MAORI REINFORCEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1915, Page 4

MAORI REINFORCEMENTS.

(FAREWELLED AT AUCKLAND. By Telegraph.-Press Association, Auckland, Last Night. Three (hundred and thirty sturd* Maori soldiers this morning left the Narrow Neck Camp at Devonport, where they have undergone their training aa the fired reinforcements to the NewZealand Maori Contingent, to receive their public farewell from the people of Devonport and Auckland, prior to their, depature for Wellington. At the Devonport wharf they were farcwelled, on behalf of the residents, by the Mayor (Mr. A. It Pickford), and titer arriving in the city they proceeded along Queen Street to the Grey Statue, where they were given a hearty send-off by the ■Mayor of Auckland (Mr. 3. H. Gunson), several members of (Parliament, and! .Lieut.-Col. J. E. Hume, Officer Commanding the Auckland Mflittry District. There was a large attendance of th* public. (One strikingly interesting feature of the farewell was the presence of a party of Rotorua natives, to give an old-time henediction to the warriors, Sixteen women from Rotorua, led by die well- . known guide Bella, a sister of Maggie ftipaloira, welcomed the departing warriors tn true native fashion. Then the .floktusm performed a numher of hakes, t9tesnezsed with speeches. Shortlji after I oVsto* fte troops marched down to tie station, tn dhwrge of Captain Pee* cook. i The ftims Minister telegraphed m gretting that, in the extreme pressure of Parliamentary business, it was impose sible for him to be present. Other; apologias tat absence were received from the Hon. W. P. Lang (Speaker of thsj House <at Bepresentatires), Eons. W. B< Harries, !AL If. Myers, W. D. S. Maw donald, and «w*ral other members o» Parliament, ' i In fast speech, the Mayor lemuided the; men that they came of a fighting race, and that the ftakfeha well remembered the fighting cpjaußes of their warrior forefather*. The blood of ancient chivahy Sowed in flbelr veins, and tie heroic and noble deeds of their fore, father* would inspire them. The Mayor observed that he regarded it as a good omen that the farewell was being extended to tbem under the shade of the statue of that great soldier and statesman, Su- George Grey, who was a patriot •and lived for his country. He under, stood, and was therefore the constant friend of tile Maori, and if he were there to-day his heart woukl beat *»* h pride at the sight of the sons of his old war. rior friends going forth to strike a bloWi for tfce Empire which he loved so well. Oeut.-Ooknel Hume , next addressed the men, Alluding to the behaviour o* the men since they had been in camp, Colonel Hume remarked that it had been exemplary. Probably no one would more feel the good-bye than Captain Peacock, who at the present. time .was not sufficiently recovered to accompany them, but he (the speaker) hoped that before long the men would be joined byi him, as he naturally very much wished.' Brief speeches were also delivered' byi Messrs. J. S. Mokson M.P., A. E. Glover M.P., 0. H. Poole MJP., and A. Harris M.P.

Tie contingent left for Wellington br special train at four o'clock. '