THE VETERANS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 194, 29 August 1903, Page 4

THE VETERANS.

On each occasion on which the Veterans parade, their many friends are grieved to notice their reduced numbers and signs of advancing years and feebleness. At the ceremony of unveiling the monument to the Taranaki troopers who fell in South Africa, it was wry gratifying to ate so many present, considering the inclemeftt weather, and, as usual, they were given pride of place, and m-trcbed proudly at: the head of the Brigade; and it was pleasing to see how the inspiring music of tha Garrison Band seemed to put new life into tbem, and some of them were still able to set an example to some of their younger comrades in military bearing, as they dropped into the regulation stride with head erect and some of the old fire in their eyes. After making allowance for those kept away by the bad weather, there were still some gaps, caused by the removal by death, of valued comrades since they last paraded. No list of the names of those who honoured j the occasion with their presence on Wednesday appears to have been kept, but we believe the following is a fairly full list of those present: Oap'sin F. J, Mace, N.Z. Gross; Captain J. S, McKellar, with the colours; Lieutenant J, O, Davies,

W. Appleyard • T. Furlong A, Cole J, Black 8 Allen J. Or on in J. Way , T, Kyle W. Moon S. lioveridge 0. D. Whitcombe H, Cock J, Hickman H. Hooker W, Smart J. Ward E. 0. Meredith j, Mynofct Lieutenant J. Hamerton apd several others wtira present, but did not parade. The interest taken in the Veterans by General Babingtou wag very pleasing. He examined their medals and asked what foice they belonged to and was able in several cases to tell them the whereabouts of their regiment-; and in one case was able to siy that he had had a letter from the Colonel of one regiment who had asked him to ir quire after the welfare of any of the veterans of the regiment (which is now in India) who were in New Zealand. The pleasure of the veteran in question at finding his old regiment solieitious after his welfare may easily be imagined. The General's interest in the Veterans was not the least interesting feature of Thursday's proceedings.