Farewell to the Soldiers

Horowhenua Chronicle, 21 August 1915, Page 2

Farewell to the Soldiers

I'IWM JJDKOWHE.UA UliSllliCJ

Levin gave its lirst public farewell to the is(jJdiera from this district leav'ng to reinforce liiuse at the lfuM, in tlio Town IJnil last evening. There were iiilceh ot the men present, and they arc to go iiitu camp ai Irontham on J.ues- ' day next lor training. l'iie function last night took tiie torin ol a social gathering and dance, and the great success which attended it, wa.s duu to the Levin Latlieo' Committee, wlio LuuJ". charge oi the whole arrange- "' munis some little time ajjo. There was a good- auendanee and everyone Had a most enjoyable time. I I iic proceedings opened with all i>'mgh ing the -National -lntheni, which wa.s ■, followed by a short musical program. i, to this Mr 1). 6. Mackenzie (song), Mrs e \\ . Hughes (soiifi, encored), Mr and ', -Uis \\. Hughes (duet, encored), Mivs IJ. It. Gardener (.song), Aliss D. GoldMiiith (isong, "Your King ami Country I Wants You") contributed. Miss Ijowcii - gave a recitation that was heartily encored. Mrs Hughes and Mrs -Nation were the accompanists. Uriel addret&es then wviv delivered ny iho Mayor. Mr D. b. MackeJizie and -Ui I' , . I'arker 1 iie JJayor said that tile entetLainiuent had been originated by the Levin i'alriutic iSocicty. and .siiecesslully carried out by the ladies' committee. I.he men they were bidding larewell to came lrom all parts ol the dis trie t- from i okoinaru to W'aikanae. lie lelt .sure that the,y would do honour to men , country. In a low months tiiuy would be taking part in the biggest war liio ■ world hudy ever neeu. He asked them while away to sumelunes pause and look back to those they had lelt behind. U here they were going they would meet temptation and he also asked them to thmk ol their mothers, and lie lelt sure that no one woulu succumb to temptation when, it came Jus way. They were going to light not lor the Dominion but lor the Umpire. He olten thought that people who were here shovelling money into their pockets lailed to realize wliat the war meant to us and to the Jiinpire, and he thought they .should think more serluiisly ol this yreat war. Many were unable to go to the from, but they could all help and siiould join that use lul body-—the National .Reserve-at last being recognised by- the Government. They had sent a groat number ol men to the Iroiit and probably would have to send a great number nioru. iie considered that ail able to go should do so. -No one in this country wanted lo light lor themselves—they , going away to light lor the Dominion and the Empire. He hoped that they all would return and that tliey would do their duty. He wished them oodfipeed and good luck (applause). Mr D. fc>. Mackenzie said it was a great honour to address those who were going to join that gallant band oi fighters already at the trout. lie thought that eligible men here did not properly realize what the men at the lfont had done. Many ol them, 'when the call to -arms came, throw all chances ol' aggrandisement to the winds and <<et an example to those at home (applause) They had gone out to lay down their Jive., for us, and we should be mindful of the .sacrifices they already had made. For men who were lit to go there were only two courses open—to be a lion at the front or stop at J«onie and be the opposite. He wished them good-bye and good luck, and may iortune favour the brave (applause). Mr l< , . Parker said it was a privilege for the young follows to go to the front. There were many ol thmts tinfit who would give yeans of their lives to get there. At first there was a sort of a glamour over the whole thing, but the realism of it had since been shown. and those who were leaving now, left to: , patriotic reasons alono. II the call came later on for other men to go he would go. He wished them a good voyage and a safe return. (Applause). After refreshments had been handed around-the hall was cleared for dancing and a large number of couples took part. Good music was played by Muss Pink (piano), Messrs W. Sloan (violin) and G. Lester (cornet), and ; Mre J. Wallace, Misses Sutherland and N. (Smith played extras. Mr l< , . \l. Pink was M.C.