THE ORIENTS CONTINGENT.

Evening Star, Issue 11453, 22 January 1901, Page 4

THE ORIENTS CONTINGENT.

ORGANISING COMMITTEE'S MEETING. to-morrow's~programme. A meeting of the Reception Committee was held this afternoon to consider thequcs—tion of drawing up a fresh programme for to-morrow's reception. The mayor (iMr R. Chisholm) presiaed, and among the others present were Messrs T. Mackenzie and J. F. Arnold, M.H.R.s. A. J. Park, G. L. Den--nistnn, J. F. Kirby, C. R. Smith, J. Mill, H. E. Muir, W. A. Low, W. A. W. Wathen,. J". Hutchison, T. W. Kempthorne, M. Cohen, N. Bell, D. A. De Maus, C. Speight, P. R. Sargood, and Captain Mitchell. The Mayor said that he had received a number of telegrams from various members of the Ministry, regretting that they could not be present at the demonstration, but mentionnig that the Acting-Premier would represent the Government.

The Secretary of the Forbnry Park Company wrote that 'his directors would be prepcared to offer the use of the park for a similar purpose on any similar occasion, and that they would not object to the Committee throwing open the park for to-morrow if they required it.— The Mayor said that the Committee must feel the kindness that had been extended to them by the Forbury Park Company.— (Hear, hear.) The Acting-Premier invited the members of the Committee to breakfast on the steamer Tutanekai at sis o'clock to-morrow evening. The Secretary reported that the troopers going North by the Orient would have to return to Port' Chalmers by the 5.15 p.m. train to-morrow.

At the request of the Mayor, Mr Park read the. following programme drafted by him for to-morrow :

Returned troopers arrive from Port Chalmers at Dunedin station at 11 a.m. Mayor and others meet them«and call for cheers.

Volunteers, mounted troopers, and bands parade at 10.50 a.m. Drags and official carriages muster on east end of the Triangle. If sufficient horses with the assistance of local troopers' horses, men may be mounted, invalids in drags. Proceed short march through City, route as may be arranged at the meeting, finish at Oval."

Troopers formed up facing drags, volunteers as Colonel Webb suggests. Drags and carriages line up in Oval, from which the mayor and Acting-Premier can welcome formally the troopers, after a church service, to occupy about half an hour. Other addresses can be left over till luncheon at hall.

Ministers, choir, etc., to bo accommodated in drags, from which, service can bo conducted ; after service march to Agricultural Hall to luncheon; relations invited, and returned invalided troopers to be asked; short and quiet programme, to be prepared by the Social Committee; after luncheon troopers drive on to their respective quarters. All volunteers to be provided with lunch by ticket presented at any hotel,' or provided for them in the machinery court, Agricultural Hall.

Citizens to entertain privately troopers till their departure on Thursday. Representatives of the Hillside Workshops, the Telegraph Department, and Shipwrights' Society all addressed the meeting, expressing the hope that the Committee would consider the position by allowing them to turn out, —Mr Cohen moved and Mr Arnold seconded—•' That the marshals be recommended to make provision for the inclusion of the trades display in the procession."

The monetary question being raised, the delegates from the various bodies said that it was not the prize-money they were turning out for.—Mr t. Mackenzie said that under the circumstances it did not seem to be the right tiling to have banners flying, trade displays, and bands playing.—Mr Kempthorne characterised it as very improper to carry out such a display seeing that foreign nations were very much* affected by what had taken place."— Mr Sargood spoke in a similar strain. After further discussion the .motion was earned by nine votes to six. It was then decided to refer the matter to a committee consisting of the Acting-Premier, the Mayor, Mr Park, and the chairmen of the various committees to rearrange, the programme should anything unfavorable happen in the meantime.

Mr Park's programme- was then adopted. It was derided that the mayor should proclaim a whole holiday to-morrow. The Committee expressed the wish that the citizens would not illuminate or decorate their premises.

The Hon. Mr Ward to-day informed the mayor that the Governor would arrive in Duncdin by the South express to-night, and that he would see him at once, and ascertain whether he would stay in town and take part in to-morrow's reception. The Acting-Premier, with the mayor and members of the Reception Committee, will leave town in the Tutenekai to-morrow morning at six o'clock, and proceed to Port Chalmers? to meet the Orient's troopers. On the v ay down the mayor and Committee will be the Hon. Mr Ward's guests at breakfast.

The Patriotic Committee at Port Chalmers are sparing no pains to make the triumphal arch, erected in George street, to welcome the returned troopers by the Orient to Ota;,'o ono of the best, a large number of workmen being employed, and when completed it will have an imposing appearance. We a,re requested to state that all tickets which have been issued for the smoke concert and social in the evening will be now available for the luncheon in the morning, and those who have bought upstairs tickets for the evening can likov/ise use them for the morning. Anyone wishing to dine with, the troopers—that is, friends, relatives, and others—can do. so by purchasing a 2s 6d ticket. These latter will be on sale at the Agricutural Hall to-morrow morning.