NINTH CONTINGENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 363, 13 March 1902, Page 2

NINTH CONTINGENT.

(Per Press Association). DUNEDIN, last night. ilie xeml-oIT to the Ninth Contingent was a great success. The weather was .eautifuiiy fine. The day was obser■eaas a close holiday. The city was every where gay with bunting. While ihe crowd was not so great as on the occasion of the Fourth leaving it was sull very large. The Contingent pat a tied at SI.-id, and, without fuss,.'Hatched to Tahuna Park. The baggage had been sent previously. The men hoarded the Irani, and were conveyed to Anderson's If ay crossing where they alighted. Headed by the Garrison Band, and escorted by the Hussars, the battalion inarched through the cheering crowds—the route was lined by volunteers—to the Agricultural Hall, which was daintily decorated. All sat down to a capital luncheon, the public occupying the gallery in large numbers. Grace was said by the Rev. J. Gibb, Moderator of the Presbyterian Assembly. The Mayor's call to sing “ God Save the King,” having been heartily responded to, the Mayor, on behalf of the citizens of Dunedin, bade farcvcll to the men. He announced that .wo pianos had been arranged for. The Premier followed. He said his feelings were like those of a falher whose sons were about to leave him for a long voyage. He wished the officers and men to have every .ontidence, and to feel they had the best thanks of the great colony hr the action taken. The colony had ent to the front 5100 officers and mn. To equal this a city like Glasgov would require to send five or six tloustnd, Canada 35,000 ; Australia 24,J00 ;and tiie United Kingdom 270,0(0. He urged tiie officers in command to use the soundest- judgment, and see we. to tiie scouts. Counting the cost tethe colony of sending contingents it wuld reach half a million, winch was Irne .•cheerfully. After giving some fuJier advice, the Premier announced hat Captain Jackson had been profited to he major. That gentleman Iso spoke, and said that he could givdiis word that he would look afterthe men as if they were his own Bishop Neville having offered peer, the men were entrained, amidst iciferous cheering. Port Chalmers was gaily decoted and looked at its best. Crded trains discharged masses of humtiy, Flie -streets were soon crowded,md every point of vantage occupted.'olunteers lined the route of nch s Everything passed off most su-ss-fnlly, but there was far too .tie space about the wharves for the ass of humanity. The Contingent having been ova lii in close order in Custom lise Square, Mr John Mill, Mayor ofirt Chalmers, on behalf of the resids* wished the men God-speed and aife rcturm : 't he Premier, who was received th applause, again gave a someat lengthy address. Having read rewell telegrams from various plache referred to the Methuen disaste.An exchange, he said, had been sugged. L.et them, he added, keep lYreen, arid we would keep their generals he jubilation of Parisian papers, anche

cheering in Berlin showed the Jnt. enmity and distrust of Great Brins They knew me Emperor of Gemy, was fnendly, and they must trustati ' the great bulk of the people were;o„ and that it was only the few ho ■were so umieighborly as to gloatnd deer over this slight mishap, ar was war, and he thought it wasne Lord Kitchener was given a free id.. New Zealand was sending awats Ninth Contingent, but the enthusm was as great as with the First, ve thousand ottered when only one tlsand were wanted. That showed it this colony, only equal in populart to Glasgow, recognised Hie gravitol Hie situation, and tiiat tne pde were prepared to make sacrifices, fe ooncludectby hy urging the men toe a credit to their parents, and ae buck loaded with honor. The n, he said, went from us with our lids mil, and we wished them God-ed and a safe return. The band played “ Rule Britan:,”and .Sir J. G. Ward gave a brief.ddress, and wished the men God-sal. He said he felt sure their doings wld add to the lustre of every other nt cogent.

He was followed by Mr E. G. Ah, M.H.R., and General Babington. le latter said that on the grave of ir Henry Lawrence was the epitaph, te fried to do his duty.” It was in le power of every man m the Ninth Citmgent to deserve such an epita, since it was the reward of merit d nothing else. He wished the men ;e best of success, and trusted it wed he their good fortune to meet the lfoer leaders who they had lied about. He wished them good Jk end a speedy and safe return. On the Premier’s call three heay cheers were given for Major Jackm and his men, and then three cheers >r the Premier, who, in responding, sd that the people must not be surpri.d if a Tenth Contingent were sent o iiring back the .Seventh, Eighth, id Ninth. This was received wit cheers. f The'speeches, were interspersed wli patriotic music hy the hands. 'j.e men were dismissed for half an her to hid farewell to relatives and frietts present. This over, the men embared on the Kent, and promptly, at 3.0 she east off, and took tier departur, amidst enthusiastic cheering, being eeorted to tiie heads by quite a flotiU 'J small craft. The total number enrolled was 5D .nen for the Ninth, and 16 as reinforce ’tents for the .Seventh, and the horse aken number 560.

Captain U Brien, in command of tie North Island section, wired: “Tie officers and men of the North Islaid Battalion send best wishes for the voyaje of their Southern comrades of the Ninth” The Mayors of Kaiapoi and Ashburtui also sent farewell greetings.