Medals and awards

SOCIAL AT BLUE SPUR.

PRESENTATION TO TEOOPER D.J. McAULAY.

Probably the largest gathering that has been seen at Blue Spur for a number of years took place there on Wednesday evening last, when a complimentary social was tendered to Trooper David John McAULAY, who went to South Africa as a member of Fifth New Zealand Contingent, and who had been invalided from the front. Trooper McAULAY arrived in Lawrence on Tuesday evening, accompanied by a comrade-in-arms (Trooper HUNTER, of Southland), also invalided. Both men had apparently recovered their health, and did not show any signs of their misfortunes.

The Tuapeka Brass Band were present in full force, and by playing a number of appropriate airs added considerably to the enjoyment of the occasion.

The proceedings commenced in the Oddfellows' Hall, where the guest of the evening (accompanied by Trooper HUNTER) was entertained at a tea meeting, at which the whole population of the Spur (old and young) and a large number of Lawrence residents sat down. An unlimited supply of eatables had been provided by Sutherland Bros., and the tables were waited on by the committee, assisted by a number of young ladies, vieing with each other to make everyone at home.

After ample justice had been done to the many good things, an adjournment was made to Mr Beaton's Assembly Rooms, where promptly at 9 o'clock the social part of the programme was entered upon. Mr A.W. Tyndall presided, and also on the platform were Troopers HOGG, HUNTER, and McAULAY. These gentlemen on taking their places were greeted with much enthusiasm, and when this had subsided, Mr Tyndall, in opening the proceedings, said it could safely be said that the occasion for which they were assembled that evening — to welcome back a soldier from the seat of war — was a unique one in the history of the Blue Spur. If anyone had predicted such a possibility a year or two ago they would simply have been laughed at. They would probably have heard some remark like this: "What! young colonials go to the front and fight in the same ranks as British soldiers! Ridiculous! Why, a couple of thousand British soldiers could go through New Zealand from end to end". Such a poor opinion could now no longer be held. He was himself a native of Australia, and he remembered perfectly well when he was a youngster listening to the accounts recited by his elders of the heroic deeds of the British soldiers and the supreme contempt they always expressed for the young colonial as a fighting man and a working man. Their young men had now proved the utter fallacy of those opinions; they had proved themselves equal to any soldiers in the world in fighting or working, and he had much pleasure in congratulating them on the way in which they had proved themselves the equal of men who had been trained for centuries to fight the battles of our Empire. The pioneer residents of these British colonies had, he thought, in belittling their own progeny, been running down themselves. Surely if in a new country where the conditions were so much better than in the old land they could not improve on the breed they were a poor lot. — (Laughter). He predicted a fine future for these lands and also that they would keep up the name of Britain in the centuries to come. London, which was the heart of the Empire, or other parts of the United Kingdom might someday be oppressed by foreign powers but if such a contingency did arise he ventured to predict that with the assistance available from her loyal colonial sons the name of Britain would never be lost and that British blood would still be predominant. There were many reasons why they should honor and treat well their returning troopers from the front. Some people might say "What a lot of fuss you are making over those men; they are only doing their duty. Tommy Atkins does not get those receptions, etc., etc." He did not think that was the way they should look at it. It was a remarkable occasion. It was the first occasion in the history of the Empire of the colonies uniting with their mother country for protective purposes. — (Applause). If those who were disposed to criticise and cavil at the enthusiastic receptions they were giving their troopers would only reflect a moment and consider what might have happened had the colonies, when appealed to, not responded and left Britain to fight her own battles in South Africa — for action in that case would have been interpreted by the foreign powers to mean that we were not in sympathy with the Mother Country and were desirous of separation — the result would have been that by this time a large number of foreign animals would have been picking at the British lion. On the other hand, the noble way in which the youth of this and the neighboring colonies had responded to the appeal had been an object lesson which would not be lost upon the foreign countries. Another reason why they should honor their returning troopers was that they had learned — and they had to thank their enemies, the Boers, for the lesson — a new style of fighting; they learned that the days of the complete subservience of the private soldier to the commanding officer was past. The private soldier in the future must be a man of intelligence and fight independently. The days of going into battle shoulder to shoulder and forming squares were past. The soldier of the future must, as exemplified by the Boer war, be able to act "on his own" and take cover as best he could. The colonial troops adapted themselves to the circumstances in South Africa in a manner which had surprised their best generals — in fact, they had proved themselves adepts at the Boers' own game. A third reason — and he considered it the best reason why they should honor their troopers — was because they had proved to the world that in the British dominions, at any rate, a standing army was not now necessary; that they could depend upon their citizens — men who were at the plough to-day and could take up the rifle in defence of their country tomorrow. This, he considered, was a great matter. True it had not yet received much consideration, but in the long run it was bound to receive the consideration of our rulers and prove better for the world. They all knew that the large standing armies of the continental countries of Europe were a fearful drain on the resources of their respective countries, and one reason why Britain had been so great a colonising country was that her capital had not been wasted in keeping up a big standing army. And to the young colonials was due the credit of showing the Mother Country in the most practical way they can be absolutely depended upon and that a large standing army is not now required. He was a democrat himself and he congratulated the colonial boys on the manner in which they had acquitted themselves and done honor to their country. Before concluding, he had to thank them for the honor they had done him in asking him to preside at so important a gathering and mentioned that he had also a very pleasing duty to perform — viz., the presentation to Trooper McAULAY of a gold albert and locket in recognition of his services at the front. A fact which he thought worth mentioning in connection with this presentation was that the necessary steps for making it were entirely taken by his old schoolmates and he was pleased to be able to say they had carried the matter through in a most business-like manner, though the time at their disposal had been very limited. This feature he thought reflected a certain amount of credit on himself as he had had a good deal to do with their training. — (Laughter). He had, therefore, very much pleasure in asking Trooper McAULAY's acceptance of this gift as a slight token of respect and esteem in which he was held by his comrades and playmates on the Spur. In presenting Trooper McAULAY with this token of regard to him they, one and all, welcomed him back with pleasure. They were glad to see him back in comparatively good health and they hoped that he would very soon be completely recovered from the sickness that had attacked him in the Transvaal. They were certain that though he was with them that evening in body his spirit was still with his comrades in South Africa. He trusted he would be long spared to wear it and that it would always remind him of his many friends on the Blue Spur, and if at any time he should be tempted to do anything that was not quite right that a look at this token of their esteem would prevent him from doing what otherwise he might have done. — (Applause).

Trooper McAULAY, who was warmly received on rising to speak, said he could not find words to adequately express to them his thanks for the very hearty welcome they had given him and for the handsome token of their esteem with which they had presented him. He assured them it would be always highly treasured by him as a memento of one of the most important events in his life, and he would also endeavor to merit a continuance of their friendly feeling towards himself. He again thanked them for their most generous gift.

The Chairman mentioned that they were pleased to have with them a friend of their guest — Trooper HUNTER, of Southland — and he felt very much pleasure in giving that gentleman, on behalf of the Blue Spur people, a hearty and cordial welcome to their district. — (Loud applause). They had also Trooper John HOGG, of Evans Flat, and to him also he extended a cordial welcome. — (Applause).

Trooper HUNTER, who had evidently during his brief visit become a great favorite, was enthusiastically received. He said it afforded him very great pleasure indeed in thanking them all for the very warm and hearty reception they had given him, a comparative stranger. He had been thrown a good deal into the company of Trooper McAULAY, and this had resulted in a warm friendship, and he had accepted his invitation to spend a couple of days with him before returning to his home in the South. When they had left for South Africa a number of people had characterised the sending of the contingents as a kind of holiday, and expressed the opinion that the fighting would be over before they reached there. Their prophecies had not worked out, for they all knew they had seen and been engaged in fighting and had gained experience which would be of life-long benefit to them. Personally, he would not have missed the experience for all the sovereigns they could give him. He again thanked them for their hearty reception. — (Applause).

Trooper HOGG said he was pleased to be present with them on so auspicious an occasion, and also to meet his fellow troopers from South Africa. He had been highly gratified at the reception they had given him with the guest of the evening and his comrade. His experience was that the people of New Zealand were proud of their troopers, whom they never missed an opportunity of honoring in the most hearty manner.

A lengthy programme of songs, recitations, and instrumental music was then gone through, every item being enthusiastically applauded. This part of the proceedings was brought to a close at 11 p.m., when the hall wan speedily cleared by a large army of willing workers in preparation for the dance, to which a large number of the younger people remained. Excellent music was supplied by Messrs McDonald Bros, (violins), assisted by Mr P. Roughan. Mr Geo. Potts acted as M.C., and carried out his duties in a very efficient manner. At intervals songs were sung by Trooper HUNTER, Messrs Stevenson, Jarvis, W. Dawson, J. Johnston, and D. Tippet.

PRESENTATION TO TROOPER JAMES GRAY.

Our Blue Spur correspondent writes: Trooper Jas. GRAY, who represented Blue Spur as a member of the Fourth Contingent, was entertained at a welcome home social on the evening of Victoria day. There was a large gathering of the residents of the Spur present to offer their representative congratulations on his safe return, as also a number of visitors from Lawrence and the surrounding districts, including several comrades-at-arms. An abundant supply of refreshments was laid in the Oddfellows' Hall, and after the wants of everyone had been attended to an adjournment was made to Beaton's Hall where the speechifying and social part of the proceedings took place. Mr A.W. Tyndall occupied the chair and on the platform with him were the guest of the evening and returned Troopers SULLIVAN and McAULAY and Mr B.W. Winn (Mayor of Lawrence),

The Chairman, in a very able and interesting speech, extended, on behalf of the people of the district, a hearty welcome home to Trooper GRAY who had worthily assisted to uphold the honor of the Empire and his country in South Africa and in concluding asked his acceptance of a gold albert and pendant as a token of their esteem and appreciation of his services at the front — a souvenir which he hoped he would be long spared to wear.

Trooper GRAY, in thanking the people of the Spur for their handsome gift, said words failed to express his gratitude to them. They had treated him so well both before his departure and since his return that he felt he could in no way adequately express his thanks. He would zealously treasure their gift which would always serve to remind him of one of the most eventful periods of his life and also of the many true friends he had in the Blue Spur district.

Mr B. Winn expressed pleasure at being present to accord Trooper GRAY a hearty welcome home. He spoke at some length on the splendid reputation the colonials had earned at the front and the honor they had shed on their country by their courageous and soldierly qualities. He referred to the readiness with which volunteers had come forward at the call and predicted that should occasion again arise they would find the colonials (of whom Trooper GRAY was a very good type) just as ready as ever to go to the front to fight the upholding of their King and Empire.

Trooper SULLIVAN, who had been a comrade with Trooper GRAY in the Fourth Contingent, gave a brief account of some of their experiences in South Africa.

Captain Pearson (Tuapeka Mounted Rifles) also welcomed Trooper GRAY back to the district, and hoped they would get the benefit of his experience in their mounted corps. The experiences of the South African campaign had shown conclusively that for defence purposes mounted troops were of the first importance, and the Government were now recognising this by giving more encouragement to volunteering and especially to mounted corps. They were now supplied with a better weapon and more attention was being paid to the cultivation of good shooting. He strongly urged on all young men who were animated with feelings of patriotism to make a point of joining the local corps and thereby gain some preliminary training which would always stand them in good stead.

During the evening songs were given by Mrs Roche, Misses Branigan and M. Brosnan, Lieut. Smith, Sergt. Henry, and Mr J. Sutherland. Recitations were given by Misses L. Ralston and C. Brosnan, and Messrs Tyndall and Barr.