Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 13 May 1902, page 13


CIVIC RECEPTION. The Mayor and councillors of Boulder tendered Mr. Collick a civic reception Thursday, which was largely attended. After the king's health had been drunk the Mayor welcomed Mr. Collick back to Boulder with the deepest pleasure, as during his residence in the district Mr. Collick had earned the respect of all classes in the community. He (the-Mayor) had also been informed that while in South Africa Mr. Collick was just as much respected. He was a man who after several years' residence in W.A. had not made an enemy, and perhaps had not a single enemy in the world. It would be with regret that the people of Boulder would hear that Mr. Collick was returning to England to take up again the ardiuous work in the East End of London on which his heart was so set. The Mayor's remarks were endorsed by Mr. M. B. Scott, the Rev. R. H., Moore, Mr. M. Byrne, Cr. Orr, the Rev. J. Tiller, Mr. F. Marrie, Cr. Johnstone, Dr. Eiphick, Cr. Rodda, and Mr. H. Goldsworthy, all of whom expressed great pleasure at seeing the rev. gentle-man back once again in Boulder and regret at hearing that he was so soon to leave once more. Cr. Evans proposed Mr. Collick's

health, which was drunk with great enthusiasm. Mr. Collick, in responding. said it was a great pleasure for him to be back once again in Boulder and hear the kind things said of him by men he had known so well. There was a great temptation for him to go to England direct from South Africa, as by doing that he could save a considerable sum of money, but he felt that he could not take up his work in London without first seeing the people of W.A. again. On that very day, Ascension Day, 12 months ago, he was riding with Dr. Reid, after doing a month's trek in the Northern Transvaal, and the doctor said he thought the trip was going to be a regular picnic, but that very day they lost Lieutenant Forrest and eight men. They went to a farm to remove some women and children, and the Boers started firing on them. Lieutenant Stanley Reid was wounded, and was lying on the ground when he, (Mr. Collick) went up to him, and said he would get an ambulance. Lieutenant Reid said, "Don't mind me, see to these fellows," pointing to two wounded men by his side. Dr. Reid and his brothers were two of the bravest officers in South Africa, and though Lieutenant Reid's wound was serious enough to get him three months' leave of absence he insisted on leading his men, and three weeks later be received his death wound. The Boers regarded him as a brave man, and when he fell one of them met him (Mr. Collick) and said, "You know Lieutenant Reid is wounded again. We are very sorry. He was a brave man." Though Stanley Reid went to South Africa as a soldier he lived up to the high standard of life that he would have had to live as a minister, and in every way he set a good example to his men. Mr. Collick related many campaigning incidents, the removal of women and children, and the destruction of their homes. This was beastly, nasty work, and the soldiers detested it. The Austr-alian contingents had a very bad name for rowdiness, and whenever they came to a town they "painted it red." The West Australians did not go to such lengths, but when they were coming down to Cape Town they were at first stopped from entering, but afterwards the embarkation officer said they were as orderly a lot of men as he handled. The Mayor's healh was also drunk, and the gathering dispersed.