IMPERIAL TROOPS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4263, 24 January 1901, Page 4

IMPERIAL TROOPS.

PROPOSED VISIT TO NEW ZEAI/AND.

Tho Mayor of AA’ellington (Mr J. G. W. Aitken) yesterday received tho following telegram from the Ading-Pro-mier (Hon J. G. AVard); “I am glad to bo able to inform yu that the Imperial troops will leave Melbourne by the s,s. Britannic on the 29th instant for New Zealand, their first port of call being Bluff, which they will read; on the 2nd 1 of February. After visiting Invercargill, Dunedin and Christchurch they will embark at Lyttelton on the evening of the sth proximo, arriving at Ayellingtoa on the morning of the 6th. The troops .mil remain in AVcllington on the 6th and Vtli. and leave on the morning of the Bth for , Napier. This will give them two nights and one clear day in AVellington. The troops can, if necessary, be accommodated on tho troopship at night, but it will be probably more agreeable to them if arrangements can be made to billet, say, one (thousand troops for two nignts, and accommodation provided for fifty Officers at the leading hotels. All arrangements will be made by the Government for the necessary horses to mount tho troops while here. I shall bo glad if you will kindly confer with those whom you may desire to. and then advise me how far the citizens of Wellington can co-oper-ate with the Government in making the visit of the troops to Wellington such a one as they will have reason to appreciate and to carry away pleasant memo, ries of. The time is so limited 1 for thenstay in the colony—namely, from the 2nd to the 11th February, as they require to leave Auckland on the latter date—that arrangements in connectirfn with their visit must be fixed abend. It is unnecessary for mo to add that while the Government is willing to do all in its power to make the visit of the troops to Now Zealand a pleasant one. it is tho local people only that can make the reception a great success. I shall be glad if you will advise mo of such programme as you propose to carry out in AVelliugton.”

i A few minutes later Mr Ward sent the 1 Mayor the following telegram : “For your information I (have sent you the pro- : gramme that was intended to be carried . out in connection with the visit of the Imperial troops before tho intelligence of her Majesty’s illness readied me. Tho ' course to he finally followed .will depend 1 upon the nature of tho news received ' during the next day or .two.” MR AITKEN’S REPLY. CITIZENS CANNOT “PAY THE PIPER.” The Mayor of Wellington replied to Mr Ward yesterday that he presumed the death of the Queen would load to an alteration of the arrangements in regard to the Imperial troops. His Worship intimated that while he would assist in 'the efforts which would undoubtedly lie .made to give a, warm welcome to the ' troops, he (as Mayor) could not call up- , ou the citizens to pay for any part of the entertainment. Mr Aitken added that as the Imperial Contingent had been, invited here by the Government, the men would, of coarse, he the guests I of the Government,which would naturally 'be expected to provide for its guests 1 accommodation while passing through.