu-room of the Masonic Hotel last evening to consider in what form the anniversary of the Battle of liotlittshurg should ue commemorated. in conjunction with movements taking piaeo in other parts ot the colony. All members of the seventh, or any other contingent that served in South Airies. were earnestly invited to attend. As no time was mentioned in the advertisement. it was not until eight o'clock that there was anything like a representative lutendunee. At that time Lieut. Carter arrived and stated that he did not think there would be a large attendance, as some misunderstanding had arisen among the coutingenters, many of whom seemed to think that they were being passed over and placed in a secondary position as compared to members of the Seventh Contingent, who had been specially mentioned in the advertisement. Nothing had been further from the minds of members of the Seventh Contingent, explained Lieut. Carter, as it was desired that all members should take part in the meeting. Capt. Whiteley : It- seems to me to be a very selfish view to take of the matter. Certainly all members of the different contingents were invited. Major McCredie : It is a very poor spirit to display. Capt. Warren : It is always a difficult matter to get a meetiug in Gisborne. One has to go rouud and beat all the members up. I am tired of beating them up. Lieut. Carter: Many of the men appear

to think that they have been slightod because tho advertisement calling tho meeting made special reference to members of the Seventh Contingent. Trooper Dayitt: i think one man is as good as another. If the members of any of the other contingents had been at Bothasburg they would havo shown the same bravery. Major McCredie : No one doubts that. Captain Whitoiy ; They would all have done their best. Major McCredie said that the advertisement inserted by Major Winter appeared to have been a little impromptu and burned. There appeared to be some impression on the part of tile contingents other than the seventh that they were playing what might bo termed second fiddle to tho seventh. He did not think that there was any such desire on the part of those who had called the meeting to rellect in any way on the members of the contingonts. He was perfectly satisfied that thero was no such intention. Continuing, Major McCredie said that the battle ot Bothasburg stood pre-eminently in tho history of the war in South Africa, and as such ho thought it should bo honored by tho members of every contingent that had served in South Africa. About eighty or ninety men had fought for tho British tlagjagaiust some 1200 or 1400 Boers, and they had attained victory against such terrific odds. Out of tho eighty or nioety twenty-three had been killed and forty-three seriously wounded. Under such circumstances he thought that the whole of the New Zealand Contingents, and the whole ot tho civil population of tho colony, would only be doing what was right and proper in upholding and honoring the heroic bravery of tho Colonial soldiers by commemorating annually this great battle. In DeWet’s recent book on the Boer war they found that tho Boer General actually mentioned the battle of Bothasburg as being the greatest and most difficult thing that he had to contend with throughout the whole of the war. DoWet termed his opponents Remington Scouts, and as such they were not generally recognised as New Zealanders. But tiiey wore New Zealanders, aud the Boer General himself admitted tho battle to be tho toughest piece of work in which ho had been engaged. It was therefore only right that the New Zealanders should commemorate tho great event. Ho regrottod very much that there had been a misunderstanding in regard to tho meeting, and he hoped that if another meeting were called that there would be a large attendance. In Auckland the event was being celebrated by a dinner, and something of the same kind was being done in Wellington. Before concluding his remarks, Major McCredie said that it was understood that a general meeting of returned troopers would be held in Gisborne when the last Contingents had .returned, and it would be for the meeting to say what steps should be taken. Trooper Davitt made reference to the misunderstanding that existed amongst contingenters as to the nature of the meeting that evening, and ho suggested that anotfier meeting should be called for the following Saturday. Discussion followed as to< tho merits of the different contingents, one trooper pointing out that any other contingent might have done what the seventh did at Bothasburg had they been on tho scone of action.

Trooper Davitt considered that the Sixth Contingent experienced the hardest of luck, and were officered by one or two men without heart. Referring to one of the officers, he said, “ Why the Auckland members fired on him, and he turned tail and left them.”

Lieut. Riddick: Wo are getting away from the question for which we met. Major McCredio : I can see that a spirit of jealousy exists. All appear to have been anxious to have participated in the battle of Bothasburg. Cape. Whituley explained how the reference to the battle of Bothasburg came to appear in the advertisement. Tho members of the Seventh Contingent had received a circular from Wellington inviting them to be present .at a dinner in Wellington to commemorate the event, and two or three of the local men meeting it had been suggested that something should bo done locally to commemorate the event. Major Winter was approached on the matter, and readily fell in with tho idea, but stated that in all probability he would be unable to attend tho meeting that eveniug, as he was very busy. In framing the advertisement they had in-

" vited members of all the contingents to attend the meeting, but unfortunately e they had specially mentioned the Seventh ■> Contingent, and in this way some feeling ■ of jealousy had arisen. He was exceedf ingly sorry if any member took umbrage 2 at the advertisement and he desired to • make all amends in his power. The s whole thing could be explained in the fact ’ that three of the Seventh mon had met 1 together, and the matter had been hurried 1 in order to get it advertised last Saturday. ’ Ho was extremely sorry if any friction had been caused. Trooper Davitt: I honor the Seventh for their work, but I think we should have one gathering for alf the contingents. After further discussion it was decided that a meeting of all returned members of New Zealand Contingents resident in this district and focal volunteers, be held at the Masonic Hotel to-morrow evening at 7.30, to consider the best means of celebrating the heroic events engaged in by the New Zealand Contingents in South Africa. Major McCredie expressed the hope that there would be a large and representative attendance, and that the deeds of the Colonials should be commemorated in a fitting matter. Several members suggested that a dinner would be the most suitable way of 1 celebrating the occasion, whilst others 1 were in favor of a gaia day, with a concert and dance in the evening. The matter will be fully discussed at the meet- f ing to-morrow evening. t A vote of thanks to the chairman termi- c nated the meeting.