THE SIXTH CONTINGENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 15, 18 January 1901, Page 5

THE SIXTH CONTINGENT.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE

SEND-OFF.

.A meeting of the Refreshment andj Finance. Committee was held in thej City Council Chambers yesterday afternoon, when further arrange-1 N ttents were made in connection with the send-off of the Contingent. Mr, L D. Nathan presided. ,On the motion of the Mayor it was decided-to recommend that any sur.plus that may remain after the de-

raonstration be kept as a nucleus of a fund for entertaining the Imperial !roops next month.

The charge of admission to the Domain was discussed, and on the motion of Mr R. 11. Hunt it was decided to recommend that the charge be 1/ for adults and 6d for children.

The secretaries were .instructed to write to the Harbour Board, asking them lo barricade the Queen-streot Wharf on the day of the send-off. It was agreed to recommend that admission to the wharves be by excursion ticket, price 1/, which would admit holders to the excursion steamers. It was decided to call for tenders for the right to print and sell souvenir: programmes of the demonstration. The Women's Christian Temperance Union, wrote urging the Committee to adheie in Lord Roberts' desire re absention from providing the soldiers with intoxicants. The letter was received. With reg-ard io refreshments, Mr A. Kidd moved that lenders be called for providing marquees and refreshments for the Contingent. The mover said a liberal bill of fare would be wanted, on the lines of those provided at similar functions in the South. Mr Wesley Spragg seconded the motion, which was carried, with the proviso that tenders be called subsequently for the entertainment of the country volunteers and tlie bands. The secretaries were instructed to find out from the District Adjutant how many volunteers from the country were likely to be present.

The question oCf intoxicants led to some discussion. Mr Spragg moved. "That this meeting be without intoxicating liquors."

(apt. Caughey seconded. Mr J. McK. Geddes moved, and Mr Aickin seconded an amendment, '"That it be a recommendation to the General Committee that we should treat tlie men as though they were guests in our own houses, and that alcoholic liquor be provided if required, under the supervision of the Committee."

The Mayor said he could not conscientiously contribute towards tbe purchase of intoxicants, seeing that he had been pledged against them all his life. He was satisfied so long as the money was not spent in alcoholic

liquors, Mr Leyland said that whatever decision the Committee arrived at, it would not affect any small efforts of his own towards making the affair a success. (He ay. hear).

Mr L. D. Nathan said that when collecting subscriptions with Mr Geddes that morning-, in each ease they put the question as to whether the donors disapproved of alcoholic liquors being provided, and in every ease the reply was to this effect: "If you carry it out on Mr Spragg's lines we won't gnve you a cent."

Mr Leyland said that he and Mr Spragg had met with just the opposite answer in many quarters, some of them quite unexpected. After some discussion the amendment was carried by 0 votes to 5.

The Auckland division of the Sixth Contingent, will attend the kinemafograph entertainment given by .Messrs. Cooper and Macdermott at the Opera House to-morrow night. The men will march from the Domain to the Opera House^ where seats have been reserved . for' them. The, entertainment, which is under the patronage of His Worship the Mayor, will be of a patriotic character, Ihe subject being, "Our Boys in South Africa Under the Union Flag."

Tbe Central Mission have erected a marquee near the cam]) for the use of the contingent, and the latter have gladly availed themselves of the use of the piano, newspapers and magazines provided.

The Mayor has received the following telegram from the Hon. W. Jennings, New Plymouth: "Can the'contingent send-off committee arrange for steamers fo run from here at excursion rates for the occasion? Many on this coast would like to attend." The matter was considered at the meeting of the general committee this afternoon.