WELCOME TO RETURNING SOLDIERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11937, 10 January 1901, Page 2

WELCOME TO RETURNING SOLDIERS.

THE ORIENT'S CONTINGENT.

The following telegram was despatched to tho Acting-Premier (the Hon. J. G. Ward) by his Worship the Mayor of Dunedin yesterday:—"Last night's meeting, though not so large as on former occasions,- most enthusiastic and unanimous. Energetic committees appointed in connection with reception of troop? by Harlech Castle reappointod, and everything put in train to give the troopers returning by tho Orient a right hearty reception. Cm you, at your earliest convenience, furnish mo with fuller information as to number of troopers returning, what districts they are originally from, and when the steamer may bo expected at Port Chalmers. If her arrival could be arranged for Wednesday, 23rd inst., would be most suitable. Committee would like to know if it is practicable to get 100 Imperial troops (say, Black Watch) to accompany our troopers to arrive. Their presence in the various centres of New Zealand would, I feel sure, intensify the feeling of Imperial fraternity that we are pleased to seo prevails to such a general extent at the present time."

The following reply came to hand last evening:—"Am very pleased to hear that your meeting was so enthusiastio and unanimouc in its dc?ire to suitably welcome returning troopers by Orient. I have telegraphed to the Imperial transport officers, asking them to furnish mo with ths fullest information possible, and also probable date of the steamer's departure. I am also asking that the steamer should be directed to report to thn signal station at the Bluff when passing so as to give a dear day to enablo your arrangements to be carried out. I cabled tn the War Office through his Excellency the Governor a few days ago urging that the Tm verial troops should be allowed to coma to New Zealand by the Orient, and I am looking forward hopefully to a favourable reply. I agree with you that a visit from,the Imperial troops would torn! to further cement u strong feeling in the chain of Imperialism that has been so firmlv. welded during tlio recent stirring times. You may depend on my letting you know on receipt of information."

LETTERS FROM THE FRONT. Mr Prank Armstrong has received a chatty letter from Lieutenant J. R. Mac Donald, of the fourth contingent, dated Klerksdorp, November 25, from which we make the following extracts:— We have boon here for a week now, and are heartily glad of the rest. Of course, it is noi all play and no work. There are the usiio! outposts to be occupied in turn by each squadron, and wo have been out twice on ci/.nm&ndeering expeditions; but for those trips wa did not parade till 5.45 a.m.—a welcomechange from the daily 3.30 a.m. on the inarch. One, squadron of the fourth New Zealand :. ; out to-day. Wβ' don't know where they went. They paraded at 4 a.m., while the remainder of us slept. The first aay we. were here the officers of the- fourth New Zealand were quartered in the gaol—a large, wellventilated, but somewhat bare and gloomy residence. On tho second day we were al lotted quarters in an empty butcher's shop, the owner of which is , away on commando A butchery does not seem the moefc inviting place in tho world to dine and sleep in; but after our black boys had about an hour's work with bucket and broom it was not in the least objectionable. However, on thr~ third day we got permission to occupy the de sorted and partially-wrecked Central Hotel" where we now are, living in the full cnjoymenl of separate rooms and beds.

Just;' try to imagine what if feels like to sleep in a- bed—a real bed—once more, after six months of hard, lumpy, tussoeky. and often rocky ground. Try to realise, if you can, the feeling of luxury (hat ono experiences on putting one one's pyjamas after sleeping night after night for six months in oner's close-fitting riding breeches, to say nothing of boots and' leggings. I'll confess, however, that I did not sleep well during the first night that I occupied my little bed. The pillow was- unfamiliar, and I awoke quite a number of times, feeling that something was wrong, for the wire mattresses had a habit of yielding that gave one a strange feeling of insecurity after the solidity of mother earth.

Of course, there are neither proprietors nor servants in the Central. We run the place ourselves, with tho assistance of our orderlies and our black boys. Nearly every officer has a black boy. for whom he call? by day and night, My nigger gave his name as .Pete, but I found that my enunciation of that monosyllable did not seem to penetrate the quiet air of the evening, neither did it carry fur enough on the wings of the morning, so I re-chris-tened the boy "Dooley." Tho people here, or. at any rate, the greater part of them, were jolly glad to see us. They heard our bis; guns going for an hour or so in the morning four miles out of the town, and worn ready fur our arrival. Although the children did not stand on thp doorstops niMl ireicomo us by singing "Soldiers of the Queen," nn they" did al Znerusl;. the "crown lips " were not backward in Iheir expression.? of loyalty. Ladies in dainty white dresses, wearing "tho colours," tripped about the streets, and one enthusiastic woman had a Union .Tnok pinned across her breast. Tho doctor's wife drove about in her Cape cart with red, white, and blue ribbons fluttering from her pony's headstall. They had seen no British troops—no " khakis "—since July 25— four long, weary months. By the way, we are no longer " rooibaatjos," no longer "rooineks "-two are- simply ■" khakis."