OUR OLD SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 255, 30 October 1901, Page 2

OUR OLD SOLDIERS.

MEETING OF THEIR DESCENDANTS. ASSOCIATION TO BE FORMED. !

There was a fair attendance of descendants of old soldiers at the Town | Hall on Tuesday night, including a large percentage of ladies, to consider what sfr ps should be taken in enter-' tainins; old soldiers who may be present ,*it the ceremony < f unveiling the hatchments »t St. Mary's Church re:..', week. Mr Sam Hill was voted to the chair, and briefly explained the obj at of the meeting. Since the business had bfen fctuted Sir Hector MacDouald had arrived in New Zealand, and an effort was to be made to get him to attend, and it was hoped the ceremony might be postponed for a few days to enable this to be done. Rev. F. G. Evans said that Mr W. H. Skinner aud himself siw no difficulty in postponing the ceremony. In fact there were strong reasons why it should be put off, as it might enable General Mac Donald to be present, and would suit Canon Walsh's convenient i Further a full battalion parade might then b3 held. Volunteers would greatly appreciate this after the Hawera disappointment-, and the full p?rade would aid greatly to the effect of the ceremony.

Mr. F. L. Webster said the first thing necessary wss to learn if Sir Hector Mac Donald could attend. As to the parade, Colonel Ellis saw no difficulty in having a pirade on the Thursday, which wss a half-holiday. The Chairman thought that if it were explained to General Mac Donald that Taranaki was the scene of the greiter part of the Maori wars, and that the hatchments in S\ Mary's were the only ones in New Zialand, he would endeavour to attend the unveiling ceremony. As a soldier, and the son of a soldier, be would take a deep interest ia the Waireka and other battlefields. As to the old soldiers there should be no difficulty in getting them together, and offers to accommodate soma hada'reidy been m de. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. A. Standish, seconded by Mr. Webster, to request those concerned in the hatchments to postpone the unveiling ceremony till Thursday, 7th November, These present then formed themselves into a committee, with power to add to their number, to act in conjunction with the committee of the Veterans' Association, to make necessary arrangements for entertaining old soldiers and veterans who may attend. It was resolved to send invitations to General Sir Hector MaclJonald, h : s Excellency the Governor, and the Premier, to be present at the unveiling of the hatchments and the entertainment of the veterans.

Before the meeting dispersed the Chairman suggested that an association of dfscendants of veterans should be formed. They could meat in a social way occasionally; but a mo3t important duty they could perform was that of having the graves of the brave men wno bad died for the country put iu proper order, which was badly needed in many cases. He paid a compliment to the work of the late Captain Capel in this direction. Tbe association could also render greit assistance to the Veterans' Association;

On the motion of Mrs E. M. Smith, seconded by Mrs O'Driscoll, it was decided to form an association, but details were left to be arranged at a subsequent meeting.

The meeting then adjourned till 7 p m. on Thursday.