SEVENTH CONTINGENT

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 48, 26 February 1901, Page 5

SEVENTH CONTINGENT

DEPARTURE OF THE AUCKLAND DRAFT.

The departure of the s.s. Ttotoili from the Onehunga wharf with the Auckland detachment of 60 men for the Seventh Contingent was witnessed by a large crowd of people. Among those on the wharf were:—Lieut.-Col. White, officer commanding the district; Major Sehofield, Adjutant Reid, Captain Mcintosh, and Dr. W. R. Close Erson, Mayor. Before the men embarked they were drawn up on the wharf, where Dr. Erson, addressing them, said: "Members of the Seventh Contingent for service in South Africa, this is the seventh time that I have had the honour of bidding.farewell.to your fellow brothers in arms who have gone forth to fight the battles of our Empire. You all well know the honour which has redounded to our colony by the action of previous contingents from New Zealand. We feel that we place in your own hands an unsullied record of bravery and loyalty to our throne and Empire, and that you will uphold it equally with those 'Sons of ■the Empire' who now return with you, eager once again to fight for the Empire in the same manner as they so eagerly volunteered to do more than a year ago. To your First Contingent I said in leaving Onehunga, 'Go! and may the God of Battles defend you!' To you, I now invoke the same aid, and I feel sure that that prayer will be answered, and that individually you will uphold the honour of our colony, and reflect credit upon New Zealand."

"God Save the King" was then sung by ali present, followed by cheers for the departing company, for "Our Boys at the Front," and for the Mayor. "Rule Britannia" was then sung by the assembly, and as the boat left the wharf the troopers joined in singing "Home, Sweet Home," followed by the firing of rockets from the ship.