THE FOURTH CONTINGENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 54, 5 March 1900, Page 5

THE FOURTH CONTINGENT.

'AUCKLAND'S ROUGH

RIDERS

DEPARTURE FOR SOUTH

AFRICA

AN ENTHUSIASTIC FARE-

WELL

THE SEND-OFF TO-DAY.

To-day Auckland once more demonstrated in: a. most enthusiastic and moving- manner its devotion to the Mother Country in the time of need and its willingness, even eagerness, to share with tin. Empire in the grim work of the battle front. Auckland, more than any other part of the colony, possesses fighting' traditions associated with the memorable days of the .Maori wars, in the days of the Waikato war tho call to arms was responded to eagerly by the flower of the colony, and of Auckland in particular, and history repeated itself to-day, .when a company of stalwart, strong young men, the pick of the young fellows of the North, departed for the distant scenes of warfare in South Africa,. Eighty-four officers and mon, Auckland's latest quota to the Empire's fig-hting line, composed this district's contingent of Rough Riders, despatched to join the Fourth New Zealand Mounted Infantry Field Force for the Boer war. Taken altogether the Rough Riders are a splendid, serviceable, set of men, typical young- colonials, and although some of them aro somewhat new to mounted work their more experienced comrades take a pleasure in rendering them assistance. All are young—the average age is about 25 or 26 —and most are muscular, well built fellows ready for any rough and tumble. Their principal difficulty, as may be imagined in men freshly taken "from the city and the plough," is in regard to discipline. It was rather hard to knuckle down to strict military discipline all at once, and some rather amusing incidents took place in camp in the intercourse of officers and men, which would have paralysed an Imperial martinet with horror, but the Maorilanders did their best and cheerfully obeyed all orders given them.

The most intense, enthusiasm marked the departure of Auckland's Rough Riders this afternoon. Whether it was en i-oute from the camp at Epsom, on the parade, ground at the Drill Hall, or at the final scene on the Railway Wharf, the departing soldiers were greeted most warmly, even affectionately. The scenes of enthusiasm which prevailed at Wellington -and Christchurch lately wore repeated here to-day. The day was closely observed as a half-holiday by the whole city, and the Government offices were closed all day. Crowds began to throng- into Ilie streets soon after midday, and by two o'clock the approaches to the Drill Hall parade ground, where the speeches were to take place, wort1 densely packed wiili people, and the whole of Queen-street and the approaches to, the wharves were crowded, thousands of spectators pressing in on each other in their eagerness to witness the send off. Long before mid-day the city br^ke out in the gayest of holiday dresses— flags of all colours and nations floated from every flag-pole. The shipping at the wharves was especially brillian in its gala-day attire. The large steamers and sailing- vessels at the Queen street and Quay street wharves were decorated with strings of flags, the flag lockers of the vessels in port being ransacked for every available bit of bunting. The city flagstaff in the Albert Park was covered with bunting, and every building which boasted a flagstaff had a Union Jack or some other flag waving in the breeze. The New Zealand ensign floated proudly from the Government buildings in Customs street, and in some places "old glory" was flung out on the wind side by side with the blood-red flag of England. Strings of flags were suspended across Queen St., and some of the business firms laid themselves out to make a creditable display.. One string- of flags crossed the lower end of Queen street near the Waitemata and "..names hotels. At Mr A. Kohn's establishment the decorations were most artistic. Two streams of flags were stretched from the top of the building lo the. verandah. On a raised platform was a gilt bust of the Queen surmounted by the British ensign, and the New Zealand and Australian flags, whilst on each end of the platform the American and German flags were displayed. ■In Kyber Pass, .Symonds street, and elsewhere along the route of the procession, as well as in Queen street, flags were displayed, and people vied with each other in showing their appreciation of the Rough Riders and of the errand on which they go forth.