UTIKU NOTES.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 270, 18 August 1915, Page 4

UTIKU NOTES.

SUCCESSFUL SMOKE CONCERT i | PA REWELL TO ENLISTED MEN. i (Our Own Correspondent) I; OR Saturday nigiat the citizens of |>uku mustered in full force to farewell U le young men of the locality who proceed to camp next week. Th 0 committee in charge of the ' gatherir <>■ ii - • •■>,■-. ( & - c - ei '« every commendation , 3 msn »« In which arrangements vere carried cut. The hail was tasteful, y decorated for (he occasion, and .down the cr;ur e cf the building ran .tables,, en which were spread the | Viands, for regaling the inner man. -v, | one end was seated .Mr J. Gilchrist,. !an idea! chairir-av Fn« ti,. i . '',- d,! 1! -" the occasion, | while at the opposita cad sat the gvnial Mr T NY>i a n v-., -v, • I .o.d.i, \ice-chainnan. At | th e right and left of tae chairman sat I the young men about to defend their j country's honour, a sombre aspect was | indicated by a vacant ch-ir" draped I with the Union Jack. Thi 3 served to remind us cf Mr C. Philips, one of our young townsmen who fed in that brilliant feat cf th 8 landing; at the Dardanelles The proceedings were opened by the chairman proposing the toast to "The King," which was drunk with musical honours. Other toasts of th e evening were as fellows: "The Navy and Army," proposed by the Rev. R. H. Catherwood and responded to by Mr

Logan. "The Allies," proposed by Mr B. Anderson; "Our Boys at th e Front," proposed by Mr S. Powell and responded to by Mr Ingpen, on behalf of the Europeans, and by Mr Broughton, on behalf of the Maori Contingent; 'Ti:o Roll of Honour," was proposed by Mr B. Anderson; "Our Guests," proposed by Messrs Gilchrist and Hulbert and responded to by Mr Foster; "The Doctors and Nurses," proposed by Mr PL Logan and responded to by Mr T. Nolan; "The Ladies," proposed by Mr McDonald and responded to by Mr Beechey; "TTI3 Press," proposed by Mr A. Humbert. Interspersed with the toasts were songs, by the following: Messrs Keliier, Kit?. Quilter, Hyland, Powell, Parkinson, Ingpen. The Rev. Catherwood entertained the company by reading - a, letter published in the "Taihape BaVy Times," in February, 1916, depicting in glowing terms the deeds cf valour and derring do of each member, comprising the guests of theevening.

Th e piano ? cr tne occasion was kindly lent by Mr s Phillips, to whom the thanks of the committee are due. Mr Collier, of Taihape, presided at the piano. At the conclusion the gathering decided to devote the balance, £5 odd, to the fund for the wounded soldiers. At 11.30 the gathering broke up. Altogether, the event was a great success, everything passing off in good swing; high good-humour and intense enthusiasm and patriotism being displayed by the rounds of applause that repeatedly punctuated th e speeches of those proposing the toasts. A special word of praise is due to Mr Gilchrist fcr the admirable manlier in which h e fulfilled t.h e arduous

duties of chairman. At the conclusion the Rev Catherwood extended an invitation to the guests cf the evening to service on the following Sunday morning, and I am given to understand the young men literally took the church by storm, a forecast of their exploits at the firing line.