SCENE AT THE SHIPS SIDE

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 3955, 22 January 1900, Page 5

SCENE AT THE SHIPS SIDE

AFFECTIONATE FAREWELLS. Speech-making over, the troops quickly formed into line, and, led by their respective bands, marched along Jervois quay to the Queen’s wharf, through the line of troops already di-awn up. An immense crowd had assembled at this point to obtain a last glance of the contingent, and hundreds of people occupied places of vantage in the yariouf warehouses overlooking the line of route: There was a continued roar of cheering as the -‘boys in buff” passed along, intervals being punctuated by personal admonitions and retorts bandied between members of the contingent and individuals in the crowd. Hands were pushed out of the mass for a final grip—hastily snatched, and as hastily relinquished—and “goodbyes” and hopes that- So-and-so would

have good luck and ‘‘(leal it out” to Hie Boer;:, wens heard on every side. Then the inexorable, iron gates were dosed op. the multitude, anrl the contingent marched through lines of envious volunteers to the ship’s side. There were eongi'egate/l relatives and friends, and friends of relatives and friends,'to the number of some hundreds, and a general leave-taking ensued. Naturally, there were sad sights and affecting farewells, but the excitement of the moment enabled tlie majority to pidl through without breaking down. The members of the, contingent themselves were remarkably cheerful and buoyant. Cisdaining to appear emotional, and that fact alone helped to rob the parting of its sting. Discipline was relaxed to a certain extent, and when the crowd of uniforms, mingled with the dresses of the many women who were present to take farewell of husbands, sons or sweethearts, the scene was a more animated one than any that had preceded it. Volunteers who had come from afar to send their comrades off in approved fashion cheered and cheered again as individual members of the contingent crossed the gangway and left Now Zealand, while many fearsome war-cries were heard, which evoked both laughter and applause. The Waiwera boomed out her signals of departure from time to time, and as the hour of departure grew nigh, the crowd became more and more vociferous, though handkerchiefs began to appear, and some of the more tender-hearted amongst the women were noticed to break down altogether. On the other side of the troopslap the Government steamer Tutanekai had made fast, and the Governor and Lady Ranfnrly and the Premier and Mrs Seddon and a few friends went aboard the Waiwera to say good-bye to Captain Stuart, of that vessel, and to the officers and members of the contingent with whom they were acquainted. Finally the troopship boomed her last signal of farewell, the order was given to let go the ropes, and the Waiwera gradually moved out from the wharf, the Tutanekai letting go at the same time and bearing out into the stream. The volunteers on the wharf excelled all previous efforts in one final cheer, and then the crowd lined the structure from end to end, thousands of handkerchiefs fluttered'in the suspicion of a breeze, a row of enthusiasts transferred their helmets to the points of their bayonets and waved their guns with might and main, the members of the contingent meanwhile climbing into the rigging and occupying other coigns of vantage, to issue signals in earnest of a last farewell. Meanwhile the laden vessels passed out one by one, their departure being witnessed by thousands and thousands of people, who lined the sea-front from Thorndon to Oriental Bay, and clustered in Immense groups on Mount Victoria, Point Jorningham and other [daces from which the naval display could best he seen.