RESIGNATION OF MAJOR STEWARD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1116, 15 November 1879, Page 2

RESIGNATION OF MAJOR STEWARD.

At the conclusion of the monthly inspection parade of the headquarters companies of volunteers last night, Captain Sumpter, the officer in command, read the following letter from Major Steward : To the Officers and Members of No. 3 Battalion, O.R.V. Gentlemen, —In intimating the fact that circumstances have indeed rendered it necessary for me to resign my commission as your Major, I feel that I could scarcely have trusted myself to have said on parade what I should like to say.

Having now been upwards of twenty years a Volunteer (for seventeen of these in New Zealand, and twelve in this district) you will readily understand that it is with no little pain that I now say good-bye, nor that I feel constrained to say it as briefly as possible. I thank you all for the hearty support you have always given me, and for your cordial good feeling towards myself as your commanding officer during so' many years, and I rest confident that my successor may depend upon receiving the same cheerful obedience and hearty aid in the work of the battalion. Yours, &c., Wm. J. Steward, Major. On the reading of the letter being concluded, No. 1 Company's band played " Auld Lang Syne." Captain Sumpter, after speaking in terms of praise of the efforts made by Major Steward to forward the volunteer movement in this district, proposed the following resolution : We, the Officers and Members of No. 3 Battalion desire to express our regret that circumstances should have rendered it necessary for Major Steward to resign his position as Major of No. 3 Battalion, and wish to testify our appreciation of the very valuable services rendered by him to the Battalion, :and of the efficient manner in which he carried out the duties pertaining to his office. That the, above resolution be engrossed on parchment, and forwarded to Major Steward, . after being signed by the Officers on behalf ; of the Battalion. Captain Morton seconded the motion, which was carried.