THE ORIENT'S TROOPERS.

Evening Star, Issue 11453, 22 January 1901, Page 2

THE ORIENT'S TROOPERS.

ALL FESTIVITIES TO BE ABANDONED. A FRESH PROGRAMME TO BE DRAFTED. A meeting of the Organising Committee to drrange a fitting reception, to the troops returning by the Orient was held at the Grand Motel last night, when there were present the Mayor (in the chair), the Hon. J. G. Ward, Messrs J. A. Millar, A. Morrison," A. R. Barclay, and J. F. Arnold, M.H.R.s, T. W. Kenipthome, J. A. Pari:, C. Speight, J. H. Hoskmg, J. F. M. Fraser, C. R. Smith, M. Cohen, J. F. Kirby, G. L. Denniston, T. Scott Taylor, N. H.' Bell, W. Speight, J. Duncan, W. A. Low, Captain Loasbv, Captain Mitchell (Dunedin City Fire Brigade), and Mr H. C. Campbell (secretary). The Mayor said that the reason the meeting had been called was to meet Mr Ward and have a conversation with-him as*to what course the Committee should pursue in view of the telegrams which have been received regarding the health of Her Majesty the Queen. If during the next few hours, or, at any rat*, before Wednesday, they received a telegram announcing the death of Her Maiesty it would settle things definitely and rifially. But the point to bo considered at present was what they were to do in regard to the present situation, and what Mr Ward would advifco them to do. Mi 1 Park then outlined for Mr Ward's information the programme that hud already been arranged. Mi? Ward said that lie thfcught, as far as cur troopers were concerned, it was the duty of the colony to extend" a hearty welcome to them, without any undue or excessive display of enthusiasm. It was to be remembered that they have been away fighting for their Queen and country, and in the course of a very short time the colony would despatch another 500 men to the war. He quite agreed with Mr Park that there should be but little display in the event of there being atiy further news of a disquieting nature; but alter the Imperial Government had specially sent a troopship here, he did not think that we should entirely withhold extending the hand of welcome to the returned troopers, although the circumstances were such as they did not like having to welcome them under. The mei would perfectly recognise at once that they coidd not expect anything in the

shape of an enthuslaafci* arid spentanfidus outburst of feeling. Anything in the shape of festivities should be "■':■ A general discussion ensUed on' the matter, and it was eventually agreed to abandon tlte whole programme already drafted. On the motion of Mr J. F. M. Frater, it was decided to adjourn the meeting till 2 p.m. t4J : da>v when the Committee wottld have this morning's news to go by, and would arrange a new programme for tomorrow.

Ijc matter of arrangingfor the luncheon w-as left to tue Social Committee tojnake all the necessary arrangements for caterinc for a minimum of 400 people. Tho Mayor then read the following telegram from His Excellency the Governor " I regret that my arrangements wfll not permit of my being presentat Dunedin-on Wednesday next to welcome-the returning troopers from South Africa. I have followed tie doings of the New Zealand' Contingents throughout With the deepest interest, and have not been disappointed Jn my high. «i----pecfations regarding them. They have proved themselves worthy descendants-of a glorious Empire, «ver ready to uphold their Queen and country. With the Sixth Contingent, pow on the point of leaving our shores, it is an - object lesson to the world; that those who volunteered were four-times the number of those who were required.—• RANFtJIILT."