OUR RETURNING TROOPERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11931, 3 January 1901, Page 5

OUR RETURNING TROOPERS.

TP) RECEPTION OF THE ORIENT'S ' 1 MEN. . The Mayor (Mr R. Chishblm); who is in\he Tapanui district, forwarded the Mowing telegrajnlb the Hon. J. G. Ward on: Now YcarY Day; in reply to the Acting-Premier's telegram offering to give Dunediiithe hoiipur of giving a- reception to the New Zealanders returning by Jhe Orient:—'"Many '.thinks' for ' Jkind seasons greetings, which I hsuirtily reciprocate; Your telegram re troopers returning by Owontjecfeived last night., 1-also :see in Daily limes reply gent by Mr. Kcnipthorne on subject, with which I-to some, extant agree. In view of the frequent arrivals .of-returning troopers,, while thoroughly Approving of giving aU a hearty welcome attention they .unquestionably deserve,' .'it is hardly reasonable to expect citizens to continue demonstrations on an extensive scale to every hatch of trooper? arriving. I think tho supremo effort should ,bo postponed until the. last of our contingents,'with Colonel Robin,, arrives, those who have borne the heat and burden of the day and whose return will herald the speedy termination of hostilities. When wo can invito all returned troopers iii Otago and Southland, with their relatives and •friends, to. join with citizens in a reception demonstration worthy the ldyalty'and patriotism of our people. As I do not return to Dunedin until Saturday evening. I will not. be able to convono a meeting of Reception Committee before Monday, when I will immediately wife result.—R. Ohibholm, "Mayor, Dunedin." ■ • ',

Our Wellington'correspondent telegraphs: " It is very probable tHat "tlie Orient,' with the returning New Zealand troopers on board, will st/eam direct to Wellington,from Sydney or Melbourne, and land the. soldiers at this port, instead of at Dunedin .as arranged a- few days ago. This is, I understand, in consequence of some telegram from 'he Mayor Of Dunedin. Tinder the circumstances Wellington will have to come to' the'front onco •more." ' The Christehurch Press says We confess that we are a little surprised, lioweyer, that there should be any show of reluctance, on the part of Dunedin tp acpppt the honour which has been offered to.that city. Evifn if. it involved cutting short tho mayor's holiday, we should have thought the saciftjijeVnbt .too,great to offer to the men .who have'sacfr-. fjced so much for the Empire an ; South Africa." . ~ • ' v ■ .. •;,<•