THE IMPERIAL TROOPS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11955, 31 January 1901, Page 2

THE IMPERIAL TROOPS.

WILL LEAVE MELBOURNE TO-DAY. DUE AT THE BLUFF ON MONDAY. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, January 30. (Received Jan. 31, at 1.20 a.m.) Colonel Wyndham has been instructed to proceed to.New Zealand at daylight tomorrow. The Indian troops are expected to remain here a fortnight.

A TELEGRAM FROM THE ACTINGPREMIER. His Worship the Mayor last evening received the following telegram from the Hon. J. G. Ward:—"l have received cable advico this evening from the commander of the Britannic at Melbourne that ho expects to leave at daylight to-morrow, and to arrive at the Bluff on Monday, 4th February. I send you this for your information. It is just • possible, however, that the date may yet bo fixed for the morning of Tuesday, as a cnblo making this request crossed the one received by me. I shall advise you further when I get definite information. In any casoyou can depend upon its being Monday or Tuesday for certain." , "

Messrs Dalgety and Co. have received the following cablegram from Melbourne bearing yostorday'B date:—"The Britannic leaves here at daylight to-morrow. She is expected to reach the Bluff on the morning of the 4th and Port Chalmers on the evening of the ♦t!;."

TELEGRAMS ABOUT BILLETING. His Worship the Mayor (Mr R. Chisholm) sent the following telegram to tho Hon. Mr Ward on Tuesday:—"Will officers in command of Imperial troops raise any objection to billeting of troops as per my telegram to you last night?. Applications this morning to accommodato about 200 more. Suggest, if any doubt, should cable officers immediately, and get reply before leaving Molbourne." The next message from the Mayor to tho Acting-Premier ran thus:—"lf objections taken by Imperial officers to the billeting of troops, in private houses throughout the city, I would respectfully suggest that mattresses and blankets bo conveyed from troopship by rail, when they could be put up comfortably in one or two of the publio halls in the city. The catering, no doubt, could bo satisfactorily arranged. Kindly let mo know what you think, as it. is very necessary arrangements should ho definitely settled as soon as possible."

The Mayor further telegraphed:—" In conference with Colonel Webb, ho suggests that difficulties will arise in connection with billeting the troops in the manner I have already indicated. He proposes that they should go to camp in the Caledonian ground. He has the tents ready; has arranged for straw and blankets, and has obtained the right to use the ground free. He proposes to give them meais in Agricultural Hall, close by. He reckons 1 that the cost to the Government will bo about £M. Let me know at once what you would advise, as the timo is short, and I am desirous to work in harmony with military authorities, biit see clearly that if this arrangement is carried out little assistance will bo received from citizens, while if citizens' propositi is accepted the assistance of military authorities will he very half-hearted." Tho Hon. J. G. Ward forwarded the following reply yesterday morning:-" Since receipt of your wire Colonel Webb has been communicated with by the Commandant of the Forces. Will you kindly confer with him again. The officer commanding the Imperial troops was advised by the Commandant of the Forces some days ago of the desire to billet tho men, and so far ho has taken no exception to it. The camping of the men at tho Caledonian ground and the arrangements for straw and blankets and for victualling at the Agricultural Hall can be carried on without the least difficulty by the Government, and this we would be quite prepared to do, regarding the cost as a secondary matter. But that is not the best way, in my opinion, to make the visit of the troops to the colony pleasant anil memorable. They are not coming here on service. They are our invited guest 3, and it ; is with the object of making them realise that they are quite at home that tho idea, of getting the people to entertain them is suggested. The lamentablo death of the Queen makes anything in the shape of festivities impossible, and considering that the troops will be in the colony only for nino or ten days it will be rather rough upon them, to say the least of it, if only the formal treatment usually given to soldiers be accorded them. Tf. after again conferring with Colonel Webb, you and the others working with you arc of opinion that the difficulties referred to are such as render it undesirable feir private citizens to come in in tho way indicated, kindly let me know.' lam greatly obliged to you for all Ihe trouble you have taken in the matter so far."

Shortly afterwards the Mayor received Ibis message from the Acting-Premier:—"For your information I think it only right to inform you early this morning that the reported stoppage of the Britannic with the Imperial troops in.Melbourne is only temporary. I received official advice Inst night "of the temporary stoppage,- and also that the visit is still to be made. The tlelav in Melbourne will, in my opinion, render it impossible for tlio steamer to arrive by Saturday, which was at first arranged. Under the altered circumstances I think possibly it would be better forall parlies if tlio date of arrival enn be deferred until the following week. This will, of course, alter tlio dates of arrival at the other, centres throughout the colony. In any case, ns soon as I am in a position to advise you definitely you can depend unon it being done."

His Worship desnalehed the following telegram to the Hon. J. G. Ward yesterday afternoon:—"Thanks for telegram, since receiving which I have bad a conference with Colonel Webb, who expresses his willingness to co-operate with me in billeting the troop? on tlio citizens, or in making any other arrangement (hat to the Government may seem best. If the colonel commanding does not object,, the groat kindness of a loyal and generous community should lie gratefully accepted. Colonel. Welib will complete arrangements for camping as far as possible as an alternative, so that whatever may be ultimately determined wo will work together to make the brief stay of the troops in Dunedin as pleasant as possible. I quite approve of your suggestion to postpone tlio visit for a wock or ro. Hope they will not arrive in Dunedin on a Sunday." Last night the Hon. Mr Ward telegraphed to his Worship as follows:---"I am glad to know that the arrangements so far are progressing satisfactorily. I will specially request that the steamer should .arrive at the Bluff upon an ordinary week day, so as to onahlo it to get to Dunedin clear of Sunday:" ' ADDITIONAL OFFERS OF ACCOMMODATION. Tlio following are additional names of tiiOEO who have offered to provide accommodation for the Imperial troops:—Mrs J. M'Cronrge (1). T. IT. Binkin«m .12). R. Tilbury 13). Mrs

Win. Gray (2), A. Tompson (2), ft. Mercer (?,). T. Stewart (2), Mrs Black (2). W. Bid. dell (1). Wm. Alvcs (?), John M'Kechnie (2) •I. C. Short (?.). W. R Reynolds (2). F. W Bolt (2), W. Briltenden (2), Mrs W. Todd (2), A. Glen (1). S. H. Trcvena (2), Mrs M'Leau (2). J. Brown (2). Mrs J. Mayor (4), G. Snowdeti (2), ,1. J. Harvey (2), H. F. Hardy (2), il. Campbell (1 or 2), J. Mackorfas (2), Mrs M. Jones (2), A. Lilly (1 or 2), J. J. Sims (2). Mrs W. Wood M),'W. H. Harris (2). S. Goldsmith (2). W. H. Tnirlis (2), *T. Beck (2). J. R. Scott (2), Mrs M. Barnes (1 or 2), Mrs South (2), A. Binnie (2), W. Forrester (1 or ?.), A. Russell (2), B. King (2), Percy Helmore (2); Jno. Melrose (2)', and W. Saunders (1);— total, 776.. "Well-wisher" forwards £1 for entertainment of the men, and the Mayor of Port Chalmers offers to procure accommodation for some of the men. Mr J. H. Chapman offers his services. Mr H. F. Hardy makes an offer to pay the expenses of two men at Mr Keligher's Crown Hotel. Colonel Webb has advised country corps that they may be brought into town and' placed in camp for three days during the visit of the Imperials. Rations will be provided at the cost of the Government.

His Worship tho Mayor ntvrsz %7«£si thanks in another column /or the response made to th" Appeal to billet the Imperial soldiers, and requests those who are desirous of accommodating any of the men, and who have not sent in their names, to do so as soon as possible.

Owing to the postponement of the visit of the Imperial troops, the Railway department will not issue excursion tickets to Dunediu.