THE TAGUS CONTINGENTS.

Evening Star, Issue 11598, 11 July 1901, Page 4

THE TAGUS CONTINGENTS.

!THE FOURTH AND FIFTH. After our messaged left Port Chalmers yesterday afternoon the Tutanekai went down to the Heads to let the Tagus people know the decision hfirived at as thp result of the deliberations at Port Chalmers. Mr ; John Mill, Mayor of Port Chalmers—who earlier in the day had taken Colonel Penton- for a run down the harbor in the Plnaky to have a look at the defence works, and subsequently presented several members of the receiving committees and friends of the coming troopers to His Excellency the Governor at an impromptu levee held in the smoking room of the Government steamer—took charge of the party, which included Mr J. F. M. Fraser, Mr R. M'Nab (M.H.R. for Mataura), Mr J. A. Hanan (M.H.R. for Invercargill), Mr D. A. Do Mans, several friends of the troopers, Colonel E. R. Smith, Captain Hislop, a son of Sir Joseph Ward, and Dr Hodges (health officer). As the Tutanekai reached the Tagus, about 4 p.m., it was found that a heavy ground swell had set in, but in spite of 'that difficulty Captain Post put his vessel alongside the troopship in a most seamanlike maimer, and Dr Hodges clambered on board, whilst the message from the shore was also delivered, and cheers were exchanged, the Tagus band playing ‘Home, sweet home.’ * ' Dr Hodges-on leaving the Tagus reported that there was no infectious disease on board, but a few of the men might have to be sent to the hospital instead of going on to the Bluff, and the doctor also reported the deajh of Gunner A. Kendall, of the Fifth, who expired on Tuesday evening of this week. The deceased belonged to Hokianga. THE TAGUS AT ANCHORAGE. Pilot Thomson went aboard the Tagus this morning and brought her up to the quarantine ground, where she anchored at about a quarter to eleven. Owing to the Plucky not being available through having to go outside to bring in a foreign barque, the Gordon left the Port on her way to the troopship shortly after eleven o’clock, with Dr Hodges on board. THE TAGUS. The Tagus is a steel screw steamer, built in 1899 at Govan. Her dimensions are; Length, 410 ft; breadth, 50ft; depth rf hold, 32ft 3in. Her gross tonnage is 5,545, and net 3,056. The engines are worked up to 1,100 horse-power. The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, 18 Moorsrate street, City, -London, are the owners of the vessel, which is commanded by Captain Powles. Since October last the vessel has been running troops between South Africa and London. Owing to the illness of a former commander, Captain Powles took charge a few months ago.

THE LATE GUNNER KENDALL’S BURIAL. were hoisted half-mast high at the Municipal Buildings, l*<wn Hall, shipping offices, flagstaff, Observation Point, and at many private residences in Port Chalmers to-day out of respect to the late Gunner. A. Kendall, who died on board the troopship Tagus. The Gordon returned to Port at noon, and left again an hour later for the purpose of bringing Gunner Kendall’s body ashore. She had several relatives of troopers aboard, also Captains Hislop and Joyce, of the staff. Wreaths have been sent by the Go vernment, by Colonel Penton on'behalf of the forces, and the Port Chalmers Patriotic Committee. B Battery will provide a gun carriage for the body; the Dunedin Garrison Band will play the Dead March ; and the Port Chalmers Naval Artillery will provide the firing party. Father M'Grath will conduct the funeral services. Later. Owing to some mistake, it now turns out that Colonel Davis has not yet decided whether the body shall he buried here or at the Bluff. The Gordon has returned to the steamer for a final decision. Representatives of the Dunedin Engineers, the North Dunedin Rifles, the Dunedin Navals, the City Rifles, Burt’s Corps, the Caversham Rifles, the Highland R.fles, Bearer Corps, and several returned troopers who came came down for the'funeral are waiting about for final instructions. The Te Anau and Tutanekai have left Port to tranship the troopers. Large crowds of people and volunteers are waiting in the lain, in the hope of hearing something definite. The bungle over the burial has caused a good deal of inconvenience and annoyance.

When Caplin Post, of the Tutanekai, saw. the masc-uead light of a steamer off Cape Saunders early yesterday morning he naturally concluded that the stranger was the troopship Tagus, and to attract the attention of those on board the latter vessel he expended a case of blue lights, fired socket distress signals, and sent up a number of rochets. After about two hours’ chose he came up to the vessel, •which proved to be the Westralia, bound from the Bluff to Dunedin. It appears from the statement of the officers ol the Westralia that they saw the blue lights burning from the Tutauekai, and were somewhat mystified as to the identity of the latter vessel and the reason for the signals. When Captain Waller saw the rockets going up he thought that it was some vessel in distress, and at once bore down to ascertain the cause. On getting within hailing distance, the question .was asked of the Tutanekai’s people as to whether anything was wrong, and the reply came back “Is that the Otago?” “Oh, you want the Tagus,” was the rejoinder of Captain Waller, and, receiving aq. further reply, he put the Westralia on her course for Dunedin. So far the future movements of the Tagus have not been definitely ascertained. In the event of her proceeding to Lyttelton or Wellington ou Sunday or Monday it is possible that the Defence Department may decide to forward the northern men by her. At present appearances would indicate that the troopers will be in Dunedin till Monday morning, so that citizens who have spare accommodation will perhaps have an opportun.ty of entertaining the men at. their homes during their stay here. The Port Chalmers Reception Committee meet on Friday to arrange a public reception for Troopers Porteous and Bowling, who return with the Fourth Contingent,