THAMES GOLDFIELDS HOSPITAL.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 168, 23 April 1872, Page 3

THAMES GOLDFIELDS HOSPITAL.

Weekly state of sick from 14th to 20th April, 1872 : Fever, 4; fracture, 3 ; cerebral disease, 2 ; hydrocele, 1; abscess, 1 ; phthisis, 3 ; ophthalmia, 2 ; ; ,out, I ; injury by explosion, 1 ; bronenitis, 1 ; ulcer of leg, 2 : hernia, 1 ; dislocation of knee, 1 ; hepatitis, 2 ; rheumatism, 2 ; laryngitis, 1 ; paralysis, 1 ; nephritis, 1 : wound of leg, 1 ; dysentery, 2 ; ataxis, 1 ; crushed foot, 1 ; neuralgia, 1. —Total, 3b. Males, 20; females, 7. Out-patients, thirty.

VOLUNTEER RECEPTION AND DINNER. A number of Volunteer officers and men belonging principally to the Thames Scottish and No. 1 Royal 11.R.V. assembled yesterday afternoon at the Wharf for the purpose of greeting the Thames Representatives on their return from the South. The marched down the Wharf in the midst of a heavy shower of rain, which pretty* well damped their clothes, and on arriving at the end their spirits received a damper upon finding out that none of our men had come down at all. There were, however, two of the Waikato Representatives on board, so that they had somebody to meet after all. The Dinner which had been got up was not, however, nut off in consequence of their non-arrival, as it was too late to alter the existing arrangements. Accordingly about eight o’clock, some 42 sat down to a splendidly laid out table at the Pacific Hotel. Major Cooper occupied the chair, and Major Keddeil the vice-chair. Ensign McDonald, of the Waikato Rifle Volunteers, sat on the right hand of the Chairman, and Volunteer Coleman on the left. Both these gentlemen represented their district at the late Colonial Prize Firing, and one at least of them came out of the ordeal well. The Chairman proposed “The Queen,” which was duly drunk. •'The Prince of Wales,” proposed by the Vice-Chairman, was very enthusiastically responded to with throe cheers. “ The Governor,” proposed by the Chairman, was suitably acknowledged

with musical honours. The Chairman proposed, “The Army and Navy ” in a neat speech, saying that everyone knew the honours that had always been won by the British forces, and hoped that the Volunteers would endeavour, if ever placed in the position, to emulate the example of the Army and Navy. Major Meddell responded, and thanked them for the manner in which the toast had been drunk. Lieutenant Robertson, as an old Army man,’said that he would remark that, with respect to the changes undergone in the British Army, and the improvements made, they were all greatly attributab'e to the effects of Volunteering on the minds of the people. He thanked them for having drunk the toast so cordially. Mr FitzGibron, on behalf of the Navy, said that lie thanked them sincerely for the manner in which the toast had been drunk, and said he had had the honour of serving in the Navy for a time under Ilis Majesty King William the Fourth, as well as under their present Majesty, and lie felt sure that the deeds of the Navy would always speak for themselves. The Navy of Great Britain had been not only the safeguard of the country to which it belonged, but had been a protection to the world in general. The Vice-Chairman proposed the next toast, “ The Volunteers,” which toast lie now thought came under the head of the usual loyal and patriotic toasts, and without which no progiamine would be complete. lie thought that drinking the toast at the present gathering- would almost he like drinking “Our Noble Selves,” as nea.ly all present belonged to that bod)-. The volunteers of the present day were not a body only in name, but were a great power in the community, a powerful body of armed men, who would, in ease of necessity, prove a great power, and would resist, together with the regular army, any attempted invasion of their homes.

Captain Goldsmith, in responding, said that, though be had only lately joined the ranks of the volunteers here, he was glad to see present the faces of many who had taken an active pari in many hard campaigns in this country, and all who had so served would, ho felt sure, remember with pleasure the jolly bivouacs, &c., and that if called on again they would lie only too ready to respond to the call. The Chairman then called for bumpers, and proposed the health of the “ Northern Representatives.” lie was glad to welcome two gentlemen who had taken part in the contest, though not for our own district, and one of whom was formerly a Thames volunteer. lie considered that our representatives had done well. They had won three first prizes of importance at the meeting, viz., skirmishing, won by Vol. Hoskins, with a score hitherto unequalled in the colony; Vol. Coleman bad won the 200, 500, and GOO yards match with the first-class score of 04 points ; Corporal Fenton had won the marksmen’s prize with a score of 27 points at 700 and 800 yards, one really worth carrying off, and moie especially when they remembered that Fenton was but a young shot competing against old and experienced marksmen. Several prizes of minor importance had also been placed to our credit, and one of our men ranked third on the list of aggregate scores, thus winning £3O and a silver medal ; and there was not the slightest doubt but that he should have been second on the list, as the second man who had fired only ten shots was credited with thirteen hits, at the running set. He concluded by giving a graphic sketch of the g eat advance made in volunteering in England from 1858, the year it first started, up to the present time, and then called on all present to drink the toast with enthusiasm, coupling with it the names of Ensign McDonald and Volunteer Coleman. The toast was drunk with three times three and musical honours.

Mr McDonald, in responding, said that lie feund himself in rather a curious position, and was rather diffident in consequence. He did not expect anything of the sort when he came down, but he felt very glad indeed to be present. Though not one of the lucky ones at the late competition, he had learnt a wrinkle or two down South, as indeed he thought many others had, and hoped to be able to profit by it. If the North wanted to beat the South, he would tell them one thing, and that was that the public would have to give the movement more support, and be more liberal to them. (Applause.) He must say that the Otago men were really fine shots, and deserved all they won.. Mr Coleman proposed “Captain Wales and the Southern representatives.” The toast was received with very great applause. ‘Mr J. W. Walker responded, and said that he felt most happy at being called on to do so, as he could speak most kindly of the gentlemanly treatment he had received from Captain Wales and the other Southern Volunteers when amongst them. They were a splendid lot of fellows, and he thanked the company for having toasted them as they had done. Lieutenant .T. E. McDonald proposed the toast of “Colonel llarington and the stall', coupled with the name of Major Cooper,” and in doing so thought that he I was the fittest person to do so, as he knew | really nothing about wbat the stall meant. He had seen Colonel IJarington when he was serving Her Majesty for a short time at l’arawai lately, and also Major Cooper, and, speaking of them in their corporate capacity as members of the staff, their

duty seemed to him to consist of being mounted on horses, riding recklessly about the field, and giving such words of command that no private in the ranks could possibly understand what they meant. Speaking of them apart from their duties on the staff, he could better express himself, and he called on all present to join him in drinking the health, “The Staff,” coupled with the name of Major Cooper. The toast was drunk with honours. Major Cooper responded, and thanked them on behalf of Colonel Ilaringtou and himself. “The Thames Volunteers” was proposed by the Vice-Chairman, and responded toby Captains Newby and Barnett, on behalf of the Rifles, and Lieutenant Baseley on behalf of the Navals, who he said would always be true to their colours, “ True Blue.” The Vice-Chairman proposed the “Commercial and Mining Interests,” to which Mr William Rowe ably responded ; hut want of space prevents us giving his speech. Mr Carpenter proposed the “Press,” to which Mr Perrier responded. Captain Murray proposed “The Ladies,” responded to by Mr Newberry on their behalf. “ Our Host ” was proposed by the ViceChairman, and received with applause, every one present being thoroughly satisfied at the splendid dinner so nicely prepared and served by Mr Curtis, and at the completeness of all the arrangements, which were admirably carried out. Mr Curtis acknowledged the compliment, and the company shortly afterwards dispersed.