Medals and awards

A SEND-OFF

To Mr W. PENTLAND

On the invitation of the Victoria Benefit Society a number of gentlemen assembled at the Dispensary Hall last Tuesday night to say farewell to Mr W. PENTLAND, jun., who is about to leave for South Africa with the filth contingent.

Mr R.W. Hiddlestone occupied the chair, and explained that Mr PENTLAND was going away to fight for the empire, and the least that his fellow members of the lodge could do was to give him some little token of their good wishes towards him.

Cr. Boyd was then called on to make the presentation, which consisted of a very nice gold locket. Cr. Boyd said that when the earlier contingents went away the members thereof were proud to be called soldiers of the Queen. Owing, however, to the sad loss sustained by the death of their revered Queen that title could not now be applied. But they were showing their loyalty by going forth to fight the battles of the empire, and he felt sure they would be proud to be called soldiers of the King. The Romans used to be proud of their citizenship, but he thought they all felt more proud of being citizens of the British empire than the old Romans could of being citizens of theirs. Mr PENTLAND was going to do what he could to maintain the prestige of the empire, and if the send-off to the present contingents should be more subdued than that accorded the previous ones, it must be ascribed to the general air of mourning throughout the land, and even the world, on account of the death of their lamented Queen.

Mr PENTLAND said he felt very thankful to the members of the lodge for their kindness. He did not expect any such recognition, and he hoped that he would do nothing that they would feel ashamed of, and that he would bring back the emblem of their goodwill with him from South Africa.

Mr Pentland, sen., was called on. He said he was not a public speaker, but it would ill become him not to express a few words of the gratitude he felt for the kindness shown towards his son. He might say that he was a young fellow who had never made himself known or pushed himself before the public in any way, but he had made a study of his profession and he believed he would do his best to obey the call of duty. He believed that those going out now would do equally as well as those who had gone before.

Mr Hiddlestone proposed “Our Guest”, and he could only say that he wished him and all his comrades “God speed and a safe return”.

Mr McKean supported the toast. He had known Mr PENTLAND for many years and he believed they would have no reason to be ashamed of him.

Mr Fergusson said he was no speaker, and then proceeded to make an eloquent speech in support of the toast. He hoped their guest would see some active service, but he trusted he would not get in the way of a bullet. He also wished him God speed.

Mr McDonald said he would sooner face the Boers than make a speech, but he wished to support the toast.

The toast was then drunk in silence, in obedience to the general orders.

Mr Pentland, sen., wished to thank the company for the honour done them. He felt that this was something that affected not only his son, but also himself and his family.