The Daily News. MONDAY, JULY 15, 1901. COLONEL DAVIES' RETURN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 146, 15 July 1901, Page 2

The Daily News. MONDAY, JULY 15, 1901. COLONEL DAVIES' RETURN.

It is very gratifying to notice that the return of our distinguished fellow colonist, Lieut.-Colonel Davies, is not to be a 1 lowed to piss without suitable recognition. At New Plymouth a ball is to be given to Colonel Davies and the whole of the officers' and men who hava returned from is at Inglewood where Colonel Davies resided so long and was so deservedly esteemed arid respected that he will be first welcomed home by the people of Inglewood and Taracaki. That the we'eome will be hearty, enthusiastic, and befitting, the occasion goes with out saying. It will ro% ho wave", be one bit more so than he, who is may we say the hero of the lour, d.sjtve*. Colonel Davies is an old and wellknown settler and did good service not only to the town and district of li.glewood, but to the whole of Taranaki. Ai Engineer of the Inglewood Town Board, the Clifton County, and Mo* Road Board, his was a familiar and welcome form to the settlers of the town and the furthest backwoods. As a member of the New Plymouth Harbour Board and many other capacities he served hie fellow-settlers faithfully and we'l. As a member of the Inglewood Troop of the Hawera Mounted Rifles he helped to beep alive the almo«t

dormant military spirit and as commanding officer made the Inglewood troop a credit to the corps and promoted a healthy rivalry that did much to help both sections of the corps. Rising to the command of the corps he made it the most efficient corps of mounted rifles in the colony. On.the ou breik the war in South Africa he wa°, we believe, almost the first man in tin colony to offer himself for srvice, if any men were sent from New Zealand. Oa the First Contingent being ra-'sad, he re?eived the command of the North Is'and Company. The story of his splendid work in the fi'ld in Sju'h Africa is too long to tell he e, but it is one that Inglewood and Taranaki, and indeed the whole of the colony, can be proud of. Going out to /the front as captain of a company, he h s received greater promotion than any New Zsaland officer, and that from the Imperial Government. On the anival of the Fourth and Fifth Contingent?, Colonel D ivies, who had been promot.d t6 the ra' k of Major, was sent from Pretoria to Mafeking to take command of > hi combined contingents sufficient proof of the onfiderce reposed in him by tlu Imperial authorities. Since then his sarvicts hava been furthet rewarded by his promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel and the decoration of C.B, It is with the greatest relu3tance that tbe Imperial authorises hive pirted with him, because such s'erling officers as he has proved himfe!f to be are none to plentiful. New Zealand hss reason to be proud of her sons in South Africa, but of none more so tban Colonel D ivies. No honour that the people of Taranaki can confer will be too much to o.infer on him. In honouring Colonel Divie* we honour oureesves, Co!or>el Davi s has set an example to, our colonial youth that will liva till time shall be no more. We feel that we caotot say enough ip praiw of this gallant officer, who has performed the most responsible and arduous dutifs of a trying campiign in the same thorough umesuming manner which clnracterised his life here before the war. Colonel Davies is ®ne who evidently believes'that what is worth doing at all is wcrth doing well. We hope to *»e the whole district helping Inglewoid ta celebrate Colonel Davies' return in a maimer

worthy of tbe occasion. If possible we should like to see every volunteer and' cadet assembled to salute him on his i return. He bas, by his gallant conduct, raised the status and salf respect I of every man in Taranstki. We offtir our most hearty congratulation* to the paop'e of loglewood on his safd roturn, and trust that he himself may long be spared to enjoy the distinctions which have bean so deservedly bestowed upon h : m.