General Godley was met at the gate by a number of the staff officers, and was accompanied by the Mayor and members of Parliament, and at once proceeded to walk through the lines.
He made no perfunctory inspection, but every man appeared to come under the notice of his keen gaze.
The mounted men ranked at the southern end of the park, were first inspected, and afterwards the General went on to the northern end, where the infantry (under Major McDonald) were massed in close columns.
A large number of the Regiment of Mounted Rifles have yet to be supplied with horses, but it is understood that a sufficient number will be forward within a few days.
The Mounted Regiment, under Colonel Bauchop, was paraded in squadrons.
Total on parade, 69 officers and N.C.O.'s, 461 men.
The infantry parade total was 130 officers and N. C. O.'s, 586 men.
General Godley then inspected the Field Ambulance Corps, under Major O'Neill, which was standing in rank ready to march to the station en route to the concentration camp at Auckland.
General Godley appeared to be well satisfied with the appearance of the men.
He said he hoped they would remember the fact that they represented a city with a reputation for medical science, and that they would prove themselves worthy in the field.
He pointed out that their service would begin on board the troopships, and advised them to be particular as to their appearance and readiness to serve the men who might need them during the voyage.
He looked forward to meeting them with the main Ambulance Brigade in Europe.
General Godley then returned to the main body of troops, which were formed into a hollow square, and delivered a really soldier-like and appropriate address.
He said: ''Officers, N.C.O.'s, and men of the Otago Contingent of the Expeditionary Force.
"I shall not see you again now until I meet you in Europe, and I wish on this my last inspection in Otago to say to you how very well pleased and how much impressed I am with the appearance of the men I have seen today who are going to represent Otago at the front.
"I am quite sure from what I see of you that you will worthily uphold the traditions of the Otago district; and remember that the traditions of the Otago military district are very high.
"The volunteers in Otago have always been very good and very much to the fore in the soldiering history of New Zealand.''
• St Clair is contributing its quota in defence of Empire, a dozen of the picked youth of the district having been accepted to serve in the Expeditionary Force.
Several have already left for the north, and eight are not in camp at Tahuna Park. Leave of absence from camp had been granted to the St Clair contingent, which answered to the roll call as follows: L. H. Jones, N. Johnson, A. L. Thomson, H. R. Hancock, R. C. Baker, J. F. W. Holmes, N. D. Braithwaite. - ODT, 24.8.1914.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
