State: New South Wales, Australia
Issued on: n/a
Date of presentation: bef. 24/01/1900
Number issued: 2
Gold medals, to:
The gift of a gentleman.
DEPARTURE OF THE MAITLAND VOLUNTEERS.
A DEMIONSTRATIVE SEND-OFF.
The farewell demonstration tendered to the volunteers who have been selected from the Maitland district for service in South Africa was worthy of the men and of Maitland. The proceedings opened with a procession, which moved from Church Street railway station at 7.25 p.m., via Church and High Streets to the Town Hall, in the following order: – 4th Regiment Band, under Bandmaster Mr W.G. Bentley, A.R.C.M.; Lieutenant McGLINN and six of the Maitland volunteers – MITCHELL, CONNORS, RIGG, SMITH, JONES, and Trooper TOOZE; Maitland Half-Squadron Lancers, Captain Markwell and Lieutenant Nicholson; B Company, under Captain Scobie and Lieutenant Nash; D Company, under Captain Williams and Lieutenant Dwyer; Federal Band; East and West Maitland Water Brigades, under Captains James and Towns and Vice-Captain Wall; West Maitland Fire Brigade, East Maitland Fire Brigade. The following officers were also present: Lieutenant-Colonels Ranclaud and Kirkaldy, Majors Cracknell nod Sloan, Lieutenants Wayne, Stark, and Short. The procession was followed by hundreds, and the footways and balconies were crowded with spectators. The troops marched into the Town Hall, which was filled from stage to gallery within a quarter of an hour, while the street in the vicinity of the hall was thronged with people.
The volunteers occupied seats in the front row, and were supported by the officers and by the Mayor (Colonel Wilkinson), Mayor of East Maitland (Alderman W.H. Foster), and Messrs J. Gillies and J.N. Brunker. The following programme was rendered: – Overture, "Relief of Lucknow", Mr Vial's Orchestra; "Soldiers of the Queen", Mr F. Ward, assisted by Lancers, Infantry, and Water Brigade; "Good-bye" (Tosti), Miss Alma Payne; selection, Grand National Fantasia, 4th Regiment Band; song, "Steadfast and True", Mr M. Ross; song, "We'll Answer to the Call", Mr Jesse Weston; selection, "Reminiscences of Scotland", 4th Regiment Band; "Sons of the Sea", Mr W.W. Chandler; "Royal Fusiliers", Mr T. Barnes; "Last Muster”, Miss E. Adam; "Trusty as Steel", Mr W.W. Chandler.
PRESENTATION TO NEWCASTLE VOCALISTS.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH CONCERT.
An advertisement elsewhere in this issue notifies that a grand concert will be given in the School of Arts on Friday evening next, in aid of the Congregational Church Renovation Fund. A first-class programme, we are informed, has been arranged, some of the leading amateurs of Newcastle and Maitland having promised to take part. Miss Alma PAYNE, the young lady who created such a favourable impression at the Town Hall on the night of the departure of the local contingent for South Africa, and who was presented with a gold medal for her charming performances, will appear; also, her brother, Mr Alfred E. Payne, one of the best baritones in the coaly city; members of the clever Hayne family — Rebecca, Bertha, and George; Mr Tom Barnes, the great descriptive songster; Mr E. Vial's orchestra; “The Absent Minded Beggar”, and various other attractions will be presented; and as the charge to all parts of the hall is but one shilling, with reserved seats at sixpence extra, the hall should be crowded on the occasion.