FOR KING AND COUNTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11563, 29 January 1901, Page 4

FOR KING AND COUNTRY.

' 1 If the transport Cornwall keeps its . I appointed time, we shall to-day bid 1 farewell to the Sixth Contingent. , I .Though the loss which saddens our J Empire and has plunged us into naI tional mourning forbids the inI tended ceremonials, our soldiers I know that they leave us with our I sincerest good wishes and most imI plicit confidence. Untried in battle I though most of them are, they fol--1 low in the path, of brethren who 1 have doubly proved that the spirit I of our fathers glows in* our people I still. It is little more than a year I since New Zealand first sent it's | sons to maintain the Empire. The | Imperial authorities received them i kindly and greeted them heartily, i but could not have been expected | to know the manner of men they I I were. Speedily they won their I spurs. Britain's greatest living captain, whose whole life has been I passed in camp and campaign, who | saw Delhi stormed and Luclcnow relieved, who avenged Cavagnari in Cabul and broke the fiercest tribes I of Asia at Candahar, found warriors I after his own heart in the lads who I came from our open cities and our I wide farms. Over and over again 1 the contingents that followed on each other' 3 heels met the Boer on his own ground and proved tliem- ! selves his equals at veldt-figh'ting j and his masters in reckless courage. They have written our country's name in the annals of the Empire. I They have mads our hearts thrill i with pride, but never sink with | shame. "Men of whom any coimtry j | might well be proud," the great cap- I j tain calls out lads, who became j | veterans at -first sighting the foe. What perhaps is greater praise, the stern soklier now in command prizes the colonials above all others for I the work in hand, and asks urgently J for our irregular horsemen, whom I once he is said to have had little j j confidence in. So our Sixth Con- ; ■ tingent goes to South Africa not to j make an honoured name for New ! Zealand's troops, but to keep untar- I nished the proud reputation already won. We are assured that it is safe 1 in their hands. Happy will we alii be if they arrive too late and find Peace already made. Warm will be I our welcome Home even though they I com© with swords unfleshed, for we i need no useless bjoqdaiied to prove f ;

their worth. But if the war still continues, we know they will do their duty when it meets them face to face. In that sure confidence Auckland bids, them "Farewell !'' and "■ God-speed !" honouring them as men should be honoured who offer their, lives for King and for Country.