DEPARTURE OF THE CONTINGENTS.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 716, 27 March 1900, Page 2

DEPARTURE OF THE CONTINGENTS.

AN HISTORICAL EVENT. j

OTAGO EXCELS HERSELF. The occasion of the departure of the fourth, and portion of the fifth, contingents from Dunedin on Saturday, signalised an event quite unique in the history of the province, and one which will live long in the memory of the many thousands from all parts of the colony participating in it The city was wakened by the arrival of bands at 5 a.m.; these played through some of the streets, and soon tho city was astir and bunting began to appear until the city assumed a festive appearance. Services arranged by the Council of Churches were held in the First (Presbyterian) and St. Matthews Church. Solemn mass was celebrated at St. Joseph's (Catholic Cathedral), and there was an early celebration of the Communion at St. Paul's (Anglican) Cathedral. At an early hour in the morning camp at Forbury was broken up, the " fifth," with its full strength of 100, leaving there about 9.15. The Premier addressed the men, after which they cheered him, and at about 9.30 the "fall-in" call was sounded, and details being systematically arranged. Colonel Penton addressed the troops preparatory to their march out, reminding them that while now they were volunteers, when they landed in South Africa they would be soldiers of the Queen, and he hoped they would comport themselves as such. At 9.50 the troops moved towards town, entering the Oval through a triumphal arch in the following cder: — Colonel Webb and staff. Garrison Band. Dunedin Navals. North Otago Rir!e<. Southern Band. Clutha Mounted Bifles. South Canterbury Mounted Rides. Southland Mounted Rifles. B Battery. Gore Band. Dunedin Engineers. Milton Band. Cycle Uorps. Dunedin City Guards. Mosgiel Band. North Dunedin Rilles. East Taieri Rifles. Dunedin Pipe Band. Dunedin Highland Bines. Wyndhnni Band. Kuitaugatu, Rides. Kaikorai Hides. City Hides. Dunedin Rilles (Burt's). Inveiciugill Garrison Band. Oamaru Garrison Band. Queenstown Band. Inveicargill City Guards. Oreti Bifles. Queen's (Oamaru) Bides. Dunedin Navals Band. Bluff Navals. Awarua Rifles. Oamaru Rifles. Bluff Band. Gore Rifles. Palmerston Bifles. Invercargill City Guards Band. Timaru Port Guards. Port Chalmers Navals. Ashburton Rifles. Geraldine Rifles. Temuka Rifles. Waimate Riiles. Industrial School Band. High School Cadets. Associated School Cadets. Industrial School Cadets. Southland Pipe Band. North-east Valley Band. Colonel I'enton and staff, heading The Fourth Contingent. Citizens' Band. Fifth Contingent. Arrived at the Oval, the contingents marched through a guard of 'aonor formed by the other volunteer forces, were enthusiastically cheered, and accommodated on a stand in front of that occupied by tho Governor, Lady tfaiifurly, and suite, whose arrival on the the ground was greeted with cheers and the singing of the National Anthem. Stands were also provided for the school children, special guests, relatives and friends of the men, various provincial patriotic committees, pressmen, photographers, etc. On the Governor's stand were also the Mayor of Dunedin (Mr It. Chisholm, who presided), the Premier and Mrs Seddon, Bishop Nevill, the Rev. W. Bunnerman (Moderator of the Presbyterian Synod), the Hons. 3. G. Ward and J. McKenxic, Captain Alexander, Mr J. Mills, Mr T. W. Kempthorne, Commander Cupper, and a number of ladies. Lady Unnfurly wore a bunch of shamrocks in a prominent position in her hat. The crowd at the Oval was an immense one, the formal farewell proceedings being distinguished by the greatest enthusiasm. Prior to the speech-making, the Rev. W. tJannerman engaged in prayer, invoking, the Divine blessing upon the efforts of the troops then proceeding to South Africa. Tne National Anthem having been sung by the massed school children of the town, his Excellency the Governor, addressing the men, expressed pleasure at being privileged to witness the expressions of patriotic fervor made on that, the occasion of wishing Godspeed to a further detachmtnt of gallant young colonial soldiers on their way to the front. He referred to the vast change in the aspect of the war that'had been wrought sines the previous contingent left ; the long months of anxiety having given place to hopes which, though darkened, had never for a moment been extinguished. He predicted that those who followed would look back to 1900 as the dawn of a new and glorious era, the true birth of the British Empire, for had not the splendid uuanimity of tue Anglo-Saxon race been the wonder and consternation of the civilised world. The speaker referred hopefully to the prospect of «, great Anglo-Saxon confederation, and said that the British army had compelled the admiration even of our would-be detractors. This, he thought, was due to their fidelity to the traditions of their race. He was persuaded that the men before him would not fall short of expectations, but would prove themselves as resolute and as steady, as cheerful and as enduring, as any of those who have preceded them. All would watch their actions with warmest interest, and would wish them " Good luck and a safe return. —(Cheers). The Premier said that day was the greatest in the history of Otago, and who among the founders of the province would have thought that just after their Jubilee year had bten completed there would have been such a gathering and object of that gathering so momentous in the history of the great Empire to which we belonged. He complimented the committee on the successful issue of their arrangements, and said that tho men before him were a blending of the Saxon and the Celt, and no wonder with such men great deeds had already been achieved by those at the front. Having referred at length to the part the colonies were playing in upholding the Empire, the Premier concluded by wishing the men lion voytujc and a safe return. The Mayor of Dunedin, the Hon. J. G. Ward, and Mr T. W. Kempthorne (chairman of the Organising Committee) also spoke in a highly patriotic strain, " Tho Bed, White and Blue " was sung by the.children, cheers were given for the Governor, Major Francis and the contingents, the Organising Committee, Major Robin, the boys at the front, and the girls left behind. The Contingent responded by giving hearty cheers, and shouting their war cry. Bishop Nevill then olTered a short prayer, after which the proceedings at the Oval terminated, and the Contingents and volunteers formed up for their march to the wharf. Along the route of procession to the wharf, which was accounted the finest military display ever witnessed in the colony, the cheering was incessant, the crowds stupendous and patriotic decorations universal. At the Octagon the scene was one of unparalleled enthusiasm, and many touching scenes were witnessed. Large crowds gathered at the wharves, and shortly after 1 o'clock the water procession started for Port Chalmers, the tug Plucky leading the way, followed by the Tutaneka i with the Governor and suite, the Ministerial party and distinguished guests, and the Moura with the contingents, Koputai, Te Anau, Onslow, Express, and Invercargili. The trains to Port Chalmers carried immense numbers of sight-seer*, and during the afternoon the Port was densely crowded. His Excellency and the Premier made short speeches, the commissions to the officers were presented, more cheering indulged in, the formal ceremony being brought to a close shortly after i o'clock. The Monowai, with the Fourth Contingent, put out to sea about half-past six, accompanied by a number of other steamers filing guns, bombs, etc., in token of farewell. The j

Gymerio, with the Fifth .Cpntingent, was not in readiness to' proceed to sea in company, with the .Monowai, but was got away, on Sunday afternoon. ■ The arrangements of the day were earned out in a faultless manner, the large crowds were perfervid in their patriotism and orderly in their behavior, ana to crown all the weather was beautiful in the extreme.