THE SIXTHS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1915, Page 5

THE SIXTHS.

MAIICM TfIKOUGH WELLINGWWi '', By Telegraph.—Press Association," Wellington, Last Night. Custom is in no way diminishing the Interest displayed by Wellington people In Uie troops. Wlieu the men forming* (ho Sixth nuurohed' through the main street* on Saturday;' ' afternoon they were i-eoejved with hard-; If less enthusiasm by the crowd' of feople lining the ' thoroughfares than, was shown on the occasion of the march, big out of the initial expeditionary) * forces. The troops were of tibe aamq .. flue stamp as their predecessor*. Their; deportment on the march was excellent, and very tangible indications were giyJ •u of the discipline and training the* i lave gone through in camp. K WW 1 aoticeable that a large proportion of, ' sojßparatively young recruits are still! - coming forward, though they ( are now %eing loaveneti with sturdy men of, I middle age, suggestive of great power* of endurance, strength, and grit, thoaualitics likely to be of special Sptrvioft m stiffening the ran kg as a whalfc. The troops assembled in the vkinitJ! of Parliament House about 2.30 p.nj., v arid r,'ade a tour of the eity via Leffloton Siuay, Willis and Ingeetre Street*, and - ervoij Quay,. They were cheejed by thousands of onlookers along the e&tif* route. The mounted men came first, and formed a very considerable section of the brave display; the infatttiy fcj* lowed, with a fair percentage of engineers, ambulance, and army service men, The hope which springs eternal from the eye of the New Zealand soldier waa ' dominant in the atmosphere;; bright brave and determined countenances" strut friib - ly forward to inspiring strains sallied by three brass and two pipe bonds, Ths, v leave-takings were, on the whole, of •/• merry and light-hearted character.' ■ AI were sustained by the solid fouariatiol of patriotism' which has permeatad Ne\) Zealnndcrs ever since the needs of th« Umpire were declared, and altogether Saturday afternoon's proceeding* passed off in a most triumphant fashion'. Apart from the presentation of badge* to the nurses accompanying the forces, at the Parliamentary library, theee was au absence of ceremony. Portions of the footpath in front of the Government biialdiing9 were roscrved far JMinisters of. ;' the Crown and their lady friend*, ant"* .* thev were particularly well satisfied with tlic smart and healthy appoaranct of the troops. Towards the close ol ' the afternoon his Excellency the Cfover* " nor and the Minister of Defence mada 1 an inspection and found cverytMnj: to ;,' order, •■*!;'

PRESENTATION TO TBB NOB^E&

The presentation of badges to tke nursea was made ?i/ her Excellency, Lady Liverpool iu tw library at Pftrliii mcut House, the ■ gatlrering ifielding the Minister of Defence, the jwatej; of Health (Hon. G. W. Ruasejl), Blr. Joseph and Lady Ward, Hpn. fiir ftmncif Bell, Hon. A. L. Herdman, and tile Majr) or (Mr. J. P. Luke) : . Hon. O. WL Bq* sell explained that the nurses had tee? called together in order .that htt, Ex.cellency might present tiaem. witfc their; insignia of office, itud also ehocplates/, and books, which might eene t() whilej away the tedium of the voyage before; them. Air. Russell said he had to thank' Lady Liverpool for the kind' and intensvi ■sympathy she had expressed with the' women of New Zealand in of sorrow and distress. This yp»' the first epportunity her Excellency .had had of taking part in a fanctjon pi thl» kind, and he knew it had been a. jaattef •f deep regret t» her that at farewells she had been ninable 'to attend. To the Government and Parliament it was a' matter of pride -th*t the women of this country had talUjU ao. noble a part within the scope qi tiieir ability. Alreadv a large nunifer of nurses had gone to the front, a&d he liad received further offer* from mtXSts ef the ambulance sisterhoods, showing the practical sympathy of the nation in the great work for justice, liberty and freedom. Their wish was that God would he with the nurses, and iW,ess them and bring them Itack safely ty their friends and country. Hon. Jas. Allen remarket! tliatjtae assemblage of nurses was small in comparison with those who had received badges on former occasions. He desired especially to thank those nurses who had been rendering such valuable aid at Trcnthc.m. He recognised the faces of several who had gone thwugji a time i.f considerable trial there and had .rendered great service to «ick troopers. The object of their .present mission was net so "much to look after troops who were going away, »d they were making their departure healthy and strong, but to bring back the sick and wounded from Egypt or Malta, and hand them over in a convalescent stage oil their return to New Zealand. 'Still, they might he called upon to remain in Ejjypt. Thev belonged to the New Zealand Army Medical Corps, and had' tag obsv orders, no matter what was et» •pected of them. It might he that the) would he called upon to 'give relief. U those already at the front, and he knofl that whatever they were a.-.ked the} would do willingly! He wished them a pleasant voyage on their way tn Egvpt, and a happy landinsr. On the suggestion of Mr. Russell three cheers were given for the nurses and Lady Liverpool, and her "Excel loney thereupon made (he presentatioi of liadges cnul gifts.