THE EIGHTEENTHS.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7740, 24 June 1916, Page 3

THE EIGHTEENTHS.

FAREWELL TO WAIPAWA RECRUITS. There was not as large an attendance at the farewell to the Recruits of the Eighteenth Reinforcements last evening as there should have been. It is to be regretted that public interest in these functions appears to he on the wane, because it cannot he too strongly emphasised that the boys who are leaving with each succeeding draft are going to fight the battles of the people, to help in upholding the honor of the glorious Empire to which we belong, and the least that the stay-at-homes can do is to give them a cheering send-off. Mr G. Hunt, Deputy Mayor, presided in the unavoidable absence of the Mayor, who was detained in Wellington, and after a few introductory remarks he asked the Mayoress to present the Ladies’ Patriotic Committee’s gifts to the boys. Mrs Limbrick then handed Messrs F. Ferguson and Meadows, and Privates Limpus and Verran (who are home on final leave) a wristlet watch each, and extended to the recipients the good wishes of the committee. Each of the hoys was accorded a hearty cheer. Mr A. E. Jull then briefly addressed Ihe gathering. IL* said that the way in which flic youth of the. country was responding to the (Tall showed that New Zealand was more than ever determined to see this thing through and keep up the supply of reinforcements. Recent cable messages indicated that big events were pending in all flic theatres of war, and everyone would hope that they would have the effect of bringing the end of the war appreciably nearer. Since they had met for a similar function a month ago flic Empire had sustained a severe ■ blow in the death of Lord Kitchener. Severe as the blow was, if it had occurred twelve or eighteen months ago it would have been a calamity, hut fortunately Lord Kitchener had been able to complete his marvellous work of organising the British army into a fighting force which would make its name ring down the ages for its valor. The past month had also seen the greatest naval fight in the history of fhe world, in which the British navy had covered itself with glory and only just missed completely smashing up (lie enemy fleet. We in New Zealand were free from the ravages of war, unable to realise that the greatest war of the ages was in progress, therefore we ought to give of our best to assist in maintaining the glorious traditions of the Empire. The men who were going away did not need lecturing, or to he told to he good hoys. They realised their responsibility and were imbued with the spirit of Gallipoli. In conclusion Mr Jull asked the audience to give three ringing cheers for the two recruits and the two men on final leave, a call which found a vigorous response. The remainder of the evening was devoted to dancing, J;o excellent music contributed by Miss O’Reilly (piano), Mr W. J. Pellow (violin), and Mr J. Maher (cornet). Mr T. W. Wills efficiently controlled the dancing. Prior to the social the Municipal Band played a number of selections outside the theatre. A Press Association message states Unit Judge Cooper this afternoon received advice that Ids son, a captain in the Flying Corps, had been killed.