ADDRESSES TO TROOPS.

MEANING OF TEE WAR. CIVILISATION AT STAKE. SPEECH BY THE MAYOR. The addresses to the men were brief, but were right to the point. The meaning of the war, the issue at stake, the righteousness of Britain's cause, and the responsibility carried by the Dominion's troops, were the principal themes dealt with by the two speakers. Mr. Massey was introduced by the Mayor. "May I say a word for Auckland, because you are Aucklanders, and the citizens, I am sure, would wish me to give you their good wishes?" said the Mayor, Mr. C. J. Parr, addressing the troops. "You are going to fight for a great cause. The issue is civilisation itself. la the world to go back to barbarism, vandalism, and savagery, and is the clock to be put back 400 years? That is the issue. 1 am not overstating the caso a jot. Let us think of Louvain and Rheims, Old World cities, with their beautiful cathedrals levelled to the dust. Think of the treacherous mines sown on the high seas without regard to the laws of war or humanity. Let us not forget the hundreds of women and children slaughtered by savage soldiery. Gorman culture will never find an excuse for violating poor little Belgium. You soldiers will knowhow to exact a penalty for these outrages I against humanity.' Drive home your j attack wherever you are and let all resoho to die rather than to submit. Every bullet, every bayonet, must find its mark, because until Prussian militarism is smashed the world will know no peace or freedom. "Look after your health above all things. Keep fit. Remember that you have to depend upon your health and your gun, and look after both. Obey orders to the letter. Show the world that discipline is not the weak point of the New Zealand soldier. Commit no excesses, and remember that you have New Zealand's fair fame in your keeping. Men Who Will Make History. " I know that you will fight as brave men should, for no New Zealander will ever show the white feather. You must show the British and the world that you can play the game. Believe me, you boys are making history. You are going to help write the greatest page that has ever yet been written in the world's great drama. This war is the greatest conflict known to men, and in a hundred years from now it will bo counted the highest honour that a man can claim that he came from stock that fought in the great world war of 191* in the cause of priceless freedom. " Come Back With Honour and Glory." " Auckland takes farewell of you today, and prays that the Almighty may, in His wisdom, ever be with you and shield you in the great struggle upon which you now enter. We shall know how to welcome you home after the conflict is over, when, as we pray, you come back to us with success, honour, and glory writ across your banners." •'TO RESIST TYRANNY." NEW ZEALANDERS' MISSION. MR. MASSEY'S SPEECH. "In this weather," said the Prime Minister, coming forward, " I do not propose to address you at any length. I consider it my duty, as well as my privilege, on behalf of the Dominion, to join with the Auckland citizens in saying fare well to the Auckland section of the expeditionary force. New Zealand may be only a small country, with a comparatively small population, but New Zealand is not an unimportant part of the British Empire. In this crisis, the most serious ever experienced in the history of Britain, New Zealand has' made up its mind to do its duty to the Empire, just as the Empire is doing its duty to civilisation and to humanity by protecting the weaker nations of the world against tyranny. short time from now there" will leave .our shores for the scenes of war the very pick of our male population— New Zealanders—who will proceed to the other side of the world, to meet Britain's enemies in battle in countries where, centuries ago, the ancestors of cur New Zealanders held their own on many a stub-bornly-contested field. That you will do as well as your forefathers I have not the very least doubt. That you will do your country credit, wherever you are, I feel sure.

Representatives of Empire. " I have no doubt that by-and-bve vou will find yourselves with English. "Scotch, and Irish troops, and with men representing other nations and other Dominions of the British Empire, and with the men who, during the last few weeks, have flung' ba/ k the enemy Jrom the- very gates of Paris—everyone of them willing to risk his life for his country and for humanity. I You will rind men there from the burning plaiins of India, from the snows of Canada, from, the great Australian bush, from the wide veldt of South Africa, as well as your fellows from these islands of New Zealand. " You will see what the world has never seen, before—men of almost every clime, language, race, and creed, bound 'together by one idea, one belief— within the British Empire and under the British flag there is more justice, morality, and freedom than has been granted by any other nations to its own people or to "peoples within its gates. In consequence of that belief, scores of millions of men have made up ther.r minds to keep the Empire intact, to resist tyranny and oppression to the uttermost, and to keen flying the flag that has braved a thousand years the battle and the breeze— emblem of truth and right and justice and everything that makes for the betterment of humanity. (Applause.) "For Eight and Truth." "Yon will encounter many hardships." continued the Prime Minister, "not only on the scene of operations, but on the way thereto. But remember that you are enjoydng the privilege of making "history. In the ages to come millions of people will read with interest of the great events that are taking place tc-day, and I hope that they will also read of how the New Zealanders distinguished themselves. (Applause.) You will hare the privilege of striking hard for right and truth and against tyranny, and we know that that privilege is safe in your hands. "On behalf of the people of the Dominion, I endorse what the Mayor has said to yon. We commend you to the protection of Him without Whose knowledge not even a sparrow can fall to the ground. I hope that this cruel war will soon come to an end—but it must be peace with honour, or no peace at all. (Applause.) I hope that in the not-far-dis-tant future we will have the pleasure of welcoming you back home again. On behalf of the people of New Zealand I wish you God speed. May God bless you '.'* Cheers for the Prime Minister and for the troops, heartily given at the call of the Mayor, concluded the proceedings, and the troops formed up and left the Domain rat thsu: march through the city,.