The Indian Contingent.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 45, 22 February 1901, Page 3

The Indian Contingent.

AN ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION,

A RECORD ATTENDANCE,

Fkom an early hour yesterday Gisborne wore a holiday appearanco, town and" country residents turning out in full force to welcome the Indian Contingent. The reception accorded the visitors was of a most enthusiastic nature, and calculated to leave a good impression on their minds. Particulars of the Indian troops and their regiments have already appeared in our columns, so it is hardly necessary for us to repeat them. A better day for the reception of the troops could not have been obtained ; the morning broke fine and remained so during the day. The Government steamer Tutanekai, with the Premier and party on board, arrived at six a.m., after a fine weather passage down the coast. She was met on arrival by tho steamer Waihi with the Reception Committee on board. The members present were Ilis Worship tho Mayor, Major MeCredic, Capt, Warron, and Messrs Jones, Macfarlane.’A. F. Kennedy, and G. Grant. Aftor the Committee had welcomed the members of the Ministerial party, the Waihi wont on to the Dalhousie, the latter vessel having arrived as the Waihi went out to meet tho Government steamer. It was impossible for the Waihi to lie alongside the troopship owing to the number of davits and gangways and outside gear, and the Dalhousic’s commander proposed that the lighter should Ho off a few yards whilst he transferred the troops to hey. with his boats. This course was adapiod, and tho work commenced at nine o’clock. Tho Waihi then returned to tho Tutanekai to bring the Premier and party ashore to breakfast. Mr Seddon was accompanied by Mrs and Miss Sod. don, the Hon. J. G. Ward, Mrs, Hales, Mr T. Hamer, Taranaki te Ua, who has been teaching the Imperials tho wardancp, Messrs Hyde, Wilson, and other secretaries, party, who were met at the wharf by Eho Hon. J. Carroll and Mr E, P. Joyce, were taken to Mr Townley’s residence and entertained at breakfast. Long before nino o’olock a large crowd had gathered in the vicinity of the wharf and flagstaff, all eager to obtain the first glimpse of the visitors of whom they had heard so much since their arrival in the colonies. The Tuna made two trips, and the Waihi, when she went out, brought ashore Colonel Pole-Pcnton and his staff; As the Indian troops came' ashore they were loudly cheered, and the greatest enthusiasm was manifested on all sides. The local volunteor forces wore in attendance in largo numbers, and after some little time were all in order for the word of march. The procession was led by two sections of Mounted Rifles, and then followed carriages containing the Hon. J. G. Ward, Mr Townley, Miss Seddon, and Mr Macfarlane; Mrs Mrs Hales, Mrs Townley, Miss Toyynloy; the brake “Mafeking” containing, members of the Borough Council and the officers of the Dalhousie. Major MoCredie, in Royal Artillery uniform, in command of the parade. Two sections of Mounted Rifles, under Lieutenant Colebourne. The City Band, under Bandmaster T. Morrison. Tho Gisborne Rifles, under Lieutenant Lewis. Captain Warren was in command of the infantry, assisted by Captain King as adjutant. 1 The Gisborne Cadets, under Captain Graham, The Matawhcro Cadets, under Mr Marshall, Colonel Penton and staff, and Captain i Hughes, of New Zealand Contingent. ' The Whatatzpoko Band, under Band-

master Aston. The Indian mounted men, about fifty in all, under Captain Campbell. The Indian infantry, fifty odd strong, under Captain Hennigan. The visitors were flanked by files of East Coast Mounted Rifles, Captain Winter in command. The Waerenga-a-hika Cadets (mounted). The Waerenga-a-hika school children in a dray bearing the inscription, “ Ake ake Ilia Kaha.” The committee "had decided that the troops should march to the Recreation Ground by way of Gladstone Road, and the road and buildings on either side were crowded with spectators eager to get a good glimpse of the procession. Every point of vantage was occupied, and as the visitors passed great cheering prevailed. There was a great display of bunting on the buildings in Gladstone Road, and many inscriptions of welcome were displayed. The procession extended from the Post-office to beyond the fire bell, and was a most imposing spectacle. The gay uniforms of the Indian troops were much admired, and the dignified manner in which they rode was the subject of much favorable comment. The Recreation Ground was a splendid halting ground, there being plenty of shade to protect the spectators from the heat of the sun, which at this time was making itself felt. At the gate-way of the garden was an arch bearing the words “ Welcome to our Indian troops,” the work of Messrs Morridon Bros. The East Coast Mounted Rifles were employed to keep the crowd back and the local infantry corps and cadets occupied the fourth side along the river front. The City and Whataupoko Bands also occupied positions in the enclosure. After waiting some time for the arrival of the Premier, who had some urgent business to transact at the Postoffice, His Worship the Mayor shortly addressed the gathering, being following by the Premier and the member for the district, the Hon. J. Carroll. His Worship the Mayor said : —“ I offer, on behalf of the people of this district, a hearty welcome to the Indian troops, the representatives of the various regiments in India. (Applause). I am quite sure that we are very pleased to see them on this occasion, more especially as they' come here as visitors, and as they are at liberty to travel the colonies and the British Empire free from the calls of war. They are, I think you will admit, noble renresentatives of India—(hear.

hear)—that great country of wonderful rivers, wonderful scenery, and palaces, and wonderful people, a remarkable people such as we see before us, with their magnificent attire, their noble bearing, their breasts brilliant with medals which show the wars that they have'been in. I am quite sure that the people here feel delighted to meet them —(applause)—and I offer them the'heartiest welcome to this | colony that we can give them. (Hear, hear). We are, of course, different from them, and it may be a difficult matter to express the delight we feel at their being present, but they must take the will for the deed, and accept our statement that we are delighted to see them. In order not to delay them or the people present, I will just ask the gathering to give them three hearty cheers for the Indian Contingent.” (Cheers). The Eight Hon. the Premier, said: — Let me, on behalf our colony, offer you a hearty and cordial Hew Zealand welcome. (Applause). You are of the same Empire as we are. You are an integral portion of the Empire, and you representatives of the Indian regimentefhave with ourselves maintained and strSHgthened that Empire until it is the greatest Empire the world has ever seen. (Cheers).. It. has often been wondered at how it is that India, with her teeming millions, is so true to that Sovereign under whom we all so cheerfully serve. I am not at all surprised. When I know the officers and rulers of India who are now before me, I would be surprised were it other than that India is and will ever remain a part of the British Empire. (Cheers). An object lesson from India came to us the other day, an object lesson which I. would say to the people of New Zealand, “ Take to heart, and the sooner you do it the better.” In Calcutta they were asked to do something to perpetuate the memory of our late good and gracious Queen, the brightest, the best, and the noblest of women, a Sovereign unequalled in the history of the world. (Cheers). And Calcutta had subscribed- £250,000. (Applause). The great Empire City of Wellington at the present time had not got £IOOO ! [Voice: We will have it by and by !] In Gisborne itself, if His Worship the Mayor were to take the matter up, and say, “We are going to have .a statue of the Queen in Gisborne,” I believe you would raise the money in 48 hours. (Applause.) Well, then the sooner you do it the better. (Laughter and cheers). There ought to be one in every centre of population in New Zealand. And India, and these officers and men who have helped to maintain that good and gracious Sovereign, and as they have helped to maintain the mother, so they will fight to the last drop of blood to maintain her good son, the King, now on the throne. (Cheers.). It is very pleasing for ine to tender to the Viceroy of India and the Indian authorities our thanks for giving the New Zealanders the great pleasure we have in meeting the officers and men now before us. I say it is a fitting recognition. It will give an opportunity of becoming better acquainted with their fellow subjects, representing India, and with India itself. Our hearts have gone forth towards that country and that people, because we know how deeply of late years they have suffered, and as our hearts arc with them, so, of course, anything that tends to bring us closer together is both in the interests of this colony and the Indians. I may say that I am deliShted to have them here with us to-day. Gisborne, owing to its isolated position—l would not say isolated in some respects ; I am not going to say Gisborne is behind in any respect. (Applause.) But it was no doubt impossible for us in any arrangements to do more than what has been done, and in bringing the Indian troops, the officers commanding have met us in every way possible. I say it is a matter of delight for me, and I am sure it is a matter of pleasure for you who are here present to-day.'' (Hear, hear.) lam not going to weary you with a long speech, because I am a man, as yon know, of very few words. (Laughter and a voice : “Go up one.”) But I am delighted to see Gisborne at its best. I knew that when the Indian troops were coming here you would not spare any effort to entertain them in a suitable manner. In the first place, we have arranged a nice sunny day. (Hear, hear.) Now, of course, the Indians—who ‘are cooped up in that vessel, you know, to some extent—will feel themselves quite at home in this sun. They will be nice and warm and comfortable, much more than I shall. (Laughter.) But I know that we have a bright and happy day, a record day for Gisborne. ! Now, you gave three. hearty cheers a few moments ago, and you gave them in a manner which does you credit; but a goo’d thing cannot be done too often. Let us give them another. (Cheers). Those horses are Gisborne horses, and can’t stand 1 British fire. (Laughter.) In conclusion, I tender to you, sir, the officers, and men of these troops, a hearty and cordial welcome, and do trust that whilst you are with us you will enjoy yourselves, and that you will carry back with you from us to the millions of India our best wishes and happy recollections of your visit, and if ever it comes that you visit us, that you will always receive the same kind welcome that you have received on this great occasion.” (Cheers). The Hon. J. Carroll said: “ Allow me, on behalf of the district, and especially on behalf of those who claim nativity, residential in these parts, to give you greeting, and a cordial welcome to these shores. It is no doubt very interesting for us to witness, from a spectacular point of Hew, your presence here to-day, and it may not be the least interesting to you to travel round this portion of the Empire, and see the many peoples' dwelling therein. There is a time coming about, of whi'ch signs arc already in view, of crises yet to come,' when our Empire will be put upon its best mettle, and I am sure the object lesson, resultant from the fact that the Imperial troops have visited Australia, with the Indian troops, and likewiso New Zealand, and have viewed from their standpoint the wonderful resources that are yet in the Antipodes, and in reciprocation of what we have viewed from these different parts, the possibility of greatness in those parts of the Empire designated India, and likewise, that we shall be able, when the crises arrive, to meet them in a way worthy of the best traditions of Great Britain. (Cheers.) Yes, it is not only a demonstration to yourselves as visitors to these parts, but a demonstration to the entire world, and to other Powers who have questioned our ability to maintain our supremacy and integrity as a nation. It is a worthy lesson to them that, on the slightest occasion, on the moment, we can mobilise our forces in South Africa, and from the farthest ends of the earth. You have not been called upon, neither have we of the Maori, to do our duty ; but we are pausitive powers, which, when the time arrives, I have not the slightest doubt, we will exemplify our force, and show to the world that.thp prestige which has been handed down to us from our ancestors, that we can maintain it, and maintain the integrity of the British Empire. (Cheers.) I will not detain you long, because I do not think that these are fitting opportunities for speech. There are other arrangements yet, at which we ask you to favor us with your presence and your participation, and I will therefore conclude. As our Premier has said, a good thing can be done more than once, aye (laughter), twice. In conveying to you our esteem and regard, our greeting, and our earnest welcome to these shores, I call upon the Gisborne people to give three cheers for the Indian troops, - 'Cheers.) t; 1 ■ - j