CARTERTON VOLUNTLERS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 931, 22 November 1881, Page 2

CARTERTON VOLUNTLERS.

The welcome home to the boys who have been to the front from the Carterton Volunteer Rifle Corps took place at the Marquis of Norrannby Hotel on Friday evening and a better spread could not have been provided by any caterer than that Host Williams' laid before his guests. At the rear of the Chairman was the flag of Old England, and the room was decorated with ferns and evergreens, the tables being tastefully adorned with epegnes of flowers. There were fully 70 present Captain Snodgraes occupying the chair, supported on his right by Lieut. Bennett and Mr Boys, and on his loft by Dr. Watts (honorary surgeon), the Eev. W. T. Western (chaplain), and Mr Booth the vice-chair being filled by Mr Fairbrother and Sergeant-Major Campbell (late drill instructor to the Corps) The toast of the " Queen, Prince of Wales aud Eoyal Family" having been loyally responded to, Mr Booth stated he had committed to his care a toast which did not include the Volunteers, but he would ask what are the Volunteers of this Island if they are not our army, The toast he had to propose was " The Army and Navy," He had told them before when they were saying " good-bye" to the Carterton contingent before they went to Parihaka, that he was not a soldier, not even a Volunteer but he had the honor of being an lion orary member of the Corps, and lie bolieved his position was far easier than that of those who were active members; but although he did not belong to either the army or navy, he was glad to propose the taast that had been placed in his hands. He must cordially propose the toast" The Army and Navy," coupled with the name of Sergeant-Major Campbell, who in responding to the very handsome manner in which the roast had bten proposed and received felt some diffidence in replying, as he had not anticipated it would have been coupled with his name. He would not at. length enter into what had been done in the past by the navy and latterly by the army, as all must bo cognisant of the : facts. He could not speak as to what the Volunteers had dono, but the ready response to the call for their services was a guarantee for what thoy. would do if an emergency arose. As regarded England's navy and army, lie believed the future would prove them as true men as they had boon in the past. Song—Private Cohen, "Let me like a soldier fall."

Mr Boys! Tho Committee have placed in my hands a tonst of some moment. You men nil showed yourselves ready to 20 to the Front ut a moment's notice, and all the Now Zealand corps nnawerod with alacrity to tho call, and I believe nn settler would have been found behind if men had been required, You have returned from a.bloodless victory, but you meant to win n victory if required, and you have nobly discharged your duty, and have returned with the good wishea of all Now Zealand, You went there with the plucl? of the raco from which you sprung determined to maintain tho supremacy of your country and your Queen ; and telegrams from Home hare shown that they wero surprised somewhat at the ready response given at the first call, The Volunteer force have shown the pluck of the " old euard," and should they be called on again I feel they will not be found wanting. I feel that you should receive greater recognition from the Government than you havo, and I would impress on every young man that he should feel it an honor to enrol himself in a corps, and to make himself thoroughly efficient. Captain Snodgraßs, In reply, wished the response to the toast had been placed in abler hands. He hoptd the Government would take some steps to make the Volunteers a more successful body than they had been. He perfeotly agreed with Mr Boys that the officers should thorouchlv know their duties or they should not hold office. He felt sure the corps must profit by the experience of those who had gone to the Front. They had now seventy-two on the list—of these, sixty-five could not be surpassed; and he believed they h»d the making of the best corps in New

Zealand.' They were s young and well made, and he had been especially pleased after the departure to read the enconium passed on the physique of the Wairarapa Contingent, and he believed there were ea many good hien who stayed behind as those who went. He thanked them for the manner in which they had received the toast. Song, Corporal Merrick, .'.'/ Ear away from Home." ' ' . " :''.■ Mr Fairbrother then stated that it had fallen to his lot to have to propose the toast of the evening. It was but aMew weeks since they had; ty'h good-bye and a safe return to those who' had gone to the front; and thankful to see them all safe baclidteaiu. The country had doubtless been puno a great expense, but he believed it was the best money Government had ever spent, The idea that had been thrown out that the whole of the Wairarapa Bhould forlri one battalion, eaoh township furnishing a company, and all meeting occasionally for a field-day, was he thought a'good one, He had much pleasure in proposing the health of their comrades, from the front,The toast was received with tremendous applause, and drank with musical honors; and after a song from Captain Snodijrass, Lieutenant Bounett a 9 soon as cheering had ceased, said he had to thank them for the hearty manner in which they had; drunk the health of those who had re- , turned from the front. He could assuro j them it had been no sinecure, but hobo- ' lieved the Carterton mon were as good stouthearted a lot all through as any who ; had come from any part of the Island.: After a slight sketch of their journey to; the front, he continued that on their; arrival they were received by the navals: and all were in as good spirits as when they started, Among.tliemselves and the ■ Masterton men thore had been no dig- ' order, no grumbling, no disturbance, or j complaint, and if his men should again be '. called to the front, he should be glad to: go with them. j Lieutenant Potts (in response to t< general uall) said he was proud to have j his name conpled with the meu who had j gone to the front, and to have been one j of them, They, had all done their duty | and though many of them were raw j recruitß, after a few days they were' thoroughly efficient. It had been no child's play, there had been 300 men in their camp but 2,000 would not have been to many to do the work and look after the country they had to cover, After giving a humorous sketch of the march to the front, he Baid it had been hard work and no picnio, but every man had done his duty like a man and a .soldier.: He was proud to have been one of them and he thanked them tor the tirasi. Lieut, Potts, in proposing the toast of the non-commisaioued otn'cers, stated their work had been no child's play, as they were at the beck and call of the Sergt.-Major and officers for 24 hours at a Btretob, beside having a large amount of clerical work to perform. He referred to the good quality of the commissary depatment, and said there was enough for auyone. Color-Sergt, and Sergt. Abrahall briefly responded, pointing out how much i.f the efficiency of the Corps depended on their being thoroughly up in their work; being brought into more intimate connection with the men; and how satisfactory it was that not a single complaint had been laid against any member of the Cartorton or Masterton men who had gone to the front. Mr Boys proposed the Host and Hostess, which was acknowledged by Mr Williams. \. . " The Good-bye at the Door '%£aV tain Suodgrass, the " Larboard Watch by him and private Wilsone, and other songs followed in quick succession, and a very pleasant evening was brought to a olose with the National Anthem about midnight.