MISCELLANEOUS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 3955, 22 January 1900, Page 6

MISCELLANEOUS.

Mr James Moore, of the Missions to Seamen, went on board the Waiwera as she was leaving the Queen’s wharf, a.nd ; on the way to the heads distributed cards among the contingent. The cards have the following,: “The members of the Missions to - Seamen wish ' the members of -the New Zealand contingent God-speed! and bon' voyage’’; “Certainly I be with thee.”—Ex.' S, 12. • “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble:’’—Ps; 46. 1. : - The visiting Mayors and the members of the demonstration executive committee are to he/entertained at luncheon at'Boss’s Gardens to-morrow by the Mayor. .. During the harbour procession the guests aboard the marshal’s boat subscribed £3, in response to the exhortation to pay, pay, pay contained in the appeal on behalf of “The Absent-mind-ed Beggar,” which was- sung by the party. The sura-will be handed oyer to swell the Mayor’s fund. As is well known to everybody, the arrangements for the demonstration were frequently altered before a final .decision was agreed- 'ijpon., The ultimate arrangements proved to be, on t he whole, complete and satisfactory. It )s always difficult to know how a crowd will act, and the action of Saturday’s crowd in congregating in large numbers at points where it was not expected the people would be*, numerous was the only serious drawback encountered in the demonstration, ashore. As , to the marine display, it was, as a spectacle viewed from the land, very effective. Excursionists, however, would have been better pleased had the steamers kept closer order. Some very’ hard work was done by members of the citizens? executive committee and others to make the demonstration a success, and difficulties and obstacles were met with, as is always the case in such affairs. Generally, the numerous workera, from the Mayor down to the choristers, are’ deserving of congratulation on the general result of the send-off to New Zealand’s second contingent for South Africa. An item of considerable. interest in the demonstration on Saturday was the playing by the Garrison Band of the new; march, “Rally Round the Union Jack.” -The patriotic verses, to which the music was set by Mr Percy Kehoe, musical- director for Bland Holt’s Dramatic Company, were written by Mr C. De O. Williams, of Wellington, the band part being arranged by Bandmaster Herd. The lively, swinging march step was greatly appreciated by the -members of the contingent and the guard of honour who accompanied them from the park-to the wharf. 1 A large number of members of “the craft” assembled on the wharf on Sat-! urday afternoon to bid farewell to Pri-‘ vate Moss, formerly Junior Warden of the Leinster Lodge of Freemasons, who is away to South ■ Africa with New •

Zealand’s second contingent. Private Moss was an old and valued member of the lodge, and his many friends bane him good-bye with sincere regret. Bugler Grimstone. a general favourite in the Kelbnrne Rifles, was at the last moment chosen to be a member of the No. 2 contingent, and as a mark of esteem his comrades subscribed a purse of sovereigns -and presented him with it, through his commanding officer, on the gangway of the steamer a few minutes previous to its departure. The popular young member of the corps would have had a more fitting send-off, but his final acceptance did not take place until about two hours and a half before the ship sailed. He was the only member of the contingent that left in the uniform of his company. Among the visitors to the camp on Saturday morning was Mr A. R. Falconer, of the Christchurch Missions to Seamen, who was very busy giving each man a small copy of the New Testament*

The. decorations at Newtown in honour of the contingent’s departure wwe executed by -Messrs H. Beaumont, Webster, Minifie, Wilson and others. Happily, everything passed off so smoothly on Saturday that the police had little or nothing to do beyond lending the moral support of their presence at certain awkward corners on the route. The assistance of the probationary officers was largely made use of in this work. From the Basin Reserve _to the Royal Oak Hotel various jioints were occupied by the Mount Cook police, and from there to the wharf by men from the central station, supplemented by others from the outlying districts. Orders were issued, and promptly obeyed, to all the men stationed along the route to make for Jervois quay and the Queen’s wharf as soon as the crowd passed. A couple of mounted police rode in advance of die procession. The Duchess, with the MitcheUtown Band on board, carried between 300 and 700 passengers. As an example of the ability of Wellington hotels and boarding-houses to cope with a large influx of visitors, the fact is worthy of note that at the City Buffet Hotel on Saturday no fewer than 1750 meals were served. To overtake the extraordinary demand. 7601 bof sausages wese ordered and were all consumed.

As indicating the popularity of Captain Eeid, who was in charge of the No. 1 Company of' the New Zealand contingent up to within a few days of the embarkation, he was cheered as he appeared before the men at a point along the line of march from the camp to Jervois quay. When the contingent was about to embark at the Queen’s wharf three ringing cheers were again given by the men for the deposed officer.

Lieutenant J. E. Hume, New Zealand Permanent Artillery Militia, who volunteered for active service, in South Africa, and who has been in command of the Permanent Artillery at Lyttelton, was before leaving 1 presented by Lieutenant-Commander Joyce, on behalf of the Lyttelton .Naval Artillery and the N Battery, with a silver pocket-1 flack and a compass. When the, lyotomaliana was leaving Lyttelton three cheers for Lieutenant Hume and, ,'pbe for Mrs Hume were given with groat' heartiness. The Lyttelton Brass Band played “Auld Lang Syne” and “God Save the Queen.” Lieutenant Hume is the only resident of Lyttelton who has left there for the front. A short time before sailing on Saturday' Lieutenant Hume received the following letter from* Master-Gunner Richardson, Royal 1 Artillery:—“The non-com-missioned officers and' men of the Permanent Artillery, Wellington; wish to tender you their hearty congratulations on your appointment,to the field force in South Africa. They wish you success, and trust you will have abundant opportunities' to distinguish ’ yourself," and do honour to the corps 'to which we are all so proud to belong. Personally I wish to express my heartfelt good wishes, and would much like to accompany you, but I do hope and trust that you will havfe good opportunities, for I know your fearless nature will enable you* to make the Intst of such opportunities. you go through the campaign safely, receive honours and distinguish yourself, and return safe and well to your relatives and friends,. is the wish of every noncommissioned officer and men, • f tJie Permanent Artillery, Wellington.” Lieutenant Hume, who left by the Waiwera, is to be attached to the Royal Artillery on arrival in South Africa. With the second contingent that loft on Saturday there went a special correspondent of the “New Zealand Tmsos,” who will supply this journal with letters descriptive of the voyage and of the doings of the contingent in South Africa. Mr W. D. Campbell, M.A., representing the “Lyttelton Times” as war cprrespondent in, Souths Africa, is a-* passenger by the Waiwera. Prior- to leaving Christchurch his confreres on the staff presented him with a pair of powerful field-glasses. Master Alan Saunders, younger ton of the editor of the “ Lyttelton Times,” and grandson of Mr Alfred Saunders, lately M.H.R. for Selwyn, left for South Africa by the Waiwera with the second contingent . It is understood that he is attached to the staff, of Major Cradock in the character -of ‘ despatch rider. Master Saunders, a curly-haired lad in his teens, is almost a born rider, and has daring and dash for any feat of horsemanship. . V