MILITARY PARADE AT AUCKLAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16610, 5 February 1916, Page 8

MILITARY PARADE AT AUCKLAND.

■ -I 1.^.".—■ ■■■> FAREWELL TO SOLDIERS. SPEECHES BY PUBLIC MEN. (Pw» Übit*d Pbssr Association* AUCKLAND, February 4. The finest military spectacle which. has been seen in Auckland since the departure of the Main Expeditionary Force was witnessed this afternoon, when the 4th Battalion of the New Zealand llilie Brigade, the 3rd Maori Contingent, and two sections i of the Now Zealand liillo Brigade Ambulance paraded, through the city. 'It had t been intended that the iiarado should be followed by an inspection at the Domain , Crioket Ground by his Excellency the Governor, but owing to the lioavy rain which set in during the night, the authorities decided that the inspection and valedictory speeches should take place under cover of the sheds on the Queen's wharf. Thousands lined the streets as the men inarched through. The most conspicuous in their ranks were the Maori Contingent, with fixed bayonets, the fine physique of the 1 men being oommented upon on all sides. The troops were heartily cheered all along the route. When the troops were addressed at the wharf, thero was a distinguished gathering . present, including the Governor and the Countess of Liverpool, the Prime Minister and Mrs Massey, the Hon. Jas. Allen. Hon. 1 A. M. Myers, Hon. Dr Poniare, and Hon. 1 F. W. Lang. In the course of his speech, the Governor ! said to the Native Contingent: "You are ■ going to take your place among your privileged brethren, and among all the members ! ' of the races of "which this Empire is made 1 up. To all the Natives, to all our riflemen, and to the Ambulance contingent, at- • taohed to the contingent," he added, "I > wish God speed." His Excellency knew they would do well. They had a great i name to uphold, and he knew they would > uphold it. - The Prime Minister delivered a stirring ■ address: "We trust you will do as -well as . the men already at the front," ho said. "It is a splendid thing to see members of , the Native race coming forward with other soldiers of the Empire under the grand 1 old flag under which we live." The fact , that tens of thousands of New Zeabuid soldiers had already gone to the front, and 3 the fact that thousands more were willing , to follow their example, proved the determination of the dominion to do everything l it possibly could to assist the Empire. Speaking more particularly to the citizens, 5 f.lr Mil'sey said that itt:fcundod rumours lad done a tremendous amount of mischief. , They could deal with the enemy first, and they could deal with their domestic diffieul--3 ties in the way they had been accustomed . to, and which he thought was the right . and proper way. Ho wished the soldiers , God-speed. Speeches were also delivered by the Hons. 3 Messrs Allen, M >-:rs, ard Pomare, and the Mayor of Auek'.-i-id