Sorry for the wasted band width.
Found the answer on NetBSD/Alpha FAQ page:
>>> set boot_osflags a
johnh...
On Mon, 15 Jan 2001, John Hayward wrote:

> Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2001 23:04:05 -0600 (CST)
> From: John Hayward <johnh@ImapStu.wheaton.edu>
> To: port-alpha@netbsd.org
> Subject: boot flags on Multia
> 
> Dear NetBSDers,
>    When booting my 1.5 Multia I seem to get stuck in single user mode and
> have to manually exit to muti-user.  dmesg reveals:
> init: copying out flags `-s' 3
> init: copying out path `/sbin/init' 11
> 
>    I have cleared the  boot_osflag in the prom and issued a boot command
> from the >>> prompt.  (default file and device are set so it boots netbsd
> off of scsi drive).
> 
>    What needs to be done so that boot does not pass a the -s flag to init?
> 
> TIA
> johnh...
> 
>