THE SECOND FIFTEENTHS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2837, 31 July 1916, Page 8

THE SECOND FIFTEENTHS

PARADE THROUGH THE CITY. There was an encouraging whisper of spring in tho sunshiny air of Saturday afternodh, when the second division of the .Fifteenth Reinforcements paraded through the crowded streets .of Wellington,, and were given a very hearty reception. Promptly at 3 p.m. the head of tho column emerged from Bunny Stroet on to Lambton Quay, there to receive a splendid greeting from an immense crowd of spectators. At tho saluting basewere Brigadier-General Sir Alfred Robin, the Prime Minister,; the. Minister of Defence, and other members of the Cabinet, and a largo number' of the members of both Houses, which .bad adjourned for three-quarters of an hour to witness tho parade. As the first division of the "Fifteenths" were led through the streets by "the little cobbler of Feathcrston," the established mascot of the Reinforcement; it was only .fitting that tho second half should be similarly honoured, so tho loyal little man, with hack and legs as straight as any man's in the column, strode at its head,.with his tiny red ensign, and was cheered to the echo. After the mascot ' came, tho Reinforcement's Band, then Lieut-Colonel H. E. Pilkington, tho commander of the Reinforcement, marching on foot (though there were a few mounted men in the column). The order of the parade was as follows:— Mounted Rifles Field Artillery Brigado Engineers Signal Company Infantry—B, E, H, and J. Companies Maori Details Divisional Medical Corps Divisional Veterinary Corps ' Army Service Corps The assisting bands were tho two camp bands, the Fifth Regiment Band, the Trumpet Band from Featherston, and the drummers of the Fifth Regiment.

The Maori squad, who. wore shorts, were a particularly fine lot of young fellows, ami were given a rousing welcome. Here and there along, tho routo could be heard the characteristic wail from Native relative? following (ho column, but it did not seo'm to affect the buoyant spirits of the Maoris. Young ladies with plontiful supplies of wattle blossom and violets were early on the scene, and before the column reached Lambton Quay every man was liberally bedecked with those happily contrasted heralds of spring. In a message to Lieutenant-Colonel H. E. Pilkington. O.C. Fifteenth Reinforcements, the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) stated:—"Your arrival among us was in connection with military duties in-.peace time, and I am pleased to testify that it is the opinion of this community'that the work you carried out prior to the declaration of war aided the Now Zealand Forces to quickly mobilise and cooperato with the other forces of our Empire in the ureal struggle in which she and her Allies are engaged: I am sure that you «ind all ranks in your reinforcement will bo a considerable factor in continuing the struggle until victory has been obtained, and liberty and justice shall be the heritage of all peonle. The noblo sacrifices made by the New Zealanders will be emulated by your own contingent and others, testifying to tho firm resolve that New Zealand shall bo identified in the orogress and happiness of the Empire."