CORPORAL H. D. COUTTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 33, 11 February 1901, Page 2

CORPORAL H. D. COUTTS.

Our reacts will not need reminding! •tf tho lecture by Corporal H. D.Coutfs

•n his experiences in the war in S )uth Africa. Before leiving Now Zealand Mr, Coutt* was temporarily employed in the Lond Valuation Dppaittnentant} is therefore specially qualified to speak as to the value of the Orange River Colony and the Transvaal as a field for ee'iletnent. As regards tho war he had exceptional advantages, having 'anded with the First Contingent and been present and taken part $n all the great events up to the capture of Pretoria. He was with General French tbrnu«hout his brilliant operations round Colesburg, the relief of Kimberlpy, the capture of Oronje and the surrender of Bloemfontein. After s short rest there he was with Lord Roberts' brijliant advance resulting in the fall, in rapid succession, of Winburg, Kronstad, Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Middelburg. When active operations in the field ceised, for a while Mr. Coutts was employed for sometime in valuing for the Compensation Court, during which he had a touch of the fever which has provod 1 so fat-'l to so many. jit was at the terrible disaster of Saunas Post, where the coolness of the New Zealanders, under Colonel Robin, saved a rout, that Corporal Gout's won the Quern's scarf, one of the four worked by the late Queen's own hands. All the thrilling incidents of theso operations wiil bo related to-morrow evening. In addition, Corporal Cjuttg wi]l exhibit the Queen's scarf, a Boer Mauser rifl», a Martini Metford rifle, creusot and pom-pom shells, and a Boer segment shell; also English shrapnel!, mauser, dum-dum, soft-ncsed, and Westley Richard's cartridges will be shown; also a Beer Psalm book and some Janc'fg, swords, etc., all of which are of interest Tirp Cjty Band v ijl give several selections and the chair will be taken by His Worship the Mayor. We have been requested to state thit seats may be reserved at Mr. Gilmour's, and as there is a < ertainty of a crowded house it is as well to take the precaution of reserving a! seat,