THIRTY-FOURTH REINFORCEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17112, 18 September 1917, Page 2

THIRTY-FOURTH REINFORCEMENTS.

FAREWELL SOCIAL. A largo nnmbor of tlio iniorceniftiits that will bo leaving for Trcnthaai tliis morning attended tko fareiri'cll Bocial tendered to tliem* last night in tho ' Karly Settlers' Hall by tlio ladios o£ vho Otago and SoutUand Womca's Patriotin Association. The appeamneo of tho eticji indicatotl tha-fc they would well maintain the reiiutation already won by liiose who havo made tho Now Zcalaml soldiers famons as valiant and oleai fightors. A pleasant hour was spent at tine card tables and lifttening to good muse provided by Mrs •Hughcs's orchestra. Amongst tlioso prcGcnt woro men from tlio hospitai ship Mairama. Mr Gcorgo Fenwiek, prefaced his address to tho men by reading , several telegrams, JLrst was from the Prime Ministor (the Hon. W. l< 1 . Massey), who expreased regret at the inability of Mrs Masscy and himseif to bo prcscTii, .ind oontintied: "Wo wisa ono and all tlio l>est of luck and a. safe return to New Zealand after doing their duty ni tho front." Sir Jas. Allen (Minister of Defence) telegraphed as follows: "Kindly I convey to tlio men my good wishes, and J &ay that I hop© they will enter upon, their military daties with enthusiasm, and a. dotermination to uphold tho honour of Otago aiid tho dominion, both on and off the field of battle." Tho Mayor (Mr J. J. dark) telegraphing from Christohurch, said ho was confident tho men of tlio Thirty-fourth Reinforcements Would worthily uphold the prestige of thoso who had already gooo to tho battle-front, and woaid win new laurels for tho dominion. Tliey wonld carry with them the heartfelt good wishes of Dunedin, and ths citizens would look forward to welcome them back as viotorious heroes. Continuing, Mr Fenwiek said there was someone else ho would like to refer to by way of remembrance—that was their odd frisnd, tho old friend of the soldier boys— Miss May Stewart, who was president of tho Otago Women's Patriotic Association, and who, he knew from a letter just receiired, -was remembering in her absence tho lads of the Thirty-fourth Reinforcements. Mr Fenwiek proceeded to say that in the absence of tho 'Mayor ho had been asked to tell the men of , the Thirty-fourth Contin gent that tho people of Dunedin thought it would be wrong to allow them to leave ■without an expression of their appreciation. In tho early days of the war there had perhaps been a degree of effervescent enthusiasm shown. Then, they were thinking that tho war would coma to a rapid conclusion, but that opinion waa changed when Lord Kitchener expressed tho belief that it v.'oold last for three years. As tho war waa still being carried on, it was necessary for them in this part of the Empire to send farther .reinforcements, and in that direction' New Zealand had to do its share to help to bring hostilities to a successful close. They must not, however, forget that they were still engaged in a very desperaie struggle, _ and all would recognise that tho men takurg part in that contest deserved the best at tho hands of tho people of Dunadin, and on their behalf he extended to tho men of the Thirty-fourth Reinforcements the heartiest acknowledgment of the work they had undertaken. He knew that the men would render a good account of themselves, but ho did not wish, as had sometimes been tho case, to exalt them above the men in the regular army of Great Britain, for they, too, had dono their duty so nobly that there were no greater heroes on the battlefield than tho men in the British array. —(Applause.) Mr Fenwick, In conolosion, referred to the splendid work done by the Canadians at tho front, where they showed that they were men of true metal. Ho was sure the men of the Thirtyfourth Reinforcements would do their duty, and he hoped they would return, to New Zealand to enjoy tho honours they would win.—(Loud applause.) A dance at the closo of the evening , kept up tho pleasure till a late hour.