THE IMPERIAL TROOPS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1510, 7 February 1901, Page 32

THE IMPERIAL TROOPS.

ARRIVAL OF THE BRITANNIC.

AN ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME.

INVERCARGILL. February 5. No event in the history of Invercargill —not even the Mafekiug demonstration —evoked keener interest than the visit of the Imperial troops. Had all gone right they would have arrived at the Bluff on Monday morning, but the Britannic encountered a dirty sou’-wester, uuring which it was impossible to see a ship’s length ahead. The steamer arrived off the port at three o’clock this morning, and shortly after the ActingPremier and party went off in the Tutanekai and welcomed Colonel Wyndham, his officers and troops. The Britannic then came into the anchorage, and the troops were brought ashore in the Government steamer. At the port they were treated to oysters and a light repast. After that they took train and arrived in town at noon.

Here an immense crowd, greater than that of the previous day, had waited all the morning, and as the troops emerged from the station the enthusiasm was great. A temporary stand had been erected opposite to the station, and the troops having formed up, the ActingPremier, addressing Colonel Wyndham, his officers and men, said he desired on behalf of the people of New Zealand to extend a cordial welcome. In doing so he could say that the people were delighted to have them in their midst, if only for a brief period. After referringto ibhe service to the colony of Imperial

troops in bygone times, Mr Ward saxa the present were peaceful times, so far as New Zealand was concerned. The welcome of th© men was evidence of fraternal sentiment existing between us in this remote corner of the earth ancl the nation’s brave sj?ns across the sea. New Zealand would do all in her power to make the troops’ stay pleasant and memorable. The time was somewhat limited, but before they left our shoies he trusted the officers and men would have realised that we had done our utmost to show the regard ancl affection the people had for the soldiers ancl nation of which they were such noble representatives He welcomed them very heartily and again expressed the delight all felt, and hoped the visit would be, agreeable. The Mayor, on behalf of the citizens, also extended a hearty welcome, referring to the fact that our Volunteeers bad been brought into close touch with the army in South Africa, and had fallen side by side on the field of battle with those of the Mother Country. Colonel Crole Wyndham then formed his men into marching order, and at 12.40 the procession started, going along Tay street to Queen’s Park, where preparations had been made to entertain the troops. The streets were packed, the roadway being as difficult to proceed along as the footpaths. As the various- detachments appeared tney were greeted with loud shouts of welcome.

In the course of the march the JELghland Light Infantry Band, the Invercargill Garrison and Southland P<pe Band played appropriate national airs. Oil arrival at the Park the troops partook of luncheon in two commodious marquees, and when the men lined into the tents and took their seats the scene was a striking one. After a substantial meal had been partaken of, the men moved round the grounds, and were accorded an individual welcome by hundreds, many of whom took advantage of the opportunity for an interesting conversation on the Old Country, the army and the colonial operations in the Transvaal.

The troops were eventually formed up and to the music of bands returned to the station, and left for the north by special trains at 3.30. Among the men are several who fought- at Magersfontein and Omdurman and other recent battles.

Taken as a whole, the district Volunteers are better men physically. The scene on the platform was extraordinary. As the trains steamed away every available space along the line was crowded with people, who cheered and waved farewells.

D GNEDIN, February 5

The Imperial troops, after leaving Invercargill, stopped at Gore for one hour. They were marched to the show ground, where they were entertained at luncheon, being met by the Mayor and Mr McNab, M.H.R. The troops were enthusiastically cheered at- Clinton, where five minutes’ stay was made. The crowd gave them an enthusiastic reception at Balclutha, where a fifteen minutes’ stay was made. An equally cordial reception was given by a larger crowd at Milton, where an hour was spent. A supper of a high order was prepared there for the men hi St. George’s Hall, while the officers were entertained at Coombe’s Hotel, the Mayor welcoming them. Colonel Wyndham responded. At every station on the whole line of route a crowd collected, and cheered the train as it passed. The first train reached Dunedin at 10.45, having made the run in five hours. Here a tremendous crowd had gathered in the Triangle. The scene was of a- most enthusiastic nature, and the sea of faces, lit up by the flaring lights, presented a weird but effective sight. The men disembarked from the train amidst tremendous cheering, and were drawn up in the Triangle. Here they were told off in sections, each of which was accompanied by a number of Volunteers. The men were marched off to the particular rendezvous appointed, and at each rendezvous those who hacl agreed to take the men were waiting. Each soldier was at once taken to the house where he was to be a guest. The arrangements appear to work satisfactorily. Colonel Wyndham and the officers and men are delighted with the reception accorded them, and the man ner in which they have been treated.

THE VISIT TO WELLINGTON

ARRIVAL ON SATURDAY.

LIKELY TO REMAIN OYER MONDAY.

IS THE COUNTRY TO BE MISSED

OUT?

The Acting-Premier must have been flooded on the stli with telegrams urging him to decide the probable programme of the Imperial troops as far as the North Island is concerned. Certainly he was asked the question from qU,ite a number of sources as to how long the troops were likely to remain in Wellington.

Tlie Mayor of Wellington was naturally one of {.hose anxious to know what would he done, because the half-holiday question was weighing heavily on his mind. If it had been decided that the principal celebration in connection with the arrival of the troops was to take place on Saturday, Mr Aitken would probably have declared that day a whole or a half-holiday, and thereby abolished Wednesday’s statutory half-holiday. But. Mr Ward has evidently been unable to

make up his mind in regard to the matter, because late on Tuesday lie. wired the Mayor that he would be unable to answer definitely until lie got to Dunedin as to the route the troops would take, and the dates winch they would be able to fill at each place. As far as can be ascertained, however, the arrangement tnat the men are to arrive here on Saturday in the forenoon still holds good. It is probable, however, that their stay in this city will be longer than at first- thought, and that they will not leave Wellington until Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning. As to whether the troops are to travel through the country districts no definite information is available. The military authorities have all along been under t-lie impression that they would, and have been making arrangements accordingly, but a telegram sent by the Acting-Pre-mier to Mr Swan, Mayor of Napier, on Monday, puts a different complexion on the matter. Its contents are as follow :—“Re visit of Imperial troops. Am arranging, instead of going overland, which would give only an hour or two at the most at Napier, for the steamer to take the troops from Wellington, and land them at Napier, which would enable them to spend the best portion of the day ashore. In all probability the date on which they will leave Wellington for Napier will be either Monday, 11th instant, or Tuesday, 12th instant. This I cannot advise you upon definitely yet, but I will do so as soon as I possibly can.”

.If Mr Ward sticks to this idea, the population of the country districts will naturally feel a very great deal of disappointment and chagrin. A big agitation is astir in Masterton in favour of the Imperials being allowed to spend a few hours at that important- centre, and elaborate arrangements are afoot for their reception. Palmerston North, too, is on the qui vivo, and its inhabitants will be grievously disappointed if at least- a portion of the troops do not make that inland town a place of call. In fact, every town and hamlet along the lines of railway hope to see the soldiers of the King and if through any mismanagement they fail to do so there will be wigs on the political green.

FORMATION OF THE OONTIN-

GENT.

Tho Imperial Contingent i.s composed as follows :

Commanding Officer: Lieutenant-Col-onel W. G. C’role Wyndham, C.B. (21st Lancers).

Staff : Three officers and seven men. Captain Evelyn Wood (Scottish * ifles).

Hon Lieutenant and Quartermaster W. H. Collins (King’s Dragoon Guards'. Regimental Sergeant-Major Laughton (21st Lancers).

Royal Horse Artillery, V Battery (56 men), with two guns and one waggon under Major J. B. M. Askwith, Lieutenant Dixon. Household Cavalry (Ist and 2nd LFe Guards, Roiai Horse Guards), 24 men, under Captain G. C. Wilson. ■ i-h^Hussars (22 men), under Lieutenant Viscount Cole. 21st Lancers (20 men), under Lieutenant R. H. Dick-Cunyngliam. Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry 126 men), under Major Fitz. R. P. Goddard, Second Lieutenant W. F. Fuller. Royal Field Artillery, 10th Field Battery, with two guns (56 men), under Second Lieutenant G. A. H. Hill. Royal Engineers, with waggons (with balloon section), and pontoons (54 men), under Captain Powell Second Lieutenant. T. H. L. Spaiglit. Land Highland Light Infantry (34 men), under Bandmaster Evans. Royal Garrison Artillery (43 men), under Second Lieutenant W. D. Warring-ton-Morris. Grenadier Guards (23 men), under Captain G. C. W. Heueage. Coldstream, Guards (23 men), under Lieufenant the Hon L. d’H. Hamilton. i~cots Guards (23 men), under Second Lieutenant Lord Falconer. Irish Guards (23 men;, under Second Lieutenant R. C. A. McCalmont. Queen’s Royal West Surreys (23 men), under Lieutenant B. T. Churcher. East Kent Buffs (23 men), under Lieutenant M. S. Williams. Somerset Light Infantry (23 men), under Lieutenant C. E. Chichester. Duke of CornwalFs Light Infantry (21 men), under Lieutenant A. P. vYil-liams-Freeman. Northumberland Fusiliers (23 men), under Major J. F. Riddell. Royal Fusiliers (23 men), under Second Lieutenant A. C. Chichester. Royal Welsh Fusiliers (20 men) under Second Lieutenant A. R. H. Rycroft. Royal Irish Fusiliers (22 men), under Lieutenant M. B. C. Carbery. Scottish Rifles (Cauieronians) (23 men), under Captain R. Oakley. King’s Royal Rifles (23 men) under Captain J. H. G. Feilden. Royal Irish Rifles (23 men), under Second Lieutenant C. M. L. Becher. Rifle Brigade (23 men), under Lieutenant R. P. H. Bernard. Pipers of different Scottish corps. Royal Highlanders (the Black Watcld, (24 men), under Lieutenant Green. Seaforth 1 Highlanders (Roth shite Buffs), (24 men;, under Captain E. Cowans. Highland Light Infantry (24 men), under Captain S. W. Scrase-Dick-ins. Cameron Highlanders (Queen’s Own), (24 men) under Second Lieutenant J. M. Dougall.