WAIREKA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 350, 30 March 1910, Page 2

WAIREKA.

THE JUBILEE DINNER. As a fitting conclusion to a glad day of celebration the Waireka veterans on -Monday night met at dinner in the New Trocadero. Col. Ellis, V.D., vice-preai-dimt, was in the chair, and his Worship the .Mayor (Mr. G. Tisch) and Mr. M. Okey, M.P., were among the guests. A number of ,present-day volunteer officers in uniform added a festive scarlet to the proceedings. There was great cordiality and good feeling. After "The King," replying to the toast of "'The Army, and Navy," Captain McKellar remarked that ■the deeds of both services were sufficiently vocal without any song of praise from him. He partic ilarly mentioned the splendid help given by the officers and men of the Niger at the Battle of Waireka.

Mr. Okey, M.P., in reply to the toast of "Parliament," said that Parliament was a more orderly body than formerly .and there were'not nowadays those which formerly marred the serenity of the Senate. He showed that' the Parliament really tried to he the true servant of the people and not of a section. The service was tendered in a different way to the magnificent service given by the veterans he had the honor to be amongst. He thought that the children's children of the present generation would in the future still sing the praises of the men who fought and bled at Waireka on that great day fifty years ago.

Replying to the toast of "The Mayor and Council of New Plymouth," Mr. Tisch promised that he and his Council would as heretofore do all in their respective powers to push the "garden of New Zealand" to the forefront. He was glad indeed to be the chief magistrate of the town on an occasion unique in the history of the Dominion.

Col. Ellis paid a tribute to the hospitalitv of the Wellington branch of the Veterans' Association during the Kitchener celebrations in Wellington. A toast was drunk enthusiastically.

Captain Hamerton, of the Wellington branch, responded, promising increased hospitality should the Taranaki men again go to Wellington. i

Captain Mace, N.Z.C., in proposing the health of Mr. F. Standish and Mr. W. Johnson, said that Mr. Standish was the man who in the early days rode alone to Wellington along the beach to obtain reinforcements. Capt. Davies said that Mr. Standish's feat was unparalleled and that Mr. .Johnson was the first volunteer to go into active service.

The Mayor proposed the toast of "The Waireka Veterans," and complimented them. He said he was not pleased with the fact that the volunteers with a few exceptions were conspicuous bv their absence on Monday. He thought that the men who had shown those young fellows the way should receive some consideration from the corps at present existing

Captain Hamerton, who was wounded at Waireka. responded. The toast of "Captain Cracroft, R.N., and his gallant men" was drunk, and it was shown that there was still a warm feeling amonsr the survivors of the old crew of the Niger for the colonial soldiers who fought with them.

Mr. .T. T). Webster proposed the toast of "The Volunteers." Contains Fleteher and Mills responded. saving that volunteers of the present day would if called unon take hp arms as cheerfully as the 'old volunteers did. Captain Mills said he 'was intensely disappointed that the prpsent-dav volunteers had not turned ou+ op most "uspicious dav in Taranaki's histnri-. Tj[ P greatest narade of the vear should have taken place. Other toasts ivre "Ali=ent Comrades." "Vi«iti nnr Coiprides." . "The Vieo-nre=id-'"Th" Indies of Tnranaki." and "T'l" Press." ■CH El i; s inpntione"! that on a recent visit to Wellington he was hospitaihlv enfprtiine'l bv Captain TTume. of TT.M.R. Pegasus. on behalf of the TfranaVi veterans. The captain desired Col. F.'lis to /■onvei" the kind regards of himself and I'is officers to the veteran*. The Admiral's secretary, on liehalf of the Advil i-nl, sent his regards. The ptiVps for the shooting ma" lie had on Saturday afternoon at Mr. Webster's office.