WITH THE COLOURS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8810, 13 August 1914, Page 5

WITH THE COLOURS

CONTINGENT ON PARADE GREAT ENTHUSIASM SHOWN IN THE CITY. Thousands of people rushed 1 io doors. 1 1 and windows, or turned out in the ■ street, yesterday rooming to witness the parade of t-lio first contingent of the expeditionary force prior to embarking. Early in the day the men mustered at tho foot of tho Glasgow wharf and formed ranks and companies, under Colonel Hogan and Colonel Harcourt Tumor.' They were equipped in full marching order, and, accompanied by the sth Regiment Rand and tho drums, they set off on a march to tho Buckle ■ street 1 drill- 1 hall. The “boys” were heartily cheered as they passed on their way, and at the Queen’s wharf gates a most en-. thusiatic demonstration, was witnessed, and many of tho public accompanied the contingent for a considerable portion of tho route. As the troops traversed Cuba street, Vivian street, and Taranaki street, on their way to tho barracks, cheer after cheer rose fxxmi the multitude of spectators who ware massed on either side of tho road. At Taranaki street the volunteers were joined by the Auckland detachment. Their numbers wore swelled at the barracks by the addition. of miscellaneous parties, and after marcliing into the drill enclosure the men received their orders for tho day. A still more stirring scene occurred , when the whole contingent marched back through the City shortly before, midday to emlbark at , Hie King’s wharf for parts unknown. The citizen soldiers made a brave show whoh marshalled in Taranaki street, the length of tho parade, in ranks of four, extending from th.o Buckle street drillhall to the ' corner of Vivian street. The order to march having been given, the contingent passed along Vivian, street, Cuba street, Manners street, Willis street,, down Lamb ton quay as far as the Government Printing Office, and thence across to the wharf. The procession was one that will not road-, ily be forgotten. In the van was the Regimental Band, under Conductor H; MoComish, in mid-column the Association’s (City) Band, under Lieutenant T. Herd, and towards the rear thd regimental drums. Patriotic and national airs alternated, with popular martial tunes, and ever and again was heard the startling roll of a military tattoo. The parade was a properly representative one, and gave an excellent idea of the constitution of an infantry . regiment going to war, including as it did sections of foot soldiery, engineers, artillery, light battery, . medical staff, and ambulance corps. Even a mascot was not missing, tho ’Auckland party _ having with them their pet - Borzoi, or Russian - wolfhound, clad with, the Now,. Zealand ensign, as a cover. Right at the rear were two motor-cars containing tho six nurses who are going with the regiment. , Aa . the stirring strains of tho ap-. preaching bands were heard, factory and office windows were thrown up, and tho open -spaces were instantly crowded with tho heads and shoulders of girls and men, all waving or shouting greetings to the territorials, among whom many doubtless recognised relatives and -friends. Out on tho -.streets the proceedings were more intimate, and constant handshakes and exchanges of greetings passed 1 ret ween the uniformed men and the . teeming spectators. The nursing squad were tho recipients of particular attention, and it was no uncommon experience to see horny-handed and weather-beaten men raise their hats and voices simultaneously on perceiving Uw> little party oi women in grey caps arid gowns. Heavy rain commenced bo descend when tlie troops reached the _wharf, but this did not dampen the spirits of the thousand or so of men, women, jand children who, gathered round to see the? soldiers go aboard. The transference of the regiment to the ships occupied a fair space time, and many accessories, such as machine guns and wireless shore equipment, had to be loaded. The parting was a trying one for parents, as the date of the actual departure was not known even to the territorials themselves, tho proceeding being an. embarkation and nothing more Last evening the vessels with the contingent aboard drew cut from the, wharf and anchored in the stream, NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND CONTRIBUTORS.

The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher announces that special arrangements will be made to enable contributors to the National Provident Fund who are on. active service during the war to retain their membership. In some oases it ia satisfactory to note that employers are assisting their men to pay their contributions during the men’s absence, and in order to encourage this patriotic object the Government have decided to meet half the contributions of these members. RUSH OF .VOLUNTEERS. Applications for enrolment in the expeditionary force have been coming in very freely, and last night the number of men available for the second contingent was nearly 300 in excess of that required. A parade of the recruits was held last evening m the Buckle street drill hall, and the men. were subjected to official examination, A camp for both territorials and recruits will shortly be held at Palmerston North. . , , The skirl of the bagpipes was heard in the neighbourhood of the parade ground last evening, and the locality was . enlivened by. a turn-out of the Boys’ Institute Cadets, headed by tbo ] Highland Pipe Baud. Press AssociationPAHIATDA, Augttef 13. Approximately 60 infantry in the r>ahiatua military district have volunteered for service,, also 50 mounted men. The Borough Council passed a resolution of appreciation in regard to the raising of the expeditionary lorce. The local branch of the Ambulance Association is taking steps to obtain requisites for the force. ■ GORE, August 12. The first batch from the Gore district for the expeditionary force, eighteen in number. left to-day after an enthusiastic farewell. One hundred and twenty men of the National RcServo subsequently paraded. The Gore Racing Club to-day voted £IOO, half to be “held hv the local'committee m the meantime. If further assistance is required the club will meet later to consider it. The um of the noreoboxes on the course lias been offeree* to the Government. BLENHEIM. August 12. The Marlborough contingent of tho expeditionary lore® was farcwelled tonight by a great crowd, amid much enthusiasm. Over £IOOO has been sub-

Bcribed locally to tho fund, and many horses and money are still coming in. The Marlborough Club subscribed 100 guineas, the Licensed Victuallers’ Association £IOO, and the Working Men’s Club 100 guineas. HOKITIKA. August 12. Thirty-six volunteers for tho expeditionary force, including three officers, successfully passed tho test, and with the, Groymouth contingent numbering ten, make forty-six from A Company, 13th Regiment. The contingent is proceeding to Groymouth on Friday, and overland to Christchurch on Saturday. All are fully equipped. GISBORNE, August 12. Six army and navy reservists left for tho south ,by tho Mokoia this evening, and wore enthusiastically farowelled. It is understood that the first section of tho Gisborne oon tingent to tho expeditionary force (fifty men and horses) ■will leave for tho south on Friday, and an infantry section is expected to leave pu Sunday. The citizens’ defence committee has enrolled a large number of men for local defence, and is endeavouring to provide tliom with rifles.