OUR RETURNING SOLDIERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11948, 23 January 1901, Page 5

OUR RETURNING SOLDIERS.

THE ARRIVAL OP THE MEN BY THE ORIENT. THE PROGRAMME FOR TO-DAY. THE DUNEDIN ARRANGEMENTS. Tho Reception Committee mot at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon at the Town Hall. Tho Mayor (Mr Chisholm) presided, and there wore also present Messrs G. L. Denniston, C.R. Smith, W. Low, J. Mill, T. Mackenzie, W. A. W. Wr.then, J. F. Arnold, M.H.R., J, Hutchison, T. W. Kempthorne, H. E. Muir, J. F. Kirby, -T. A. Park, M. Cohen, D. A. De Maus (Mayor of Port Chalmers), P. R. Sargood, C. Speight, N. Bell, and one or two others. Tho Mayor said the meeting was for the purpose of making up a suitable programme for the reception of the troopers, in view of the filtered circumstances, Mr Park had been good enough to draft a programme that would bo read, and it would be for thoso oresent to decido whether it was suitable or whether they desired any changes made. He (tho mayor) had received a number of telegrams, hut there was nothing important in them. They were from the various members of the Ministry acknowledging the invitation to bo present, and stating that tho ActingPremier would represent tho Government. Then there was some suggestion from someone that the firobell should bo rung whon the troons arrived. The Forhury Park Land Company wrote that as the committee had resolved to abandon tlio proposed demonstrations at the Forbury Park, they (the company) were prepared to grant tho freo ure of tho park for a similar purpose-on somo subsequent occasion. The company would not object to the committee throwing open tho park free to the public on (lie Wednesday afternoon for promenade purposes should they deem it advisable to do so. Tho Mayor said ho thought the Organising Committee were indebted to the company for their kindness. They had mot the committee in every possible way.—(Hear, hear.) A telegram was received from tho ActingPremier inviting the members of tho committee to breakfast in tiio morning on board the Tutanekai, and tho Mayor expressed tho hope that as many as could would avail themselves of tho invitation. It was intimated that the troopers could return to the ship by the 5.15 p.m. train. • Mr Park then read the programme he had drafted. This was as follows: — Volunteers, mounted troopers, and bands parade at 10.30 a.m. Returned troopers arrive from Port Chalmers at Sunedin station at 11 a.m. Mayor and others' meet them and call for cheers. Drags and official carriages muster oil cast end of the Triangle. If sufficient horses with the assistance of local troopers' horses, men may he mounted; invalids in drags. Proceed short march through city; route as may bo arranged at the meeting; finish at Oval. Troopers formed up facing drags; volunteers as Colonel IVcbb suggests. Drags and carriages lino up in Oval, from which"tho Mayor and Acting-Premier can welcome formally the tfoopars, after a church service, to occupy about half an hour. Other addresses can be left over till luncheon at hall. Ministers, choir, etc., (o be accommodated in drags, from which servicc can ho conducted; a'tter service march to Agricultural Hall to luncheon; relations invited, and returned invalided troopers to bo asked; short and quiet programme, to be prepared by the Social Committee; after luncheon troopers drive to their respective quarters. ■ . All volunteers to be provided with lunch by ticket presented at any hotel, or provided for them in the machinery court, Agricultural Hall. Citizens to entertain privately troopers till their departure mi Thursday. Mr Arnold said considerable feeling was exhibited with regard to tho trades display being abandoned. A deputation was present, and it would be as well to hear what they had to say on the subject. A representative from the Workshops said the exclusion of tho trades display was very disappointing to tho men, who would be obliged if tho committee could see their way to bring the display into the programme. It would please a great many persons. Representatives from the Telegraph department and tho shipwrights spoke in similar terms. The Mayor said more reassuring news had been received concerning tho condition of her Majesty's health, and personally ho could not see that there would be any great objection in the trades joining in the procession. Mr Cohen said that during the last 12 hours, judging from the cables, there was reason to think that our good Queen might rally, and, a3 wo all hsped, get over this illness. Under these altered circumstances ho could not see why they should not have tho reception carried out in its changed form as outlined by Mr Park. Ho would move that it bo a, direction to tho marshals lo make provision for the inclusion of a display by the trades. Mr Arnold seconded the motion. Mr C. R. Smith mentioned that it had been said, ho had been told, that the Workshops men were not anxious about the prizes for the display. The representative from the Telegraph department, and those from the Workshops and wheelwrights, all exprcs-ed th"ir contentedness to mako the display for the honour of the thing alone. Mr Mackenzie thought, it did not seem vierht, in the condition her Majesty was. that tlioy should have banners flying and bauds playing. It was most disappointing to these zealous and patriotic men that what might be considered the greatest Sovereign the world had seen was on tho point of death, and to hayo bands playing and flags flying at such a tune was not a proner thing. Mr Kempthorne said ho felt intensely that they had tho Queen on her death-bed, and to go round, the cilv with bands playing and banners flwag would be verv bad indeed. They should do nothinc of the kind. The circumstances were so deplorable that even foreign nations were affected by tin's probable change that was about to take place. He thought it would bo very improper to carry out this parade. To receive the troopers was a risht tiling to do, and the plan sketched out by Mr Park was reasonable. Mr Sargonrl suoported the oninionu expressed hv Mr Mackenzie and Mr Kempthornc. Tho function should ho abandoned, except the rocoption of the troopers. Looking at the very serious position that the nation was now in lie thought it should be made nurclv a military reception. If ttiev went beyond that, the t.rado3, or any other (li c nlay, could onme in. The Mayor thought ihey should curtail the programme if any further bad news arrived. The cifizons should not be remiested to iJiimirnto or ornament their premises. Mr SmithT think they should be communicated with, asking them not to illuminate them. Mr T>enni;ton moved that the whole mutter by left in the hands of the mayor, the ActingPremier, tho chairmen of (he several committees, and Mr Pnrk; Mr Mill having previously made a limiler suggestion. The Mayor: That is, that if no more unfavourable cables come about tho condition of her Majesty, the trades disolay takes place; the final decision being left ivith the persons mentioned. Mr Cohen's motion wan then put, and carried by nine vote 3 to six: and Mr Denniston's resolution, being seconded and put, was also carricd. 'The Mayor, rep'.vimr to Mr Mackenzie, said ho understood that flic programme adopted, including the trades display, would be proceeded villi if her Majesty was not worse. Mr Mackenzie: Yoil can scarcely have anything worse than that the Queen is dying. The Chairman: The care is not represented as bad as that. It is. decided that a full holiday will be observed to-day. THE PORT CHALMERS PROGRAMME. Tho s.s. Orient, willi the returning members of the New Zealand contingent from South Africa, was reported oft the Nuggets at 4 p.m. yesterday. Tha following is the programme arranged by the Port Chalmers committee on the arrival of tho Orient this morning:—The troops will leave tho wharf at 9 o'clock and procced to the cricket ground. Here short speeches will bo delivered by the Mayor iMr De Mans) and t.ho Hon. J. Cr. Ward. Acling-Prcmicr. The National Anthem will be sung, and after a short interval the bug'.e will pound at 10 o'clock exactly, the signal to entrain. Tho troops will then come oil lo Dunedin, where tho programme agreed upon will bo carried out. The Mayor of Port Chalmers paid a visit to the warship Mildura yesterday forenoon, and expressed his regret to Captain ICiugsmill at the receipt of the news of tho dangerous illness of her Majesty tho Queen and his fear that tho celebration of the return to their native land of tho Otago and Southland contingent would bo marred by the mournful intelligence. His Worship added that one and

all of the .Port Chalmers gladly welcomed Captain Kingsmill, his officers, and ship's company. The people of the Port wero at present plunged in grief at the illness of their beloved Queen. Still, they very highly appreciated Captain Kingsmill's visit. Mr.Sargood, the chairman of the Finance Committee, requests that the following may bo inserted" Though many of the arrangements made may have to he abandoned, the committee have entered into certain contracts and obligations. . Citizens are therefore requested to bear this in mind when waited upon for subscriptions and guarantees. The committee desire it to be generally known that all tickets which have been issued for the smoke concert and social in the evening will be now'available for the luncheon this morning, and those who have bought upstairs. tickets for the evening can likewise uc-e them for this morning. Anyone wishing to dino with the troopers—that is, friends, relatives, 'and others—can do so by purchasing a 2s 6d ticket. . These latter will be on sale at the Agricultural Hall this morning. It may be added that this will be the only opportunity for holding'converse .with the returning soldiers. Bishop Ncvill had to leave by the Taluno for the meeting of the General Synod, and so will be unab'.e to take part in the reception of the returned soldiers, to-day. _ | The Southern Band will meet in the band room at 9 o'clock sharp, i and will lead the railway workshops display in tl;a procession. As thero was every probability that only two entrios would be forthcoming for the procession to-day, and taking into consider#tion the general expression of opinion given utterance to at the committee meeting against holding Hieh'ii display, the telegraph officers have decided to withdraw. Though up to a late hour last evening they were busy at work preparing, the heavy rainfall necessitated an adjournment, during which the number of probable entries was ascertained, and the decision stated- above was arrived at. _ Their original intention was to take part in the procession of the celebration of peace throughout- the British Empire on the termination of the Boer war, and exletisivo preparations were at that time made to celebrate that event in a manner worthy of the so much desired recult. The representation would lmve been one which would have reflected credit on the service had it' been proceeded with.