TENTH REINFORCEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16543, 17 November 1915, Page 3

TENTH REINFORCEMENTS

FAREWELL BY WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION. SOCIAL IN EARLY SETTLERS' HALL. ADDRESS BY CHAPLAIN-CAPTAIN BUSH-KING. The Ot&go Women's Patriotic Association extended a farewell social to the men of the Tenth Reinforcements last night in the Early Settlers' Hall. Tho attendance was highly gratifying, and the whole function a pronounced tmecass. The proceedings for tho most part of the evening were entirely of a social nature, the company being grouped at various tables, indulging in games of cards, etc., while an efficient orchestra rendered numerous selections. Tho platform and tables were well decorated with plants and lloware, and a number of flags were tastefully displayed. Supper was served shortly after 9 o'clock, and this ended, the Mayor (Mr J. J. Clark) stepped forward to speak, and was received with applause. Mr Clark said that all wero present as guests of the Otago Women's Patriotic Association, which could never allow any of the brave men to go k> the front without doing its utmost to show how much it appreciated the self-sacrifice of tho men going to fight. They wero confident that the men now going would be just as brave, heroic, and as noble as tho men who had brought such lustre on this land of ours. —(Great applause.) Tho men would leave the shores of Now Zealand with the heartfelt good wishes of all, and the earnest prayer that they would be safeguarded in their dangerous task.

The Mayor then read a telegram from the Prime Minister (Mr W. F. Maesey) apologising for not beine: able to attend owing to engagements in the north. Mr Massey sent best wishes to the men for a successful campaign and a safe return to New Zealand. Tho Minister of Defence (tho Hon. J. Allen) telegraphed: "Regret very much that I cannot be with you this evening. Wish you a most successful function and every success to the Tenth Reinforcements whom v ou are honouring tonight." The only other speaker was Chaplaincaptain Bush-King, whom the Mayor introduced in a few Happy words. The chaplain-captain spoke at considerable length, his remarks being mainly directed to the parents, relatives, and dependents of those going to the front. First he returned thanks for the most hearty welcome he had received on his" introduction, and proceeded to refer to the nrngnifioent help given him in his work in Egypt through the Rev. Canon Curzon-Siggers and Mr A. H. Fisher. Continuing, the speaker said he /would talk to the men when ho got them in Egypt; just no>w he wanted to speak to those who were remaining at home. Tile people at home were those who had to suffer anxiety. They would be, or were, wondering where their boy was, and how he was getting on. In the first place, ho wished to say that tho present was not tho time to criticise, no matter how different their opinions were from those in authority.—(Applause.). The Women's Association had given him a good text for a sermon, having told him its motto was to buckle on a man's armour on hie departure for tho front. After the man had gone there was only one thing to do, to trust in God and in the man's powder and tho sharpness of his bayonet. Proceeding, Chaplain-captain Bush-King put in a plea for the burdened records staff in Egypt. If they wanted information of their boys then let him write to him (the chaplaincaptain). In the Records Office in Alexandria they had a staff of officers and men whow ould not take time to have their meals. They bad their meals at their tables in their offioes, trying to get information in responee to the inquiries made. People must remember, also, that the cables could only work 24 hours a day and seven days in tho week, and if their anxiety caused them to be a little impatient he would ask them to put their trust in God and have a. little, more patience towards those working so hard for them at the other end of thecablee. —(Applause.) Reference was next made to work in' connection with the post office. The speaker said he had seen at one end of the trailding, which was about the size of the Early Settlers' Hall, a huge stack of mail matter that could not be delivered to anybody, tho consequence of names and addresses being torn off, or worn off, or inextricably mixed up with treacle and honey and what not. There they had another staff working seven days in the week and verv little snort of 24 hours in the day, striving to deliver mail matter. The speaker gave some amusing illustrations of the hopelessness of delivery for many articles sent, and proceeded to draw attention to the folly of grumbling, either on the part of the sender or tnp non-recipient, when such parcels were lost. He had given some thoughts and ideas about packing to one of the committees, and if anything went wrong if these were carried out then they must not blame the post office. He reminded his hearers of the existence of enemy guns, and particularly enemy submarines, and if parcels went to the 'botbomSof the sea what was the uee of blaming the post office? Hβ wanted to point out that there was a war on in the world. He was rather afraid that the people out in Now Zealand were comparatively safe, and did not realise that a war was in existence. It was a serious problem that we were up against in tho Mediterranean. If pooole knew how serious it was they would take it a little differently. There would be no carnivals; instead we would be bringing all our support to bear upon a most insidious enemy that had wound its way into the fibres of out national life for years past. The conditions fit the front wero conditions of warfare. If some lad managed to borrow the lid of a matchbox and scratch a few lines upon it, hand it to a chaplain, and so get a message to his home, let the parents of that lad be thankful. More patience was wanted than what was seen to-day. Speaking for the committee, he had some messages to the boya going away. They had come to have their armour buckled on, and when they got further and further from New Zealand their hearts would grow increasingly warm to the people who had given them that farewell. When they got as far as Egypt they would find that "their idea of New Zealand would be that it was a very remote country. It would seem a long way off, a little island at the bottom end of the world—<but_ it was home. It; was a home they were going out to fi<rht for and save from an enemy that would destroy that home. As they got nearer and nearer their "iob," and the firo trenches, their hearts would warm towards those who had sent them out. Thev would enter the trenches not in lust of blood. but with ideals of righteousness, truth, and integrity inspiring their souls, the right of nations, however small, to exist, and would feel that they were doing their part to protect their homos in distant New Zealand.

Chaplain-captain Bush-King called for cheers for the Women's Association, and theso were heartily given by the men of thi Tenth, and m response to tne Mayor's call for choers for the men, there was a scene of great enthusiasm. The proceedings closed shortly afterwords.