THE EIGHTH CONTINGENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12243, 6 January 1902, Page 6

THE EIGHTH CONTINGENT

THE OTAGO SECTION. A HEARTY SEND-OFF. It could hardly he expected that the despatch of the (Hugo contingent in the Eighth New Zealand Kcgiment would excite such on outburst of enthuiiia<sin thai marked the occasion when "the Fourth' left for the front, nearly two years ago. But although the war has ceased lo become the all-absorbing topic of conversation, and although people might rather hear the result of the test match than hear Lord Kitchener's weekly report, still there were a great many on Saturday morning whose eyes kindled and whose hearts gave a thrill as our boys inarched down Princes «treet and through the city, off to the war. They were nearly 200 strong, and as fine, stalwart a body of men as any of their predecessors who have gained the encomiums of sterK and grizzled generals ol the British Army. The reality of the grim business they were setting out to embark in —a harassing, apparently unending, guerilla warfare with a cunning and treacherous enemy, whoso resourcefulness has been developed and whose nature has been embittered by three years of hopeless conflict with a superior foe-came home very directly to their mothers and sweethearts, and many pathetic partings took place. The morning broke grey and gloomy over a sleeping camp at Tahuna Park. The scene was a contrast to the glorious morning of the 23rd of .March, 1900, when the wellordered military encampment at Forbury Park was alive with moving khaki forms at sunrise, and over 400 of the pick of the fighting strength of the colony paraded to go out to the same war our men are now going cut to finish. Amid a blare of trumpets and an unexampled display of patriotic fervour, half the province turned out to give a farewell cheer and say " Godspeed." But tilings were much quieter on this occasion. When reveille was sounded on Saturday morning, daylight was well advanced and revealed the City of the Hil'.a surmounted by grey skies, and here and there a trail of mist. The air was sweet and fre?h after a night of rain, and the absorbent turf at Tahuna Park was firm underfoot. The men obeyed with alacrity the call to shake off the seductive influence of the deity of sleep, and very soon the whole camp was astir. The Tahuna Park camp could not he regarded as a miljiary camp in so strict a sense of the word as the Forbury camp, and naturally there was not the same regularity of movement and the ssrnc precision in carrying out the necessary functions. Fatigue duty, however, gave the men an appetite for breakfast, and the chief cook. Mr Tracey, who had made his way into the hearts of the men by his influence on their digestions, gave them all an excellent meal. There was a general parade at 8 olclock, when the officer, in command of the camp, Captain Joyce, accompanied by the staff sergeant-major, impeded the men. Some were in wcil-worn khaki uniforms that betokened former service, and the wearers were also distinguished by bronzed complexions and an air of alertness which made them stand out in contrast to the raw civilian with 'his A B C of drill to learn. Then there were volunteers in the spick-and-span uniforms of their respective companies, but who shared with the un-uniformed an ignorance of the experience of "stopping bulleta ' or shooting back. But taken altogether, they were a very fine lot of men, and anyone may well be proud to belong to the country that bred* them. After a few drill movements had been executed the contingent stood at ease to await the arrival of Colonel Robin, C.N. Colonel Itohin, accompanied by Captain iSicolson, drove tip about 9 o'clock, and after an exchange of courtesies with the officer in charge, addressed the men before the order to march off was given, He said: lads of the Kighth Contingent from (Jtago confre.-You are about to entrain for your battalion camp. Those of you who have served before 1 need say nothing 10. But there are a number of you who are leaving home and friends for the first time-leaving them, I would remind you, not merely for a trip, but to go on active service. Mark well what I say to you; I will not keep you a moment. You are going out to assist in the final stages of what has been a long and tedious war. Do not run awav with the ulea that there is no danger at' this sta»e Aow moro than ever you want to have voiir eyes bored in the back of your head a«'well as where Nature has put them, think of it when you get out there. What the old colonel said when he was sending the men away I repeat to you now: that it is necessary, to do any good out there, to have eves and ears in the back of the head as well'as where they arc placed liy Nature. That van sound advice, and it is the best I can °ive you. If you remember it and follow it! it may save you from making anv of tfie-o tiniortunate mistakes. Don't forget that you inust bo always on your guard and watchful. Voil may. ami probably will, at some time or other he in a small party somewhere, doing duty away from others, because the nature of this war demands that detached partus shall he all over the cimntrv. Well remember, no matter how tired voii are. do not lie down to have a sleep all together. A ways have at least one looking around white the other* are not doing 'duty 1 would remind yon..il ? o of-what is due to your officer?. I Ins is important. Remember that your officer is put- over yon to conduct you in every way. He has to look after your feeding and your welfare generally as well as commanding yon in the field, '(iivo to him the best loyalty you have, and trust l !»». «m he in turn will trust you. ,\„d 'to not let any of this committee bii«ino=s arise to interfere with discipline. Do not so far forget .yourselves as to say. "I do not 1." 'v" 1 " s 1 , c,lo 1 ul ' >•>" w "I don't like '''■ *<> l «wl ll' : you are likely to so behave yourselves. I believe vou will lay yourselves out /or the task of keeping up the good name earned by prior contingent' and be a credit to the district that is send! |»S you. I wish you all a - very pleasant trip across. While in the ~,,„,, of „erci<e give your whole time and energy |» (ho instruction lhat will bo given yen. When you get to Africa, and find yoiiiselves face to fare with your active duties, he ever watchful And may you all l lfi sp „ ed lo come back in 12 months. I trust that you will, and 1 trust that I may be spared myself to bring the hands and the girls and tho people to seo you home. Without further preliminaries the men formed sections, and. with Captain Joyce at their head, marched off to enlrain at the railway station The route taken was along the Main road, through South Dunodin and into Ihc city. All sloug the line of inarch their progress brought the people

out. and by the time ihe city was entered hundreds of citizens came with them It was arranged that the Harrison Rami should meet them at (lie corner of Manor place hut the bandmaster had been instructed to bo (it that spot at 10 o'clock, and by that the contingent was at the station Coming down past the post office the crowd became denser, and a? the head of the column wheeled into Rattray street there must have been several thousand about. The band look tip n position on the railway platform, and played stirring military airs. The order was given to entrain the men a rn-°"f' alld was att<, " (le 'i "ith a little difficulty, as the crowd took possrsfion of the station, and a great crush followed. Mothers struggled through the thrc.ig to cvelmngc a hurried good-bye with their hoys, and numbers of sisters and cousins and aunts and sweethearts bent on a similar mission attempted to do likewise, with the result that many failed. His Worship the Mayor, in dutv bound, repaired to the station to make' a short speech of farewell on behalf of Dunedin, but he never got the opportunity, and was jostled hither and thither like everyone else by anxious relatives Marching in the wrong part of the train for their soldier hoy. The raihyay men worked their way quietly and efficiently through the crowd, and, thanks to Colonel Robin, Captain Joyce, and the other officers, everything was ready at 10.20, the time appointed for the train to leave! A long whistle warned people to stand clear, and slowly the train moved cut of the station. The band played "Auld lang syne," and chcor after cheer went up for Captain .Taekson ami his men. The parade state of the contingent showed 122 men .of the Dunedin section present, 6 from Alexandra, 6 from Queenstown, 6 from Balclutha, 12 from Gore, and 23 from liivorcargill ;—total, 150. There should have been 30 from Invercargill, but two did

not turn up, and as their absence was not' explained the vacancies will bo filled at the. exercise camp. Tronpm ,1. .lolly, tt. Ferguson, ami \V. Carr, Ht, Clair members of the contingent, wore entertained by the residents, and presented each with a pipe and a gold ring, the of which h'.is defrayed by public suUcriptiou to which the whole neighbourhood eontrilntteii. Mr F. W. I'ctrc took the cliair and made the presentations and a suitable speech was also made by Mr J. li. Thornton. Dr? Falconer and Bauohop were at the camp from the beginning, anil as Dr Rogers (who had been appointed to the tamp) did not report himself, Dr de Lautour, P.M.0., went out two day* ago, and slayrd. with the men until they went away. He reports that there was "i sickness or accident of any kind at the cam]). The attendance of a company of the Bearer Corps, under Quartermaster-sergeant North, is also to lie noted. They went out with a complete equipment, but had nothing to do. Au Oamaru telegram says:—Tho 12 men of the eighth contingent had a good send-off on Saturday, a large crowd being present. They wore addressed by the Minister of Lands and Colonel Headland before marching to the railway station.