RETURN OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES CONTINGENT.

Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 10, 11 July 1885, Page 1 (Supplement)

RETURN OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES CONTINGENT.

A Christchurch resident, who was present at the deception of the Soudan Brigade in Sydney, sends to the Lyttolton Times the following account of the proceedings, from a spectator's point of view : — The fearful confusion of noises that rent the air as the contingent, in their turn, started to inarch along the quay, was simply demoniacal. The clanging of bells ; the howling and shrieking of "whistles and fog-horns attached to the numerous steamboats lying within hail; the banging of drums and braying of trumpets from half-a-score of bands, valiantly endeavouring to announce that " Jack's Come Home To-day," all mingled with the roar of "Bravo's" and "Hurrah's" from the throats of thousands of excited individuals, made up an almost Tartarean din, ■which only such an event as the return of a nation's warriors from their first 'field of glory could amply explain. Clad in their light canvas-like fighting uniform, the " Soudan men" were easily distinguishable among the host of other troops, and as they passed from the landing place and approached the main body of umbrella-covered spectators who thronged the route, their greeting from the multitude, whose feelings seemed strung to the highest pitch, was enthusiastic in the extreme. The Bhouts and exclamations which occasionally rose from the more exoited among the crowd, as they recognised old faces once more, were at least entertaining, if not amusing or pathetic. " Here comes Colonel Richardson ; why he looks five years older, don't he ? " broke from one onlooker, as that officer, mounted on his charger, drew in sight at the head of his men, looking every inch a soldier, while he was made the mark for a shower of bouquets. " There's old Peter; by jove, isn't he pale ? " cried another voice near. " Hullo 'Arry," was fired jn a prolonged yell over the writer's head, as a member of the infantry became "spotted" by one of his old pals. Presently a woman, with tear-dewed eyes and anxious look, exclaims exultingly, " There's our Bill coming ; look, the second from this end," and a minute later Bill had rushed from the ranks, all drenched and bedraggled as he was, to be received in a short welcoming embrace before darting to his place again to resume the march: ' ' They're not the bright looking lot they were when they went away," remarked a bystander to me, and the infantry certainly had a worn appearance, though the artillery, as a whole, looked pretty well. They maintained a stolid, soldier-like demeanour as they marched into the town beneath the waving ensigns of Britain and ] Australia, but the firm set look and tightly compressed lips, as they stepped to .the sweet, but faintly audible, strains of "Home, Sweet Home," told what emotions were agitating the breasts of a number of them, and no doubt the eye of many a brave man among them grew dim as the realisation of his position thrust itself fully upon him.