Opotiki News

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 516, 27 April 1933, Page 7

Opotiki News

Our Own Correspondent.)

diggers' reunion opotiki ladies tender an annnual dinnler. MANY TOASTS HONOURED.

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There was a splendid muster of returned soldiers at thei annual reunior dinner tendered to them hy the ladies of the Opotiki district -on the eve oi Anzao Day. As one man remarked: "Cripes! You see fellers here th'at you never see from one year's end tc another!" They came from .as far afield as Rotorua, Whakatane and Te Kaha for this, their own 'great evening. From the highest to the lowest of rank th'ey, one and all, met as "comr,a.des again," quite a number oi them bearing visible traces of wai injuries, hut one and all came with a common purpose — to enjoy this one great evening of the year and enjoy it they did, as they sang the -old wartime ehoruses. The best compliment that can he pa.id to th'e ladies of the district who so igladly provided a dinner suitable both in size and quantity for an old soldier, i3 the number of men that attended and the wa.y they dealt with Ihe many good things provided. In fact, the attendance fifteen years .after the war speaks volumes for the good work done by the ladies of the- district. The Hon. J: B. Gow occupied the chair, and after the toasi of "The King," the following toasts were proposed and responded to. —

Our Fallen Coinrades. Mr. H. G. Reeves, in proposing the toast of "Our Fallen Comrades," said how pleased he was to be back among his friends in Opotiki again after three years' absence, and th'on went on to say that in proposing the toast he considered that one -of the bright spot3 in the ghastly realism of war was the comradeship which was displayed by all the men, one for another. He thought the spirit shown throughout had been wonderfu every, man helping every other man when in any kind of difficulty. There were numerous m'emorials scattered round the countryside to the memory of those who would never return, hut those present did not require any memorial. He would, however, suggest that all those who remaaned should carry on that spirit of comradeship by endeavouring to assist those "dilggers" who were still suffering hardships. Most of those who were suffering to-day were doing so as the result of the war. Patriotic Committee. Mr. J. D. Decher, in proposing th'e toast of the Patriotic Committee, recalled that although members of this committee had not been engaged in actual war activities, it was due to their activities at home that the soldiers had received many of the comforts they had done.

He thought that the work done since the war, however, had been even more appreoiated, for they were renderinig assistance wherever they could to those returned men who needed it. Mr. F. J. Short, replying on behalf of the committee, said that he was proud to say that the Opotiki people had responded wholeheartedly to the society's repeated requests, and some £13,000 bad been subscribed under various appeals from the Opotiki district during the war, some of which was now coming back to the district to .assist the returned men in need. The Ladies. Mr. P. J. Mulhern, in proposing the - toast -of the ladies, said that those present had much for which to thank the ladies of the district. Every year since the Armistice the ladies had gone to a lot of trouble and work to tender them a dinner, at which they might all reunite .and they did not seem to tire in their efforts, even though a good many years had passed. Mr. J. T. Tabb, replyinig on behalf of the ladies, said that so far from being tired, some of the ladies h'ad assured him that they were only too glad to arrange the dinner, provided the men would continue to attend. The toast was then honoured with musical .honours. Other toasts were as follows: — Mr. G. Dawson, "The Visitors," reply hy Dr. Frazerhurst (Whakatane), Mr. C. Gordon, "The R.S.A.," reply by Mr. P. Baigent (president). Mr. G. Murray, "The Navy and Army," reply hy Mr. A. Gameron. Mr. F. Steele, "The Press," reply by Mr. W. H. Taylor. Mr. J. Mansell, "The Chairman," reply by tbe Hon. J. B. Gow.