Departure of the Sixth Contingent.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue VI, 9 February 1901, Page 260

Departure of the Sixth Contingent.

“The finest set of men we have yet sent away; the finest set it would be possible to send.” Such was the unanimous verdict on the gallant lads of the Sixth Contingent, who left our shores on Wednesday, amid a scene of sueh impressiveness that it must remain forever and indelibly stamped on the memories of all who took part therein. To say they are “the best” is high praise indeed, for all have been good, but it is not hastily or without reason that we have so pronounced them. We saw them as they were drafted into camp in the rough,

we noticed what strapping big fellows they were, we remarked the clean limbs, the clear eye, and a score of evidences of perfect health and splendid physique, and we felt assured that if something special could not be turned out of such splendid raw material, “the mischief must be in it.” Again, after only a few days, long before there was any attempt at uniform—not even a jersey or a cap—we saw them, and, when we noticed the extraordinary rapidity and smartness with which the drill was being picked up, and how the soldierly look had already settled down upon them like a garment, we felt prouder than ever, and murmured

"better." while at last, when with smart kits and splendid horses, we

saw them at the proclamation of King Edward, we swung our hats in the air in enthusiastic applause, and pronounced our verdict that they are the best and likeliest set of fellows we have yet given to the help of the great Mother Country. And, we all feel confident, in fact we know, that it will not be only a matter of looks.

“The Sixth” will do as their forerunners have done, and win golden opinions wherever they go. Their deeds, like those of the previous contingents, will arouse admiration of their generals, and the praise they will earn will still further add to the honour of the colony they represent. Now, as to the departure. The sad event which has cast the Empire into mourning made it impossible that the

contingent should be honoured with sueh a send-off as the citizens of the northern capital deemed fitting. The banquet, the singing, the decorations, all that had been arranged with such care by the active Demonstration Committee had to be abandoned, and a ceremonial which would, we believe, have excelled anything heretofore seen in Auckland, was fated never to eventuate. What the send-off would have been but for the death of our late lamented and most gracious Queen, one can but conjecture, but that it would have equalled, if it did not excel, anything of the sort either in this colony or in Australia, cannot be doubted. And, as though to show the departing troopers what would have been done, had not the finger of Death been upon the nation. Auckland citizens turned out thousands upon thousands strong to do such honour as still lay in their power. All morning the Domain was visited by those who could steal away from their daily avocations, and the utmost interest was taken in the preparations for departure. The scene was extraordinarily busy and animated, and though here and there one saw little incidents which reminded one of the tragic partings, and which brought a lump to the throat, though there were sad peeps behind the scenes, the general effect was one of extraordinarily high spirits and jollity. Verily, “ racing, a dance, or a fight,” as the old song has it, are beloved of the Colonial Britisher just as much as the old stock. And here were the boys off for at least two of the national pleasures—a race after the Boers, and many a fight thrown in. Soon after two the crowds begin to assemble near the Drill Shed. Not singly come they, but in battalions, thousand followed thousand, men, women, and children, till one wonders where they all come from, and if anyone is left at home at all. It is a long wait, but all are good tempered and enthusiastic. At last they come, first the Southern men—a splendid set—then the Mayor’s and other carriages, and then the Aucklanders —the biggest

, ,Fe staunchest of them all, claim * n ;’ Northerners. Cheer after cheer i the air and then there is silence Ne Mayor, the Minister of Ju. tte an d others address the men. With he'speeehes we need not concern our- . J They were not of particular moment Nor can the march down nt"reet to the wharf be adequate , v described. It was a triumphal proL and though the flags hung sadly half-mast, and tokens of mourning ■' ere seen on every side, everyone just for the time forgot the “?J™" , s . and threw themselves with all the arc! our compatible with the official regulations into giving the departing men a warm it nor brilliant, send-off. The order of march had been altered from rhe standing formation at the Drill Shed and the Aucklanders occupied throughout the march the pride of nl-tee and marched at the head of he procession. The crowd, gathering volume at each side artery, poured down the street, and at last swung into Quav-street twenty or thtrty thousand strong, and after accompanying the troops to the barriers, scattered over the other wharves, the foreshore, and the Princes-strect reserve, till every point of vantage was black with people. The lot of those who had been presented tickets for the wharf was indeed adventurous. The crush was inconceivable. Imagine all the football scrummages of the reign combined into one huge melee and you may gain some conception of the trials and tribulations of those who after buffetting and squeezings innumerable at length found themselves inside the jealously guarded barricade, outside of which groan? d and growled the disappointed. The men who had been left on board on duty greeted their returning comrades with" a resonant cheer, and as the crowd swarmed aboard the ship looked like some gigantic human hive. Here, there and everywhere swarmed the troopers, till the entire front of the great troopship was a living mass of khaki clad figures. On the wharf the railway trucks were speedily rushed, and the babel of shouts, of song, and of laughter, and, alas! of weeping was deafening. Everyone talked or shouted messages at once. Cheers for the King, for Auckland, for the different drill instructors, divided attention with scraps of songs and fragments of “Auld Lang Syne.’’ It was a memorable sight on a memorable occasion. The excitement was at its intensest, the laughter at its loudest when the the great vessel began to move. There was a second's pause, and then both from the steamer and from the shore burst forth one final cheer which eclipsed ail former efforts. Slowly the leviathan glided by and those w ho saw her with her mass of youth and strength waving and cheering in solid phalanx and were unmoved by the sight must have been queer creatures indeed. Slowdy she turned, slowly made her way down the harbour, in the falling evening, bearing with her many loving hearts, countless loving thoughts, and the good wishes and earnest prayers of every one of us.