OUR TENTH CONTINGENT. ALTERED ARRANGEMENTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXIII, Issue 87, 12 April 1902, Page 5

OUR TENTH CONTINGENT. ALTERED ARRANGEMENTS.

The late arrival of tho troopship Drayton Grange — which did not make port until 6 o'clock last night — has thrown out of gear all tne arrangements that were made for the departure to-day of the North Island Regiment of the uew contingent. It has b«eu fouud impossible for the troopship to get away before Monday afternoon. A large gang of men boarded the ship as soon as the was moored, and work has been going on at high pressure by day aud night. The hour of departure has been fixed at 5 o'clock on Monday afternoon. It was, however, decided that the arrangements made for the official public luncheon should not be disturbed. The men Mere brought' into town from camp this morning by special train, and, they are to return to Trentha.ni this evening. Their friends and relatives will bo given an additional opporCunity of seeing them, us they will be in camp to-morrow. In faot, they will not leave Trentham until "Monday afternoon, when they will probably be detrained at the head of the wharf, and march straight on ooard the troopship. A parly of 180 men was detailed this afternoon, after the luncheon, to ship the horses, which must have had an uncomfortable time through the exposure to yesterday's rain and lust night's cold snap Quarters on the Drayton Grange have been specially fitted up for the Premier and his party, and special accommodation has been provided for the officers of the regiment. The troopship is at present lumbered up like a shipyard, and a small army of wqrkmen is working feverishly to get things ready for the troops and the horses. The ship 1b lighted electrically throughout. Captain Davy, who has received a commission in the Tenth Contingent, yesterday received his medal for long service in the volunteer forces from Lieut. - Col. Newall, C.B. There was a large gathering at the

Petono drillshed la&t evening to bid farewell to Lieut. J. Osborne-J.illy and Gunner Dixon, who tiro leaving with the Tonlh Contingent. Lieut. Lilly received inemi'utos from his friends in the Petone Tennis Club, "Tho Honourable Company of Little Smokeis," aud from the Petone Navals and the logi'l firm of Messrs Kirk and Wilson, with which he has been associated ; and Gunner Dixon, who has already Avon corporal's stripes, received a purse of money. During tho evening the guests wore entertained with musical selections, and ping-pong and dancing was also indulged in. Lieut.-Commander Kirk made the presentations on behalf of all the donors, and Commander Campbell represented the Wellington Naval Brigade. The proceedings closed with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne." Some parade orders for Monday are advertised. The arrangements mode on bqth tho Government and Manawatu lines of railway in connection with the departure of the Tenth are set out in another column, j The late arrival of the troopship yesterday upset arrangements made by the Missions to Seamen for tho entertainment of the crew of the vessel yesterday, but they will be given a "send-off tea" at tho Mission Hall to-morrow afternoon. Tho embarkation of the Teuth Contingent having been delayed till Monday the District Orders that were issued for to-day are cancelled. Mr. A. D. Park, of the Public Works Department, who is going away with the Tenth Contingent, was presented yesterday with a pair of field-glasses by the Departmental staff. This afternoon a wrist-watch and a pair o"f field-glasses was presented to Mr. Thomas Cullen, of the Union Company's staff, another member of the Tenth Contingent. The Premier has received the following message from the Commander-in-CbJef, South Africa:— "The Columbia left Capetown on Bth April, having on board Nursing Sisters Littlecott and Eagle, and 46 men, including eight invalids, for New Zealand. The ship is io call at Fremantle for orders." The Governor has received a cable message stating that Captain R. G. Tubman, of the Seventh Contingent, was dangerously ill with enteric fever at Heilbron on the 7tli inst. In reply to enquiries made, Major Pilcher has cabled to the Premier stating that Trooper Beasley has slightly improved, but his condition is still dangerous. Trooper Bennett is quite well. Trooper H. W. Gillies, of Napier (Sixth New Zealanders), Trooper Finn, of the Fifth Victorian Mounted Rifles, and Trooper Win. Brownlie, of the South Imperial Yeomanry, sailed by the Montrose. Brownlie's father lives at Havelock.