EIGHTEENTH REINFORCEMENTS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 148, 26 June 1916, Page 4

EIGHTEENTH REINFORCEMENTS.

On Saturday evening a dance was held by the Patriotic Committee, at the Town Hall, for the purpose of farewelling the Taihape quota of the 18th Reinforcements. There was a very large attendance, dancing being indulged in till midnight, and the evening proving most enjoyable. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. A. L. Arrowsmith) s aid that once again the people were gathered together to wish a quota farewell and a safe return. It was not only on the battlefield that death came, and he would like to express his regret and the regret of the district at the accident which had occurred near Feilding, when the father and mother of a well-known family had been cut off without notice. Still, although anyone was likely to be cut off suddenly, the men who faced the battlefield ran the greatest risk. The men who were now going knew what they had to face, and were deserving of the greatest credit. They had come forward voluntarily to face not only the bullet but the hardships and privations; not only the wounds, but also the sickness which the hard life brought. They were risking everything, and would put us in their debt, and he was quite certain that the name which all the colonial troops had gained would be worthily upheld by the 18th Reinforcements. Taihape and district had during the past twelve months sent over 500 men, and if all the other districts in New Zealand responded as well there would be no need to enforce the clauses of the Compulsory Bill now being considered. Turning to the recruits, the Mayor said: "I want to wish you all a safe return, and I hope you will come through safe and sound." (Applause.) Cheers were then given for the men.

Included in the quota wore eight men from the Egmont Box Company's mill, and Mr. W. T. Ashton, in bidding farewell to the men, stated that 64 men had so far gone from the works. Taihape had in reality sent forward more than 500 men, as many who lived "and worked in the district had volunteered when away on holiday.

The speaker also paid tribute to the sacrifices of and the work being done by the women of New Zealand in connection with the war (Applause.) The men left for Palmerston North by the 6 o'clock train this morning, Staff Sergeant-Major Tuckey being in charge. The following are the names of the men who answered the rollcall:—J. McCullough, A. J. Cater, V. Egan, D. R. Evans. |W. B. Gilchrist, H. H. Henderson. P. Jackson, E. Jowett, J. Rafter, A. Revell, jW. Shewan, J. J. S. Thomasen, ,W. R. Thomasen, R. S. Wilson. W. E. Headifin, E. (Waller, A. Hart.