OUR VICTORIOUS CADETS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 140, 31 October 1912, Page 7

OUR VICTORIOUS CADETS.

XEW PLYMOUTH'S WELCOME. A IJL'SY DAY.

New Plymouth paid homage in good style yesterday to the New Zealand Cadets who have just returned to the Dominion from Canada, ilushed with victory in the Toronto Exhibition competitions. Tliev arrived from Stratford by the 10.4,) a.m. train, and immediately on stepping on the railway platform their appearance and general bearing created a very favorable impression, which was heightened when they were put through a few musketry manoeuvres. For their age it would be difficult to select a finer squad of New Zealand schoolboys. To a man, they are of splendid physique, averaging sft Tin to sft Bin in height, broadshouldered and very thick-set. Undoubtedly they must have proved a capital advertisement in Canada of New Zealand's rising manhood. If all of our boys were of the same calibre, there would be no ileed to worry about the future of the rate from the point of men of physical fitness. The boys were met at the station by Major F. T. Bellringer and a • large and admiring crowd of townsfolk. They paraded seventeen strong: H. (J. Carruth (Whangarei), F. R. Coombes (Auckland), F. L. Beaslev (Whangarei), 0. S. Ellis (Hamilton), *G. B. Brunton (Masterton), T. E. R. V. Petrie (Wellington), E. A. Parritt (Wellington College), R."C. Chapman (Waitaki High School), G. J. McNaught (Wanganui), J. J. Valentine (llawera), W. M. Lyons (Christchurch), 11. S. Bachelor (Christcluireh), (jr. D. Bruce (Ross), J. G. Somcrvillc (Milton), K. W. Commons (Auckland), A. Bracks • (Dunedin), H. ;1!. 'Domigan (Gore). Two of their number were absent —R. L. Garden, of Norsnitiiitv, kid returned home, while L. 'tyin (Th.im-.s-) vas left behind at Vancouver with ] i rumonia. They were in char". l of Cnpfjiii Fi.lierton, who accompanied them to Canada, and paraded und=r Sergt-Maj.u Parks, who trained them vi Trc nirlmna. prior to (heir leaving the Dominion. They were also accompanied by Captain Stevens (Area Group officer) and SergtMajor Mahoney, of the Instructional Stall'. Despite their short knickers, it was hard to believe that when they set out for. Canada they were all under IS years, of. age.i From the railway station the cadets were- conveyed by automobiles, kindly lent for the occasion, to St. Mary's Church and Marsland Hill. )

CIVIC WELCOME. After inspecting these two places of historic interest the party made their way to the Recreation Ground, where, in the presence of a-goodly number r of citizens, the Mayor (Mr G. W. Browne), extended; to tiiein a civic welcome. The boys paraded in the centre of a square formed by Ko. J. Battalion Taranaki Junior Cadets, under Major Sajidfoid. The parade state was as, followsll igh, School Cadets (Captain Ryder) strong, Centra] X 0..1 (Captain Mellroy) 38,.Central, Xo.. 2 (Captain. jSulliyanj. ,30, West Efid'tLifnit. Bbrtraiid) 4S. 'Kftzi'ov (Sergt. Kib)>y) 28. ," . ... : li extending to the visiting" boys'a hearty'and cordial welconip oil their safe retuvn, his Worship said the people 'Congratulated them . on ,the : guest'' "suoeesa they iiad achieved, and 'felt .propd' indeed iluit: tlioy .had upheld the, 'hbjt'or.. jind prestige''of the Dominion; TlVe!y had pr'dypd .'themselves equal ' to. the) truptimposed' upon them: Their visit t'o other, parks' of the Empire would Ua'vtj; impressed, upon them, to the fullest extent the responsibility ahVi sacred duty every loyal .citizen! owes to, his King and' Country. Tfi'o' pfojilr felt di'eply indebted 'to.their ,:i LiioiQiTi 'tlio.ir '.kind ; a,nd; .hospitable treatment of the C.idyts, and 'for' their. «itvne."t , endeavors' to ji)f|,lye their stay a pleasure ever to lid'remembered.

A.GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY. I "We recognise," added Mr ftrowne, "that tile interchange' of these 'friendly visits strengthens the ties that bind the nation. It is'earnestly hoped these friendly visits-' may he extended to 'embrace 'the more' distant pans ofithe'Ernpinv "iif it turning to your comrades and friends, you lia'i'p'Ji golden oppontftiiHyi uf agisting file' military authorities to remove the i'alsp ifnpression of a fewmisguided youths' who filil. to understand the true duty of 1 citizenship." The- people were atao, coil-' tinned the Mayor, deeply indebted to 'the officers in charge for 1 the care they exercised 1 'in performing the. imost difficult, task of seiecting'th'e contingent to represent this Dominion. The careful and tact ful methods of the ■. officers.' combined'' with the keen desire of the boys to obey and carry out commands, enabled them to triumphantly carry off' the honors of the contests they were 1 engaged in. Before leaving the parade ground the Cadets were, put through' •» >series of riHe : exercises bv Sergt.-Major Parks, ;.a#d-.Gtulet' : Klliß took them in physical drill. The squad's work, especially in the physical drill section, '.was a revelation. It ig easy to understand lttiw they scooped the pool at Torontib. Keen and alert, they drilled wi'tlr remarkable and preformed difficult and intricate exercises with an ease ahd grace fur' in advance of anything yet seel) .in the district.' In a way they were si,pics.. : doing their turns deaf alike to find comments. They were mucTr "stared at" boys that day—everybody eyed them closely and diseimsed their pros andeons —but then they have been so often the cynosure of all eves while abroad, that they seemed to iiave developed a ealin -indifference. Xot that they were affected with "swelled heads," for the absence o f any suspicion of playing to the gallery was favorably commented on all along the line.

ENTERTAINED AT LUNCHEON.

From the Recreation (I round the young champions marched in line style to the (Joll'ee Palace. where they were entertained at luncheon by the citizens' committee. The Mayor presided, and proponed the toast of His Majesty. The toast of "Our Visitors'' fell to Major F. T. Bellringer, who paid a warm compliment to the Cadets for their prowess on tlie field, and their conduct while oft' duty. In many eases it was not good for a young fellow to have too many good things said about him. but iu the case of the visitors this did not apply. From what he had seen and gathered he was convinced that there was nothing to take exception to in their conduct, both while abroad and on their return. Their general bearing: right throughout, their tour had been of the very best character, and in Canada it was such as to earn for them the highest appreciation of the people and the Major-Oncral himself. Referring to their success, the speaker said they had exceeded all expectations. They entered in only six competitions, of which they won five, and were fourth in another. The reason why thev did not secure higher honors in shooting was that they had been accustomed to shooting out of short barrelled rifles, whereas those used at the competition where of a longer pattern. Touching 011 another point, he said it was hardly necessary to tell the boys that their el dens did not want them to run away with the idea that the trip was arranged ill order to give them a good time. There were several reasons which promoted the visit. First of all the authorities wished to demonstrate to the world in general that we in New Zealand were worth considering when pitted against <ur fellows. They also desired to removal the misapprehension that existed in Aertain quarters that young New Zealanders were not amenable to rigid discipline. The Cadets had achieved this. Lastly he thought it was an education to tli'e boys themselves to bring them into tcjucli with people out..side, the Dflminiop, and he trusted .thai

Ithey would persevere in their training, and endeavour to become officers either > in the Territorials or the Senior Cadets, thus giving the benefit of their experience to others. SECRET OF THEIR SUCCESS. Responding on behalf of the boys, Captain JAillerion said that from what be hud seen of them there was no need to be afraid that they would,become "swellheaded," lie had nothing to complain of during the whole of the time they were away. Wherever they went the New Zealand boys were always specially mentioned tor their exemplary conduct. Their success Juul exceeded their utmost expectations, and was due mainly, if not entirely, to the splendid work done by Sergeant-Major Parks in instructing the boys at Trentham. In the case of many otner of the competing squads the Cadets left the finishing touches till they got to Canada. The New Zealanderh. came fully prepared. Captain Eutlerton also referred to the excellent assistance lent by the boys' own officers (0. £>. Ellis and K. \V. Commons) who put them tni'ough their drill at the competitions As regards the shooting, the New Zta. landeru would have met with more success but for .the fact that the competition comprised service shooting, wheivas in New Zealand they had been accustomed to bulls-eye shooting. In the case of one or two other companies the trouble was that the competitors went to have "a good time;" our boys put New Zealand and the honor of their country lii'ist, and after that they looked for their '"good time." . The toast of those citizens who had contributed to the entertainment of the Cadets by placing their motor cars at their disposal and by monetary subscriptions was also honored. Replying on their behalf, Dr. Leatham said that they had been more'than compensated in their etl'oi'te by the splendid exhibition of their powers which the Cadets had given them and the public generally that day. On behalf of the start' which he represented at Hawera, Captain Stevens thanked the committee for .the very complete arrangements they had made for the boys' entertainment. He had sent Major BellringeJ?,nly the briefest of instructions, and he had acted fully up to them in every possible way. Subsequently the Cadets visited the oil wells, and prior to their departure at 4.20 p.m. for Stratford they were very hospitably entertained at afternoon tea at the High School.