The Waikato Cavalry Match.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3891, 18 June 1881, Page 2

The Waikato Cavalry Match.

DINNER. The Waikato Rifle team were entertained at a most recberohe supper at the Bowen last night. The viands and liquors were of the choicest description, and the dinner was aerred in host Symington's usual good style. Major Murray occupied the chair, being supported by His Worship the Mayor, Mr Superintendent Thomson, and Lieut. Johnson. Major Watson and Lieut. Perry officiated as croupiers. The Chairman, before going on with the programme of toasts, said he had to apologise for the absence of A Brodie, Esq., County Chairman. The usual loyal and patriotic toasts being drunk in bumpers, ,/;..Y Lieut. Perry proposed " The Army, Nary, and Colonial Force, coupled with the name of Mr Thomson.'' ' ■ Mr Thomson, responded in a humorous speech, expressing the gratification he felt on receiving the invitation to be present. The Chairman proposed the toast of the evening, " The Waikato Team, coupled with the name of Lieut. Johnson." He said it was originally intended 'that the match should be between 15 men of the Waikato Cavalry—five from each troop— and a like number from the Thames Scottish Battalion. At the last moment, a number of the Waikato men couldn't come, so that Lieut. Johnson, sooner than let the affair fall through altogether, came over with the gentlemen they were entertaining. He thanked them for doing so, and said that if the 15 had come the result might hare been different. The speaker then humorously referred to the Battalion being beaten by the Wairoa Rifle Corps, which was something of a take down to the Scottish, who reckoned themselves ho small potatoes in the shooting line. He believed the licking had done them good, however. He spoke of Lieut. Johnson's good qualities as an officer and a gentleman. He asked them to drink the toast in bumpers; The toast was. received with musical honors. Lieut. Johnson responded in heartfelt terms. If he had not known Major Murray was a Scotchman, he would have thought he was an Irishman—laid it on rather thick, you know. He explained how the match originated, and said he did not look on their defeat as a disgrace, as no corps in the colony would be disgraced by a licking from the Thames Scottish. He, Corporal MeNiccol, and the other gentlemen had come at half an hour's notice, simply because they thought there was no other way out of it. They could not get the men that they wanted, and he believed that if the match had been carried out as originally intended, .the result would have been different. He

again thanked them heartily for the manner in which they had drunk the 'toast." Corporal MoNiccol gave, " The Thames Local Governing Bodies, coupled with the name of His Worship the Mayor." Drank in bumbers. His Worship the Mayor responded in suitable terms, expressing his belief that such gatherings tended to the cementing of the good-feeling between the Thames and Waikato districts. The next toast was from Major Watson, " The district marker, Petty Officer Potts." Drank with " He's a jolly good fellow." __ Petty Officer Potts responded. He always endeavored to do his best,-and never gave a man a point more than he he was entitled to. The Chairman bore testimony to the fact, that Mr Potts was the best marker i they had ever had on the Thames. P.O. Potts said he heard that the next time they went to the Waikato: they j were to be driven over by Reuben Pair and.Corporal McNiccol. He would draw the line at Eeuben Parr. The succeeding toasts were-^" The Press," proposed by Lieut. Perry, and responded to by Messrs Barlow and Philp; "The Host and Hostess," responded to by Mr Symington, and the "Chairman," \ Several songs were sung during the evening, including " Hoot's awa' haud'of your haun'," by Vol Dowriie ; " The one horse shay," by Lieut. Johnson; " Come under my plaidie," by Vol. Wright, and a comic song by Trooper Buck. The proceedings terminated with the singing of " Auld Lang Syne."