THE ORIENT'S CONTINGENT.

Evening Star, Issue 11450, 18 January 1901, Page 4

THE ORIENT'S CONTINGENT.

A notice from the mayor will be toiind in our advertising columns asking the citizens to observe next Wednesday as a whole holiday, and to decorate their houses by day and by night. His Worship the Mayor sent the following wire to the Acting-Premier this afternoon : —"Received wire last night promising full information re Orient and troopers, which has not yet come to hand. A cable from Brisbane to a member of the Committee gives number of troopers as 160 and eight officers, and states that Orient will arrive at Port Chalmers on Wednesday, 23rd inst. Regret no official information to guide me in proclaiming holiday, and Committee in definitely fixing arrangements. As Committee meet this afternoon at five o'clock, would feel extremely obliged for fuller information." Offers of horses for the use of the returning Contingent are coming in freely. During to-day promises of twenty-three from Evansdale and forty from Waikouaiti were received by the mayor. The tickets for "the social at which the returning troopers are to be entertained in the Agricultural Hall on the night of the arrival of the Orient are in great demand. The presence cf the Governor and Premier at the ceremony will add greatly to its attractiveness, and give distinction to the gathering. The. Garrison Band will assist in strengthening the musical portion of the programme, which will be in the hands of Dun.edin's best talent. Altogether the function promises to be most successful, and to fitly close what will, we hope, prove to be a red-letter day in Dunedin.