The Field Artillery Battery of! ithe S.V.C. held one of the most successful annual dinners in its long history, at the S.V.C. Club on Satarday. The occasion differed rather {from previous dinners, inasmuch as the opportunity was taken of bidding farewell to its commanding offer, Maj. R. W. Davis, and also to Capt. J. S. Hay and Lieut. H. W. Welman. Macnnaughten, who was to have presided, was del wed on his journey up Shanghai from Hongkong and so jo to.be present. His place' as chairman was taken by Lieut, Welman.
"The King" having been honoured, Lieut. Welman made a shore speech lof welcome to the guests and expressed the Battery's regret at the Bnavoidable absence of Gen. Macnaughten. The speaker referred particularly t Maj. H. B._ Bates, who was a gunner in the carly part of the war, but left the Battery to join the army in Eng-and, and then gave the toast which was duly honoured.
Maj. Bates, replying on bet if of the guests, said he real was not so well qualified as-he might be for the role of speaker, bat assured them that no-one could have warmer feelings for the than he had.
He asked the guests to rise and drink to the prosperity jof the Lieut, elman, on behalf of the Battery, resented Maj. Davis with 'a silver cigar box as token their.affection and respect.
Tt was, hho said, 22 years since Maj. Dat Decame'a gunner, and of thet tim: 11 or 12 years' were spent as commanding officer. Those who had the privilege of working with him had found in him an officer whom they could respect, a friend to whom they could turn and a sportsman in whom to confide. Ti token was presented to him as a gift from the Battery to an officer who asked no man to perform that. which he was either unwilling unable to do himself. (Applause) Maj. Davis was leaving them, and he felt quite sure that his resignation was received with very deep regret by every member of the unit. He gave them the toast of Mi Davis, coupling with Tt the name of (Captain Hay. major of the unit, made a brief speech, reviewing the history of the battery during his own membership of it, He was proud, he said, of the fact that he was the only man who had ever been presented with sword by the S.M.C. and-he assur-fed them #% would never grow rusty while ly was in his possession. Some of the happiest times of his life had been spent with the Battery, and he sympathized with them in losing.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.