THE EVENTS OF THE WEEK.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 38, 3 December 1920, Page 8

THE EVENTS OF THE WEEK.

The province is keenly interested in the forthcoming consecration service to take place on Sunday, December 12. Preparations are well in hand and nothing has been left undone to make the occasion a memorable one in the history of the province. As this is practically the last oocasion on which a parade connected with the N.Z. E.F. will take place, it is hoped that a large parade of returned men will be seen on that day. A great many townspeople will be interested partieularly in the guard of lionour, for they have long hoped to see a force of returned men actually under a-rms. A parade of all soldiers willing to help will be held in the Drill Hall on Friday next, at 7.30 p.m., when Colonel Hargest will be present to meet those taking part. Cricket locally has apparently been suffering a severe relapse from its victorious conclusion last year; for so far very poor results have attended the efforts of those who have been attempting to get together tearns. Here, again, the long-obsolete Satnrday-Wednesday half-holiday question militates against good cricket tea-ms regularly taking the field. At present several enterprising sports are busy having appended to formidable petitions the names of those citizens who favour a change to the more modern system of universal Saturday holiday. In the opinion of many, the old argument of the absence of country buyers under the new system is sufficiemt to paralyse their support. The Returned Soldiers' Association, since its inception, has taken its place in public life and has performed cheerfully many the arduous tasks which come daily under its scope. Like Harrod's or Selfridge's in good old London town, the R.S.A. sets itself out to supply all the many wants of the returned soldier and never yet has the soldier gone away emptyhanded from Mr Graham and his staff. Last Wednesday, however, brought a case which temporarily puzzled the staff, when a Digger, in great tribulation informed the local secretary that the "best man" in an important partnership contract had unfortunately been reported missing, and begged the assistance of the R.S.A. The necessary "second" was soon on parade, and despite the fact that this was the first time the "best man" had met the parties, we are told that the "knot" was securely tied. There are on record several cases where the bridegroom has heen provided from the R.S.A. ranks, but not on such shoi't notico as on this last occasion. At the Federal Tea Rooms, on Tuesday. evening a most successful dinner was given by the present members of the Battery to do honour to the returned exmembers of this fine hattery. Ma-jor Lennie, C.O., of the Battery was in the chair, . and besides the returned gunners, the guests of the evening included Colonel Hargest, D.S.O., M.C., Chaplain Captaln Pybus, Capt. D. M. Rae, president R.S.A., Mr G. Cxuichskanks, Hon. J. H. Hanan, M.P., and several other gentlemen. Fully 150 men sat down to a splendid dinner, and with a fine orchestra and~a good toast list, the evening was one that gave enjoyment to all present. During the course of the evening, Major Lennie was presented with a very handsome Morris chair as a mark of the esteem in which he is held and has always been held by the men of the battery. Past and present members spoke in eulogistic terms of the fine work done by Major Lennie, and all testified to the esteem in which this popular officer has always been held by the men under his command.

Some very interesting tales we-re recounted by the diggers of the reef a,nd blue pugaree ; and many of these gentlemen showed that they could still register "good hits" as public speakers. Many important toasts including, The King, Returned Members, Navy and Army, Kindred Arms, etc., were proposed and honouredj and after a very pleasant evening proceedings terminated at 10.30. So well pleased were the ex-members with the hospitality meted out to them ; that their representatives, who fi'om time t-o time occupisd the floor, voiced the opinions of their mates by hinting that the gathering shonld he an annual aft'air. To such good purpose did they spread their propaganda, that Captain M-cLean, on behalf of the Battery, promised that the function would be held annually, a decision which met with the approval of diggers and of the present gunners. At one interesting stage in the proceedings a very well known and popular Main Body guirner appeaxed on the scene expecting to participate in a. function of a rather more hilarious nature than the one then in progress. His nimble dive for cover J on catching the eagle eye of his old bat-

tery commander, reminded his old matea of digger days, when one's life depended on the agility that was needed to sidestep one of Fritz's best 8-inch shells.