BIG ROUTE MARCH

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 85, 8 October 1915, Page 8

BIG ROUTE MARCH

FIVE THOUSAND SOLDIERS ; NINE BANDS TO TAKE PART. The route march which will be held through the principal streets to-morrow will be the biggest and finest of its kind that has yet been held in the city. The troops participating will be the whole of the 7th Reinforcements and the Ist and 2nd Battalions New Zealand Rifle Brigade (the Earl'of Liverpool's Own), comprising together upwards of 5000 men. The column of troops will thus be the longest that has yet passed through the city, and certainly the most imposing. The 7th Reinforcements, like the 6ths, with fixed bayonets, will carry their arms at the slope, presenting one long bine of bright steel. The Ist and 2nd Battalions Rifle Brigade, being riflemen, will carry their arms at the trail, and will march with the light infantry step. His Excellency the Governor (the Earl of Liverpool), as their honorary colonel, will march at their head. Leaving Government Buildings at 2.30 p.m., the column will proceed along Lambton-quay,, up Willis-street, along Manners-street, down Lower Cuba-street, and along Jervois-quay to their quarters. Plenty of music will be provided, as, no less than nine bands will be distributed throughout the length of the column. These will comprise the Rifle Regiment's Band, Trentham Camp' Band, sth (Wellington) Regt. Band, Jupp's Band (National Reserve), Native Association's Band, Mission Band, Salvation Army Band, Waterside Workers' Band, and the Wellington Pipe Band. The Rifle Regiment's Band being a specially big one, and having won a good reputation, its playing to-morrow will be listened to with interest. It will lead the regiment. In order to regulate the traffic the whole of the Wellington City Garrison troops and Senior Cadets are being called out for duty to-moraow afternoon. Citizens are requested to assist the passage of the troops by not encroaching upon the roadway. Citizens are also urged to display as much bunting as possible in honour of the troops and to make the occasion a memorable one by cheering vigorously. The, men deserve it, for they have certainly done well in their work and have borne the difficulties they have laboured under, including the Trentham Camp panic and epMemic, with admirable spirit. Holders of tickets for admission to the next-of-kin enclosure are warned that they will only be available for presentation up to 3 o'clock in the afternoon. The entrance will be via the Queen's Wharf, or opposite the Post Office. As the troops will only leave Government Buildings at 2.30 they will therefore have little or no time to view" the march through the city. If they wait for that they do so at their own risk.