WITH HEARTS EXULTANT

Evening Star, Issue 15915, 22 September 1915, Page 6

WITH HEARTS EXULTANT

THE WELCOME HOME TO OUR BOYS, WHO HELPED TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE. Only a person whose heart had attained a perfect state of ossification could have remained unmoved by tho ceremony in the Octagon Hall this morning, at which the Mayor and citizens of Duriedin welcomed home the Otago representatives of the Gallipoli force that returned on the Tahiti. Somehow there was a sentiment—it was not sentimentality—which has not been expressed at any of the many preceding functions. Partly it was undoubtedly caused by the address of the Mayor (Mr J. J. Clark) which struck the right key throughout; but in greater degree it sprang from the deep erogtion caused to that packed assembly by their first sight in mass of the men who have come back, of their painful negotiation of the steps, and of the very cheerfnines.-? with which the disabled covered their disabilities. An American once divided people into two classes—those who,' walking through a cemetery, fail to see the flowers on the graves: and those who, -walking through .a cemetery, fail to see the graves under the flowers. This great audience was composed of both, in the sense that one noticed among the predominating hatwaving and Cheering those who sat with covered eyes. Some were seeing only the laurels borne so modestly by the 40 men on the platform; the others, many of them, were seeing the slopes of Gallipoli. where, somewhere, their own lie "out and far." So there were tears behind the cheers and the resounding echoes of the National Anthem and the kindred inspirational music played by Mr Paget Gale and Mr_ Stokes's Orchestra. • The soldiers were marshalled at the Town Hall steps just before noon, in the presence of a great gathering of the pubhe, and on the stroke of noon, When the bells .and whistles sounded from all quarters of the City, they marched uwith His Worship into the crowded hall, and received a perfervid welcome. The seat of honor next Mr Clark was occupied by bister Moore, the only one of the returned nurses able to be present, and by Chap-lain-major Gray, who offered up an eloquent prayer. MAKING HISTORY. The Mayor said : It has been said many a time that we, in this young land of ours, have been suffering 'from the misfortune of having had no history to inspire us, but to-day that can no longer be said, because the men of New Zealand are making history—making it not only for us, but making it for the whole world. (Cheers.) We are met to-da.y to mark another milestone in the history of our City and our Dominion. Some 15 years ago we gathered together to welcome back the first of those men who had gone from this land of ours to fight for the Empire—the men who did such magnificent service in the South African War. (Applause.) A few weeks ago we welcomed back with enthusiasm the first of those who came back from the greatest war that the world has over known, and to-day we join in giving a hearty, roval and genuine welcome to the men who'are here to-day. (Prolonged cheering.) We celebrate their home-coming with jov • our hearts are exultant, because we are "proud that they are of the same blood as we are. . (Applause.) I ask you to give three cheers tor the men who are here to-day. (Vigorous cheering.) —Recruits from the Outposts.— In these men who left our shores we nod the utmost confidence. We felt we could rely upon them not only for the keeping of the honor of this land, but we led) we could safely place them side bv side with the world-famed troops of Brf-tain-fcheerej-and we are not ashamed of ihe fight they have put up. (Auplause.) io-day we know that that confidence is fully justified—that they have come back buttered, wounded, and broken, but covered with honor and glory. (Renewed app ause.) We have heard of their deeds ot heroism on the heights of Gallipoli. We. know the unanimous cry of enthusiasm that went right throughout the Empire and right throughout the world when these raw recruits from the outposts of lunpire were set to do the impossible in that and.ng-and they did it. (Cheers.) Uur hearts were stirred when yesterday we read what Sir lan Hamilton has to say ot our men. Have we not reason to be proud of them—men of our land and ot our City? Should we not give them the welcome—rich and precious—that thev deserve? (Applause,) We are proud of their actions, and we reioice in their heroic conduct. We know that they went away good follows, and they come back the same. (Applause.) Here Mr Stokes took an unrehearsed cue and jumping t() the piano, lifted the audience spontaneously in the strains of They Are Jolly Good Fellows.' —Our Duty at Home.— When a tremendous burst of cheeruv had subsided, the Mavor continued • Thev have, done their duty faithfully, and it is now our duty to help them as much as we can (Hear, hear.) I doubt not that we will endeavor to do our duty as well in that respect as much as our brave men did on the heights of Gallinoli. (\pplaiise.) Some of these brave men are not with us to-day-are unable to leave the Hospital. lo them our svmpathy ,ooes out. But while sorrowing at their sickness, we are rejoicing at the heroism thev showed, and at their return, battle'! scarred and broken, but bearing .the marks ot tneir glory. (Cheers.) I would like to welcome back our nurses. (Applause.) ■■ is.er Moore :s the only one with tie. but 1 wish to assuro her how much we appreciate the self-sacrifice tho nurses have shown. 1 heirs may not be the same glamor and personal risk, but theirs is a work equally essential, and we tender our sincere thanks to them. (Applause.) —Work for Returned Men. These men have come back to us, but I believe their work is not done yet. Thr> greatest work they have to do'is to inspire us who were left behind with the sense of our duty. We have a duty to do too. Let us do it as well as they havelet their influence inspire those who enjov the profits of peace, but will not tak'o ! part in the battle for universal peace! (Applause.) —Well Done!— Finally, the Mayor turned to the men behind him and said : We know how well you have done your work. We thank yon. We anticipated von would do well, but your actions have more than fulfilled the most sanguine anticipations of anvone. -Now you are back amongst .us wo" will esteem it an honor and a privilege to do something for you. (Cheers.) We share J t.ie sorrow of those who will not be able , to welcome their loved ones back. But I their sacrifice has not been in vain. Their I lives have been spent to keep civilisation. ] to keep God Himself, before the world. ! (Applause.) ' i SECOND RECEPTION OUTSIDE, The orchestra again swung the big audience to their feet—this time with' 'Tipperary,' in which all joined with enthusiasm. "he National Anthem having been sung the Mayor led the troops to the 'balcony in response to insistent demands from the : dense crowd which packed all approaches around the Octagon, and there made a brief but rffective speech, the men being cheered to the echo.