THE IMPERIAL TROOPS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1510, 7 February 1901, Page 30

THE IMPERIAL TROOPS.

THEIR RECEPTION IN Yv ELLINGTON.

A meeting of the committee appointed. to make arrangements for entertaining the Imperial troops was held - cn the 4th, the Mayor presiding.

Lieut .-Colonel Porter* was present by request, and said that he had received only eighty-four offers for billeting, these stipulating that only officers and non-commissioned officers would ,be received. He had also that day consulted with the Hons W. Hall-Jones and J. Carroll, who were averse to the idea of billeting the tjKjops amongst the citizens. He himself thought it would be objectionable in many respects, and thought it would he far better if the# men were to- sleep aboard their ship. He felt quite sure that this would prove a suitable arrangement. It would take the troops some time to travel through the country districts on their way to Napier, and meanwhile the troopship could proceed along the coast and; be there before them. He deemed It improbable that the. Imperial, men .would visit Papawai. At ahyrate, if they did so they would afterwards travel right on without returning to Wellington.. From advices he had received he expected that the contingent would number over 1000 men A telegram which, he had just received indicated that the men had! not arrived at the Bluff at two o’clock that afternoon. That meant that the arrangements would be -one day late, and that the Imperial troops would not arrive in Wellington until some time on Saturdav.

Some discussion arose as to the manner in which the troops were to be entertained.

Mr Fisher proposed that a committee he set up to draw no a plan and submit it to a meeting to be held not later than Wednesday next. The motion was lost. Mr Holmes moved, “That in view of the' opinion advanced! by the military authorities,- the proposal to billet the men be abandoned.”—Carried.

Mr Hislop moved, /‘That the Government be notified that it would be advisable under all the circumstances that the troops should sleep aboard the troopship during their stay in Wellington .’’—Carried . Mr Wilford proved, “That it be a recommendation to the officer in charge of the Imperial troops that the troops be liberated on furlough for several hours on one of the days of their stay here.”— Carried. * -

Mr John Holmes moved, r ‘That a lunch be provided for the troops on Monday next.” —Lost.

Mr Moore moved, “That a substantial tea be given to the Imperial troops and the volunteers (in camp at Newtown Park) at the Basin Reserve (or, if wet, in the Brillshed and Skating Rink) on Monday next, and that thb ladies of Wellington be invited by advertisement in the local papers to provide provisions for sets of twenty-five men.” f j: Mr Barber thought there might be difficulty in getting some of the Councillors to assent to the use of the Basin Reserve, which was a sacred place in their eyes. f Mr Wilford : The Councillors must be a reflex of public opinion, or they wi|l have to go out. _ , The motion was carried. :

Those present formed themselves into a committee, with Mr W. Ferguson as chairman and Mr F. Shaw as secretary, to carry out the necessary arrangements) and in turn elected Messrs James Moore;, A. R. Hislop, and J. Holmes a compribtee to go into details. U

THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME

FIFTEEN HUNDRED MEN COMING TO WELLINGTON.

CAMP AT NEWTOWN PARK

The whole of the Nelson, Mari- ; borough and West Coast South Island'“

Volunteers are under orders to come to Wellington to take part in the reception of the Imperial troops. .

The Taranaki, Wanganui, Maiiawatu, Rangitikei, Dannevirke, Woodviile, Pahiatua and Wairarapa Volunteers are also to take part. Lieutenant-Colonel Collins, of the Wellington Rifle Battalion, has been asked to take charge of the Camp, which will be held at Newtown Park, and has accepted. Associated with him in the control of the camp will be the members of the local battalion staff.

I-fc is estimated that there will be fully fifteen hundred . men under canvas.

A portion of the up-country Voluuteers are to be brought down on the night before the Imperial troops arrive (Friday). The Manavatu Cavalry and the Pahiatua and Eketahuna- Mounted Infantry, with their horses, will be brought down in a special train at 10.40 p.m. :

the Wairarapa Mounted Infantry, with their horses, will be detrained at Wellington at 12.20 a.m. i The infantry from Taranaki and the West .Coast districts will travel all night, and arrive in .this city at 7 o’clock on. Saturday morning. The Imperial troops are expected to arrive here on Saturday in the forenoon. They will probably, in conjunction with the Volunteers, be reviewed on Saturday afternoon, and marched through the principal streets. On Sunday a monster church parade will take place, and a service will probably be held in connection therewith either at Newtown Park or on the Basin Reserve.

It seems improbable, as far as can be ascertained at present, that the Imperial men will remain in this city over Monday, so that if they are to be treated to a tea it will.have to be late on Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon. The visiting Volunteers will be despatched. to their . homes ph • Sunday night.

It is probable that a section of Imperial men will visit- Papawai (Wairarapa) on their way to Napier on Monday, and that the remainder will go to Napier via the West Coast and Palmerston North. As far as can be ascertained; at present, Wanganui will not be included in the programme.

THE INDIAN TROOPS

DEPARTURE FOR .WELLINGTON,

MELBOURNE, February 4. The troopship Dalhousie, with the Indian Contingent on board, sailed to-day for Wellington.