MAJOR BENNETT HONOURED.

Te Puke Times, Volume II, Issue II, 12 December 1913, Page 3

MAJOR BENNETT HONOURED.

" ',v AN ENTHUSIASTIC GATHERKG.. We take the following from the "The Camp Gazette/'a journal published for the benefit of. the r > ''specials" in Auckland . <. 1 ' It was generally reported in camp last night that the Rev. Vj - Calder was going to show Yip - ■ • lagain and talk about horses or something not pulpity, and When our reporter saw forms and tables being arranged at the officers' mess-he wended his way in that v direction! The disillusionment ' came,- however, when a small ' solid-looking parcel was carried and' exposed, and admirers gath- '- ered round to inspect a " smok- >'<& er's cabinet," which was to be ' 3 presented to Major Bennett, 0. C. ' *'* 8.3. Major Lusk, Officer CpmJ v manding Camp, presided, and . v was supported; by Captain Colbeck and Major Allen. , ' V • Several songs having been rendered, the Chairman, gave the . •, 'toast of the evening "Our Guest, - and expressed his admiration of / - thefmehorses and men brought by Major Bennett from the East Coast to help in the good work/ There could be -no more fitting ■ • means,, he continued, of showing the men's appreciation of that ' , excellent officer, than by their making this presentation to him; He wished he had eloquence suf- * " ficient to enable him to properly ' express his pleasure at the way Major'Bennett had executed his services, and hoped he would be ~' long spared to assist in upholding -law £ and order in the proposed - * Farmers' Constabulary. (Cheers) • / It was intended to have none but i * picked men in that corps, who <» would be ever ready to respond 'to the call of urgency. It would - be most, gratifying to the com- • ' officer: of 8.3 to realise f - how his men valued his connecJ tion with them. The .Chairman > /then invited Major Bennett to " come forward, amidst prolonged * s v cheersj and he was then handed » 1 the very pretty: cabinet. The t•, toast of '' The Guest'' was then • , drunk with' musical honours, in - t enamel mugs and 'midst a setting ' 'of candles which stood in antique *' ■ .bayonets reminiscent of William 1J .the Conqueror, and reminded one ,' • ,of the. wake over "Conn the * - .Shaughraun." . ; . ■ Major Bennett, although caught .on the' hop (all the camp presents • having been secretly, subscribed \ ; ' to), showed himself a ready '' ' speaker, and said he then felt more nervous than when facing , the strikers in. Queen Street. He 0 wished to record that although he bad sometimes trod on the corns of some, he did not meet with a single case of insubordina- ' . tion. and he could not wish to ' work'with a better set of men, /J. v 'and these did not all come from the East Coast. They had had a 'rough time sometimes, what with X long hours, bad weather, etc., [ but when the'' Fall in" sounded every man was ! always at his post. If it was needed' to galvanise 8.3 into life, the promise of a scrap always did it. He, trusted to meet, many of them in the proposed- Farmers' Constabulary. Of course, they would elect their own officers, and they would not require him. (Voices.: " Rot!") and ("You willbeour officer!") A number of other toasts having been honored, the gathering broke up with the "National Anthem," and " Auld Lang Syne," and then' 'To thy tents, 0 Israel."