DEPARTURE OF NORTHERN SECTION.

Wanganui Chronicle, 3 February 1902, Page 2

DEPARTURE OF NORTHERN SECTION.

AN ENTHUSIASTIC SEND-OFF

AUCKLAND, February 1

Tiie final departure of the Northern section of the Eighth Contingent from New Zealand took place this afternoon, amid a great display of patriotic enthusiasm. The people of Auckland turned out in great numbers to give our boys a hearty farewell, many coming in from the country districts for the occasion.

The weather was fine, though rather hot, and everything passed off without any hituh or unpleasantness of any kind.

The troopship Surrey berthed at the Railway Wharf early in the morning. After breakfast the men were set free to see their friends and look around the city till noon, when they lunched on the troopship. I'hev then marched to Government Housu grounds, being heartily cheered along the route, and the city being gaily decorated with bunting. On arrival at the grounds they were entertained by the Mayor (Mr A. Kidd), and at about three o'clock they fell into line once more for the official farewell ceremony, an enormous crowd being present. i •'* The Mayor opened the proceedings with ;i short patriotic speech, which was well received.

The Premier was the next speaker, being accorded a splendid hearing. He declared, amid great applause, that though there might be some jealous feelings between Auckland and Wellington on some matters, there could be no doubt that they were unanimous on matters affeetino- the welfare of tlio Empire, and as regards the despatch of troops to. South Africa. 'The Eighth ContidsUJtit was now <r O ing, i'lid the Ninth was to follow, and after the despatch of Hie Mnili the equipment of a Tenth would 1)6 commenced, though he. hoped it. would not be mreHsary to send it. It w;i* mik hv pouring in troops that. tin-, war .cukl "n".'brouifht lit ;t, dose. Auckland a?'<.nf Jud been a military centre of the colony, ami

ihe present generation was as ready to serve the Empire as their fathers had been. General Babington was next called upon. He said that no contingent could have been despatched under more favourable auspices. It was commanded by officers the worthiness of some of whom he himself knew, and the men had only to follow the example of their comrades who had gone before them; General Babington's speech was heartily cheered.

Colonel Davies said a. few words, thanking the other speakers for their kind remarks. He said he never had any trouble ■with New Zealanders when fighting was on, but they should pay more attention to discipline ; men .without discipline were not soldiers, but a rabble.

The contingent was then marched oft' to the troopship amid great cheering, the crowd fallowing them, to the wharf. Here the general puttie were barred off, but eventually the barriers were thrown down, and the police and Volunteers found it impossible to keep the crowd back. They, however, behaved themselves admirably, and nothing in the shape of accident occurred.

After the final leave-takings, the Surrey moved off amid cheer after cheer from the wharf, answered from the ship ; and one man, who deferred his leave-taking'till after the gangway had been removed, caused some amusement by leaping'into the water with all his clothes on, including hat and boots, and coolly swimming ashore. l'he scene in the harbour as the Surrey stf nned away was one long to be remembeved. It was a perfect Auckland day, and the water was alive with steamers, rowing bonrs of all soi*ts and sizes, and1 most conspicuous of all was the magnificent display of white-sailed yachts'. Such a sight could be seen in no other centre1 in-.the colony, land not often in Auckland itself.' :

In this way was the Eighth Contingent escorted around the Heads, and thus was terminated one of the most successful functions of the kind ever witnessed in Auckland. •