THE IMPERIAL TROOPS.

Evening Star, Issue 11453, 22 January 1901, Page 1

THE IMPERIAL TROOPS.

Speaking at a meeting of the Organising Committee last night the Hon. J. G. Ward said that of coarse he need hardly say that ne was perfectly sure the citizens of Dunedm would do everything fitting on an-occa-.sion that would prove an interesting and &• memorable one; but in the interval the* ' intelligence that had been flashed across ihe cable had changed the complexion of things. He -was not in a position to say at that moment what would be the outcome of what he regretted to say seemed certain from, ♦heinformation he had personaUy recefrecL The worst was to be feared, and. at very short notice. He did not know what the military etiquette in such a case would be. He had already given directions as far a&the colony was concerned for goincr into mourning in the event of the death of' Her Majesty. Under the circumstances, the only thing he could do was to communicate with the com mander of the troops in Australia, and also with the commander of. the Indian troops, and ask them, in view of the position, what course would be agreeable to them. He thought, however, that until the. present arrangements that had been made were countermanded by the Imperial and the Indian authorities it might be assumed they would be carried 'out. He would, however, take steps to ascertain whether these arrangements were to be carried out in the event of the worst occurring, and would communicate the result to the various parts of the colony where preparations were being made for tn'e reception of the Imperial troops. He had to express, on behalf of the colony, his appreciation of what had already been done in the expectancy of the arrival of the troops. At a large and representative meeting.of Invercargill citizens last night +"> make arrangements for the reception of the Imperial troops it was resolved, in view of the state of Her Majesty's health, to' adjourn the meeting to a day to be fixed by the mavor and a committee to' be nominated afterwards.