AN EARLY MORNING SEND-OFF.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14142, 19 July 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

AN EARLY MORNING SEND-OFF.

GATHERING AT THE CHURCH STEPS.

Fiom "The Col mist," June 28.)

"The coldes*" morning this winter." was the unanimous reaark yesterday niormng. B^ioio tne sun rose the atmospiaere was keen and a heavy frost covered the ground. Notwithstanding the temptation to have another half houi under the bedclothes, a large

"crowd turned out shortly after seven o'clock to give tin. Nelson boys of the Eighteenth Reinforcements a warm and heaity send-off the enthusiasm equalling that shown at the departure of earlier quotas. The Tenitoiials, with the 12th Pegune-'jt aßnd, Cadets, and Jfation.sl Reserve, assembled in strong ioi-ce, and accompanied the departing volunteer soldiers to the. Church Steps and thence to Port Nelson. A ■number of returned soldiers, who were sccomit odated in motor cars, also took part, the procession making a brave show. Tho streets were thronged'with ■spectators, and. there was a large gathering-at the Church Steps, where speeches \tero made by the Bishop" of Nelson and the Mayor. . The Bishop, in bidding good-bye the rten who were "leaving for Tren-jj ■tham in order to fit themselves for] foreign service," said that within the last few months the venue had changed from Egypt and Gallipoli, -and our men were now face to face with the arch enemy in Europe. Whatever might. be the destination of the Eighteenth Reinforcements, if the war continued until their arrival, the people night rest assured that they would acquit themselves' in the same heroic manner as those, who had gone before them. They were doing a service to the Empire, and to the cause -of humanity, and were in a small measure going to help to bring about a. great result—peace to the nations and prosperity to all mankind. He congratulated Sergeant Barlow on his return, and on the distinguished position he had attained. He was sure that there were men in the Eighteenths and in that great gathering who were prepar- i ed to do wjiat Sergeant Barlow had' done, and were prepared if necessary to give their lives for, the Empire. He congratulated tie men upon their selection, and trusted that they would uphold the honour of the cause. He urged' their to remember that they represented the people of Nelson, and that they would do nothing the people would be ashamed of, and the. people would do "nothing that they would be ashamed of. (Hear, hear.) He hoped that in. Nelson there would never be necessity for the compulsory clauses of the Defence Act to be enforced, and that the men going forward would keep themselves pure in body and soul; Never, continued the Bishop, in the history of the war has the outlook : looked so hopeful. Of course the Allies would have their defeats, but he believed they were now passing on the tide towards victory. Let us, he concluded, try to do our duty under the blessing of the living God1. (Applause.)

The Mayor (Mr. C. J. Harley), on behalf of the citizens, thanked the men forming the quota for their patriotism in volunteering for service. In that respect it was pleasing to know that so far the compulsory law had not heen enforced; They were not going to the blazing sands of Egypt, or to sunbaked Gallipoli, but to the smiling land of France, where they would be amongst the picked soldiers of the Allied armies. He felt that they would behave in the saire gallant fashion as the other New Zealanders had done in the various battlefields. He recognised the sacrifices they were making in giving up good positions and friends, and leaving their homes and those near and' dear, to them, but it was all for the benefit of those left behind, and they were deserving of their heartfelt thanks. He hoped- the war would be ended when they reached France, and they would be in- time to take part in the celebration of a glortV ous peace.. He then presented Sergeant Barlow with the Distinguished Conduct Merkl, Us reported elsewhere, and cheers having been given for the distifigiiislicVl soldisr, further cheers were given for fciie men who were leaving for the front. ~ The procession then re-formed and proceeded'to tfio Port, accompanied by a large crowd. As the Pateena moved from the Avharf throe hearty cheers were given for the departing soldiers at the call of Mr. T. A. H. Field, Ai.l-\, and these were heartily responded to by the men.