A STIRRING SPECTACLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1915, Page 6

A STIRRING SPECTACLE.

RIFLE BRIGADE AND THE SEVENTH. BRONZED STALWARTS IN WELLINGTON. Not since the departure of the main body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force for Europe has there "been witnessed, even in these continuously eventful days, such a scene of fervent enthusiasm as was created in Wellington by t'he parade through the principal mid-city streets on Saturday afternoon of the first two battalions of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade (the Earl of Liverpool's Own) and the Seventh Reinforcements, numbering in all about 500 men (says the Dominion). It was truly a clay of days with the bulk of those who thronged the streets, for the ranks included those who were in one way or other related to or connected with a very large percentage of the spectators. Emotionally the spirit of the day was one of grave exaltation. To greet the newfiedged soldiers of the Empire the city "did itself proud." Having the advantage of perfect weather after a couple of sloppy days, there was a brightness and clarity in the air that raised the spirits of everyone. A finer body never shouldered rifle than those who paraded through the gaily-beflagged streets on Saturday. WELL-ORDERED PARADE. Starting out from Waterloo Quay, the long khaki column, headed by drummers and band of the sth (Wellington) Regiment, swung round into, Bunny street and into Lafhbton Quay, at which junction there was an enormous crowd stretching up the grassy slopes of the Parliamentary grounds, and packed on both sides of the broad thoroughfare. At this point the authorities had taken the utmost care that there should be no crowding in on the column, the people being kept back to a given line on cither sides by lines of Territorials and Senior Cadets, whilst a body of mounted police with foot police and ."red caps" effectively kept the quay clear almost to its full width for the length of the Government Buildings. It was impossible to keep the crowd from seeking a more ini timate point of vantage for the greater part of the route, and past Government Buildings the crowd narrowed right up until there was just room enough for the men, four abreast, to pass, and reaching this alleyway the bands had to contract and string out instead of keeping their full playing breadth. One soldier had a heap of the choicest of flowers' stacked on top of his knapsack, while others had bouquets strung upon their gleaming bayonets, and tucked in their belts. One officer, disdaining the proprieties, wore a lovely Maori mat oven his shoulders, the parting gift evidently of some native friend, whilst other 3 were bowed with the weight of many parcels—tokens of tender love and respect which they can never forget as long as life lasts. THE "TREXTS." Following the sth Regiment Band came the mounted men of the Seventh Reinforcement, a solid, nuggety looking lot with unbayoneted rifles carried at the slope. Following these was the band of the Salvation Army, heading other details of the "Seventh." A flutter of excitement accompanied the discovery of a trio of mounted men, and as someone shouted "Here come the Trent 3!" from across the way a burst of cheering heralded the approach of his Excellency the Governor at the head of his "Own" (late Trentham Regiment, now the New Zealand Rifle Brigade), in uniform, and maintaining a perfect seat on a splendid charger. Immediately behind him rode Colonel Fulton, Officer Commanding the Brigade, and an A.D.C. The Ministers of the Crown and the Headquarters Staff saluted his Excellency, and then settled down to observe the paces of the brigade, who were given an unusually sober aspect by reason of their black badges and buttons. With arms at the trail they swung in perfect step, commanding the admiration of all. They bore the impress of hard training in their sharp ! features, well-poised bodies, and clastic step. They looked ready to fight for a I kingdom, and the sight made one feci proud of the human stock New Zealand is raising. Cutting the brigade into battalions came the fine squad of buglers and drummers and the magnificent band (under Bandmaster-General P. E. Cole), which made a distinct impression on the onlooking crowds. Viewed from a slight eminence, the track of the brigade, all members of which wore the flat-topped forage caps, looked 'ike a lane of brown cobble-stones. The puzzle to many who had relatives in the ranks was to pick them out, for with close-cropped heads and bronzed, cleanshaven faces, they looked as like one another as peas. It appears to be the fashion to clean shave—at least it is the fashion in the ranks so to do, for very few wore chin or lip whiskers. The small clipped moustache appears to be sacred to the officer. Jupp's and the Mission Band also aceompanied the bri- '• gade, whilst the Seventh Infantry and details .which brought up the rear march- ■ ed steadily to the music of the Camp. ' New Zealand Natives' Asociation, the : Watersiders' and the Highland Pipe Bands, and the regimental drummers. The "Seventh" marched with fixed bayonets at the slope, and the flash of sun- i light on the long lean line of hungry steel added just that touch of grimnes's needed to give point to a most gallant spectacle. i In the narower part of the Quay and j in Willis street and Manners street the road space was choked right up with ' people. Every window and balcony < swarmed with life, whilst the shops anil ' shipping expressed their patriotism in a * resplendent display of bunting and loyal emblems. Saturday, October !), will Jong ' remain a day of days in the memory of ' most people in Wellington, and will serve as a milestone in the lives of the par- < ading fighters.