REINFORCEMENTS.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7739, 22 June 1916, Page 3

REINFORCEMENTS.

WAIPUKURAU .MEN FAREWELLED. (Owii Correspondent). The men of the Eighteenth Reinforcements who leave on Monday for camp were the guests on Wednesday evening at a farewell social and dance in their honor arranged by the Patriotic Entertainment Committee. The affair was in every way successful, and was also largely patronised by the public. The proceedings started with the singing of the National Anthem. Dancing was then commenced and continued, interspersed with songs by Miss Bogle, till midnight. The kits were presented by the Mayoress, Mrs J. Winlove, applause greeting the men as they stepped on to the stage to receive the packages. The Mayor addressed the men, and in his remarks referred to the recent naval fight, in which the men of the British Navy had shown that the confidence in them was not misplaced, and that they had upheld the prestige and tradition of the British race by thoroughly defeating the enemy, who in the overshadowing darkness had turned tail and decamped, much to the regret of our fleet, who were thus prevented from completely smashing them. He also referred to the loss sustained by the death of Lord Kitchener, who was a great soldier as well as a man. He impressed upon the young men now leaving to help in the great fight, to follow in Kitchener’s footsteps as far as possible, and in doing that they would show the spirit required of them. The speaker also read part of the contents of a letter received from a Waipukurau boy, Bower Grosvenor, now corporal, at the front. He told of the great meeting between a number of other Waipukurau boys in France, and the many curious and amusing incidents that had occurred when trying to talk and make their wants known to the French people, who one and all had shown them every kindness. NO SHIRKERS.

Mr Chambers was the next speaker. In his remarks he referred to the large number of young men who had gone from Waipukurau and district. There were, he said, no shirkers to be found in Waipukurau. He referred to the great fight now going on. The war, he thought, would tako a long time yet to finish. More men would be wanted, and even lie along with others might yet be called upon to do their bit.

Sergt.-Major Olney said he was pleased to say that Waipukurau, as the last speaker stated, had done its part well in regard to recruits. It was very noticeable when he arrived first that there were no young men eligible for service, or very few at least, to be seen on the streets. One thing that struck him was the number of old young men about. They would come in and put their ages down as forty-five, and some in filling up their forms, he could not help noticing, had sons now at the front whose ages were thirty-five. In regard to himself he had been soldiering now for 17 years, and if he were born again to-morrow he would again put on the uniform of the King. In regard to the men leaving on Monday he wished them to understand that as soon as they board the train they are under military dis- . cipline. He advised them to obey the orders of the officer appointed to lead J them, do their duty in camp and on * active service as men, and whatever they do always honor and never dis- ! grace the uniform they wear. They ; would return to Waipukurau with honors, and he wished them “God speed. ’ ’ f Mr C. Saunders said the people could not do enough for the young men at the front. We were all giving as far as possible, yet he would say keep on giving and working. The Red Cross League of workers had done good service. They were a band of loyal workers and had been so .throughout, but more work for the men was required in comforts, etc. He would ask one and all of the ladies who could spare the time to join these workers. Another thing he had noticed lately was the decrease in the number of men when escorting the recruits to the station. This should not be. There ought to be an increase instead of a decrease. (Applause). It, was not the time for half doing things. Better rather that they should be overdone. This would counteract any pessimism that might be prevalent. In regard to stories that the men at the front were not receiving the gifts sent, he had had a letter from his son, who had been in the hospital at Cairo, and he could assure donors by what was said in the letter that the comforts and gifts forwarded had been* received and handed out. One thing the letter stated was that only New Zealand gifts had been received at that hospital. There had been no Australian gifts, hut. all shared alike. Mr J. Bailey supplied the music for the dance. LATEST RECRUITS. The Waipukurau sub-area latest recruiting return is as follows: D. Cook, Waipukurau. W. J. Smale, Waipukurau. T. E. Johnston, Waipukurau. C. Green, Waipukurau. J. Sathcrly, Waipukurau. F. Gore, Waipukurau. C. Godby, Waipukurau. F. Furmingen, Waipukurau. A. E. Clark, Otane. J. Opper, Oruawharo, Takapau. AY. Carson, AVaipawa. D. Griffin, AVaipawa. C. Dorrogh, WhetUkura. A. Reeves, Onga Onga. J. McMillan, Otane. E. Mullany, Otane. 11. Pra t ley, Petone. C. Ashby, Elsthorpe. 1). E. Campbell, Waipukurau. D. AValdon, Waipukurau. 1). L. Day, Waipukurau. W. Thompson, South Makaretu.