THE NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2272, 16 September 1897, Page 21

THE NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENT.

ARRIVAL OF CAPTAIN ROBIN.

Several members of the mounted troop that represented New Zealand in the Jubilee demonstrations in London returned to their homes by. tha express train from the north on Saturday, and as they got off at their respective stations— Ashburtop, Timaru, Oamaro, Waikousiti, and,. Puketeraki— they one and all received'a very hearty greeting, being cheered *nd welcomed in a demonstrative manner.' Captain Robin had people to meet him at nearly every station, and at Dunedin he was welcomed in a more formal but not less cordial manner, mention of which will be made later on.

AN INTERVIEW. A representative of tbis journal met the express train at Studholme Junction for the .purpose cf seeking an interview with Captain Robin. The circumstances were most unfavourable for an interview. Captain Robiu i«, as he himself declares, a bad "tnio sailor." He was aot well, and the medicine proscribed, together with the jolting train journey, h«d put him quite oat ofcconditioD, fo much so that it required considerable effort to carry on a conversation and to pick out from memory mat'ees likely to be of general interest. Captain Robin, however, raised no difficulties, asd made little of those that were quite apparent, and in 'the course of conversation with our representative eaid :—": — " From what I can see, you have been so well posted up by your Loudon'^correspondent that you know practically everything of interest there is to tell. Forty of tbe troop bave come back in the Ruahine, and the other 14- are coming io the Maiatna. Very good health has been enjoyed all through, the only exceptions being a few colds, which in one case went rather close to pneumonia. On arriving in London vre were driven from the Albert Docks to the Chelsea B*rrack«, where we were located, and on arrival were inspected by H.R.H. the Duke of CoDn&ught. You k«ow something of how we were treated in London. The interest, the kiadnfss, the goodness of everyone are beyond description. Every one of us was strongly impressed by the real »ff*ction that seems to be entertained in the hearts •£ all classes of people in the old country for the colonies and colonists. There oannot be the slightest doubt about that. What they did for us, and the spirit in which everything was done, made that abundantly manifest. W« ■were right royally entertained. The theatres and other places of amusement were thrown open to all, and the ofß«era were made members of even the meet exclusive olufes during their stay in the oVd country. M»«e hospitality could not poseibly hssve been shown. I w«s made a member of the Garlton, the Conservative (Junior and Senior), and numerous other clubs. We had horses supplied to us the-week after our arrival. Erom the time ef leaving New Z^-al-tnd to re-embarkation for home we had drillicg almost every day, and plenty of it. Even ou Sundays there was tiie church paradfi and a certain amount of dcilt. Our work at first was purely ceremonial. We | arrived on the 11th of June, and the nev«r-to-be forgotten Jubilee Day was, of course, Uio 22nd. < '"On the Saturday before Jubilee D*y we in the procession through the K«.«t End of , London, and ' rendeevoused ' with 4600 wouat«d troops, includiog' 58 horee and flfeld artillery guns. There were some slight rosu'ceuvres gone through in the park, and then we returr>ei. 16 was specially dVsired by line Queen that tiie j colonial troops should be taken there, and as we met the Imperial troops coming in it ma4e a very great procession. Oa that day I enj»yed very rapid promotion, acting as wing-iu«j»r for j the colonial troops. The reception we met with ; in those densely crowded streets, where the poorer classc* hve, was very etifchusia^tic, tbe people being even more d-monstrative towards J the troops than on Jubilee Day. The jwopJe ran out to us, caught our fellows round the legs, and j forced refreshments on them , h> that if military ! discipline bad-allowed it everjoue could have got ; blind dtunk without a man leaving Mie rack*. ' The people swarmed every wherej and from the '• crowded windows flowers were thrown in pro- • fusion. There could be no mistaking tbe spirit '. the people entertained towards the colonies. j "Oa Sundays we generally went ♦« ahurch 1 parade in the Grenadier Guards chapel, where j the Guards' B.tnd takes tho pines of the organ [ iv the service. The rffect of the band music s in church is very gra>;d, and those who are at' all, musical eu joyed it immensely. TftTkiag about band*, I might say that one Suaday morning there came into tbe barracks sq«are the bands of the Hor*e Artillery, tbe Royal Engineers, the Ist and 2nd Life G*ards, the Coldstream, and tbe Grenadiers, in all about 300 bandtttnen, and they played fer ■ two hours. Tbe music was the »o*t perfect imaginable : the bands pl«yed simultaneously, aud th» effect was marvellous. Oae j thing that was a reveUtjon to me was the : 'march time.' It is ever so much quicker than the colonials, and there is a swing in it. The marching of the soldiers is much, quicker at j Home than here. j " As to Jjabilee Day, you must have heard a j good deal moretban I can tell you.-- Thnt day 1 c*n. never be .forgotten. We mounted at 7 ' o'clock in the morning and went to the Hotel j Cecil, where the Premiers were staying, and j formed in proceeeion. The carriages of I the differect Premiers dovetailing io as near their own troopß as they coald get. We moved ' up to St. Paul's Churchyard, reaching there about midday, and were close columned. The Premiers took their places in the stand, and we dismounted and waited till that part of the procession preceding the Quten came up to St. Paul's. Here again the kindness of the people was unmistakably manifested by the lavish way in which they supplied refreshments. The colonial troops did not see the ceremony at St. Paul's ; bat, owing to the kindness of the officer in charge of the Grenadier Guards, Ig't a distant view of the whole proceedings, as he led me along at the rear of bis guard until I could see tbe front of St. Paul's. The front of the cathedral was built up with seats, and these •were occupied by the visiting Princes, plenipotentiaries, Premiers, and ladies who had special royalty rights. From tbp; point I saw the Horse Artillery, the Life Guards, and the Lancers arrive and pass in procession immediately preceded by the Indian and other PrincfS and visiting Royalties, all mounted. The Royal carriage was drawn by the Queen's six cream horses, the harness and trappings of which were simply masses of gold ornamentation ; in fact, you felt inclined to say, ' Halloa, harness, where are you going with the horse ?' Bach horse was ridden by » postilion, and for extra precaution there was a man leading a? well. The Queen did sot leave the carriage, and here I got the first sight of her Majesty. It was all very grand ; but the most impressive part of the whole cere-, mony was the singing of the ' Old hundredlh.' It's a simple old tune, isn't it ? but when it was ■truck up by the great choir I thought of home and of New Zealand, and it brought a mist to tha eyes and a lump in the throat. The hymn of praise was followed by the National Anthem and cheers — such singing and huzzas as can be

heard only once in a lifetime. The decorations of the streets surpass description. For miles and miles the streets bad been lined with hoarding and seats, and yet there was not a patch of timber visible anywhere — all was covered with bright materials, reds, whites, and blues, festoons and wreaths everywhere ; and in St. James's street yon could .not see the sky for drapery, and there were captive doves flattering about, but whether these were artificial or real I could not gay — they looked natural enough. AH the streets were closely lined with troops, and at the cress roads there were detachments of cavalry, and there were bands here and there all along the route of the procession, which was variously estimated at front 12 to 14 miles, though it did not seem to be anything like as much as that. The rest of the route was a repetition of magnificence. You could not see a stone or a patch of brickwork oa a building all along the route ; and I might mention, as showing the eolicitude for our comfort, that before starting out in the morning Lord Roberto, who was the Commander-ia-Chief of the functions, came and asked if our men had had a good breakfast, as it was likely to be a long day. I said, ' Well, if we colonials cannot get through one day without something to eat we had better have (stopped in New Zealand.' Lord Roberts seemed much pleased, and eaid, 'That's the fork of spirit that seems to actuate all the colonials.' The day was warm, and was pretty severe on the infautry. There were ambulance corps in readiness along the route, and as we went along I saw more than one insn'ri head being propped up, but our men etood it well enough.

M As I hive said, during our stay everything was ma^e as agreeable as possible for as. No difficulty was put in the way of the colonials getting out of barracks and tciog as much as possible. All were put on 'good conduct leave' so that tlvy mighS Bbay ou; till midnight, and if further leave was wanted tha ♦fficer of the troop had si.nply to send the n-tme of the man to the officer of the gu»rd, who would «t once sea that it was given. Tuere was the b«st po=sible feeling shown by the regulars to the colonials, so much so that if one of our men overstayed his leave, on coming to the barracks he trould be told to ' bolt in,' th». men o*jiog, ' Wb've enough of our fellows in the gnard room without you colonials.' " Tbe morning after Jubilee Day we were insp«eted by Lord Wol-*eley, the commander of fcbe fvroes, and were complimented by him. On the same day I received an order to take an c*oorfc to Windsor. I w*s the only New Zealaeder th'sre. The escort consisted of squads from the Roynl Canadian Brigade, New South Wales Lancers, Victoria Mounted Rifles, South Au«trftU*n Rifle*, the bugler, *nd myself. We went to Paddington station, entrained, and were taken to Slough, six miles from Windsor. Sliere we met a troop of tbe Horse Guards Blue, who, formed the tecoiid division on the left, with tbe colonials oa the right, in the position of honour. We started for the caitle, which all knew so well from pictures, rode straight into Ibeoustte y»rd, and formed ioeide it. Then I was called to taVe the colonial troops to the Qoceu'd carriage os her Majesty w*«ii«d to see them. I was introduced to her M«je-«iy by the General-iu-W»iting, and the »en were then taken part iv tingle file, so that ttiey were seen individually, and I had to explain to her Majesty where each one came fcow as they filed by. After that her Majesty tiwuked roe and asked me to convey her thanks to the members of the escort, sayiug tbafc she was pleaded to see so many of her beloved colonists afc a time like this, ond th»t she hoped we would have a safe and pleasant refcurn. The Qiwen sp^e with great feeling. From fee Ortistle we wont to the barracks of the H*we Guards Blue, where the men were entertained at the sergeants' mesa and I dined with Vbe efficers, again meeting here Lord Blethuen, Lord Lonsdale, and other wellknown military men. Afterwards we rode to Uie station, entrained the horses, and returned to Chelsea Barceck-i at 2.30 a m., and at that ti*ne in the morning the bu«lle in the streets of Louden was «s great as in the middle of the d«y. I may say that the kindness of Colonel Brookkhure 1 -, Viscount Criohton (adjutant), aad M-ojor the Hon. V. V. Binney was )u;b that it must live in my memory for the rest of my life.

"I s*w the review ab Aldershot — a very grand military spectacle. The Queen was jwes«nt, and all tbe colonists here had an ©pportunity of seeing her Majesity as she pawed along the line?. I also saw the wwaderful nav*l display — the review at Spith«*ad. A »peoial boat conveyed the colonial ferospc, and we had naval officers with us to explain what we saw. There were 25 miles of warships of all sorts and sizes in four lines. During our second visit to Spithead we boarded some of the men-of-war, and here we found the same generous entertainment a* elsewhere. When leaving one »f the. ships an officer said, 'Those army chaps are not treatiug you very well, are tbey ?' I replied. •Oh yes, they are,' and the officer sail, • 3S»ey should have let the navy fellows get you ; because we know more about you <Ivmi they do. When we'are on station in the various colonies your houses are open to us, you have balls, picnics, and partier, and all tiiateott of thing for us. and we should like very muob. to return your kindnesses.' Something iv that spirit was often said, and on every ship tbe officers were most kind and did all they could for our entertainment. I had a run to B^riniogbam, Coventry, and oae or two other places, but most of the time I ■was doing what I could to g«in knowledge of military matters, that would be useless to enumerate here, but which, I hope, will be of use to the troop here. •♦The distribution of medals took place at Buckingham Palace. The Princess of Wales wrs present, and H B.H. the Prince of Wales handed the medals to the men. This was the commencement of tbe breaking up of the colonial forces, the Canadians marching straight from tbe Palace to the train for Liverpool. Most of oar men returned by the. Ruahine. We had a gocd passage <>nt and excellent receptions at Hobart aad Wellington. The Tasmanian people are very sore at not having had military representatives a« Home, and did what they could to make up for it by entertaining us on our return. The Premier of this colony evinced great interest in the men while in London, and at ones allowed those who desired to stay a little longer to remain there. From first to last the conduct of j the men was good, and any little scrapes that happened when once checked did not occur again. The Agent-general (the Hon. W. P. Reeves) was a very good friend to the members of the contingent, He attended to everything. He got the men's rations doubled, made arrangements for our comfort during the return voyage, and gave us one of the treats of the visit — I the picnic up the Thames, — which h&s besn j already described in your paper. Altogether, I ! can say I have enjoyed the trip very -much, although it involved a good deal of hard work and not a litfle responsibility. lam delighted to get back to New Zealand, and to be on my way to Dunedin and home."

THE RECKPTiOST.

There was a most cordial reception awaiting Captain Robin on his arrival at Dunedin. The crowd was so great th&fc the police deemed it

needful to barricade the railway platform, and it was well tbis was done, for the crowd in the vicinity of the station niuct have numbered several thousand, and there was also a great gathering in the Octagon in front of Mr J. Hobin's premises. The Mayor (Mr H. G jurley), accompanied by Cre Carroll, Solomon, Chitholm, and Park, and Mr W. B. Taylor (town clerk), members of the Reception Committee, the Hon. T. Fergus, Messrs J. Hazlett, A. J. Bnrns, J. Hislop, D. Bacon, and others, met Captain Robin to formally- welcome him. Amongst those present were also Colonel Webb, Captain Milne, Surgeonmajor Coughtrev, Mr J. Allen, M.H.R , Mr J. A. Millar, M.H.R. Hon. D. Pinkerton, Mr James Robin, Miss Robin, and members of the Otago Hussars from Dunedin, Waikouaiti, and Taieri. On landing from the train Captain Robin was loudly cheer«d, and the friends having gathered round him. The Mayor said : Ctptaiu Robin, I am very happy, on behalf of the City Council and citizens of Dunedin to extend to you a very hearty welcome back to New Z-jaland.— (Chears.) I may say that the citizens of Duuedin are highly pleased with the very hononrable way in which jou have acquitted yourself while in EogUnd. It has been very pleasant to read from time to time the fluttering remarks that have boen made about you, and about the way in which you have performed your duties. I congratulate you upon the able way in which you have d«'s barged your duties, and I am sure t\esp, remarks may be extended to the men under your command, who have so ably seconded your efforts. It is very pleasant indeed to ccc thfct a young man, brought! up in New Zealand, with no Imperial training, has been able virtually by your own perseverance to train lyourself to such an extent that your ability has been recognised by the military auihorities in England.— (Olieers ) I have na doubt that youc success will be an ipcentive to young men in New Zealand to imitate the honourable example you have set. and I c-innot help saying that the ■way tbe -authorities received^the comingenc iv England will go a long way to strengthen tbe good feeling that exists between the Home country and the colonies. Tbe coble appearance tbe colonial troops presented will prove to the world th*t EogKnd has got a etrong force at her -back in her colonial empire. I can oaly flay again that Captain Robin *nd the men from New Zealand, havo performed their duty worthily, and have acquitted themselves • with credit to the colony. With these remarks I desire to heartily welcome you on your return to your native land. — (Cheers.) Three ringing cheers were then givea for Captain Robin and another for hi 3 Worship the Mayor. Mr S Gh Smith, on behalf of the ex-members of the Otago Hnssars and aa his old lieutenant, had much pleasure iv welcoming Cnptain Robin They all, he said, felt proud of Ctptain Robin and indebted to him for the way he had represented the colony in England, ond w«*re much gratified at the way in which her Majesty ths Queen had been pleased to receive h ; m.— (Cheers.) Colonel Webb said that, on bahalf of the volunteers, he bad much pleasure in welcoming Captain Robin ; bub as that -was no place for Bp iechifying, he would take some other occasion of testifying to the excellent manner in which Captain Robia had carried out; his duties. — (Cheers.) Captain Robin, in replying, said : Your Worship, members of tbe council, officers, exhussars, volunteers, and gentlemen, —It is very much harder for me to speak heav just now than it was to do my duty in the old country. Tliece is quietness and coolness in the discharge of duty, bat the warmth o? your welcome is confusing, and as I find the mayor, councillors, officers, aad so many of my fellow citizens here to receive me, I hope you will excuse me for not«ayinga great deal to-night. — (Applause 1 .) I should like to say that six months ago I expressed to the friends who came to say goodbye the hope th*t on returning I should prove to have merited their confidence, and I feel proud now to stand amongst you and to be received as yon have received me to-siight. — (Applaute.) Of the power of our country, of tbe relationship which exists, and of the affection in which the mother country holds the ■colonies I shall probably have something to say to you later oa ; but I would say to all parents, put your boys into the volunteers. I thank your Worship and all friends for your kind reception. — (Cheers.) Som^ of the volunteers present seized Captain Robin aud c*rried him shoulder high to hia carnage, and he was driven off, with the mayor and other friends, amidst the cheers of the people who thronged the station and yard. On arrival at the Octagon there was fouad a large crowd — mainly of ladies — to see and welcome Captain Robin. When the carriages came to a stop the assemblage cheered him heartily again and «gain. Captain Robin said : You can hardly imagine I how pleased and grateful I am for the kindly reception given me on my return fiocn journeying amongst strangers and go far from home. I am indeed proud to fiad myself so honoured, and thtt I appear to have won your approbation.—(A Voice : " You hare doDe us honour." — Cheers.) But I fake this display of good feelj ing as a mark of approval, not for myself alone, I but for tho men of the New Zealand contingent who have been my comrades, and who have worthily represented you. — (Cheers.) I am very pleased to be back again in Dunedin among? fc you all. You will not, lam sure, expect me to make any lengthened speech just now. I ask you to accept my very sincere and hearty thanks for all your kindness.

AN ENTERTAINMENT.

A nymber of friends who had met to welcome Captain Robin were entertained by Captain Robin's father (Mr Jarms Rob.in), <t substantial repast having been laid out in Mr Rabin's showroom, which was decorated with flags for the occasion. The Mayor occupied the chair, the Hon. Mr Fergus the vice-chair, and upwards of 40 guests were present. The toast of " The Queen " was proposed by the Chairman, and loyally drunk. The Hon. T. Fergus, in a very felicitous speech in which he referred to his long friendship with Mr James Robin, and his admiration for the zetl and ability with which bis friend's son had devoted himself to hia duties as an officer, proposed the health of Captain Robin, expressing the hope that he would live long as a dutiful eon, an efficient officer, a useful citiz-n, and a good colonist. — (Applause.)

The toast was drunk with musical honours.

Captain Robin, replying, said : Mr Mayor, Mr Fergus, and Gentlemen, — In thanking you all, and particularly Mr Fergus for his kind remarks, 1 hardly know what to say. I thought I had got over the speaking at the station and the door, but it seems something else must follow. My chief rsgret at the present moment is that I have not got beside me my troopers — Freeman, Green, and Hazlefct — (hear, hear), — and whatever I may say I want you all to thoroughly understand what I have tried to cay before : that they havo ju«t the same right, and just> as much right, to share in the honours you give as the captain or any of the officers. AU have done fchair duty, and it is only a matter of fortune, or mitfortuue, being placsd in positions of trosfc aad resDongibiliiy, for which

one is singled oat to receive what all have earned, while we have been away on the other side of the world. lam very happy to be back amongst you again. — (Applauss.) There is a great difference between New Zealand and the old country. The stars that you look up to 6esm different — and they are different — the very atmosphere when we landed in our own colony seemed different. I could not live in London, I think, if I were paid for it. — (Applause ) As to the result of the trip Homo and the position tho contingent took there, you may be sure it wss not got without a good deal of work and worry ; the private who shoul«!ors the rifle had really, perhaps, more to do than the officers, and more to put up with under the conditions of life in barrack? and on board fchip. However, the authorities at Home speedily recognised the position, and increased the meat ration, for it was found that " Tommy Asking's" share was not enough to carry our men through one day and to the next morning. It would be impossible no<v for me to give you an account; of the sights we have seen, and the various duties we have performed. In the fi'sfc pl*c« I am feeling Feedy.— (Laugiitec.) Whether it is the result of the Maori gathering, the coatoctions of the Rotorua, or the jobb'o of the train round the Purnkanui cliffy, there is no doubt! about it I am vary seedy. Little by little I hope to gather together my thoughts when I have a chance of running over my notet, aud then I shall be able to tell my frioods all sorts of tales. I hope to ba able to say something of interest-, and now that my very old friend here (Mr Park) bai suddenly blossomed into a city councillor, I may give him one or two wrinkles for the improvement of the city of Dunedin — (Laughter and applauss.) I can assu-.o you that what has been said as to the conduct of the contingent is -positive fact. A more easily led or better discipliued body of men no oao could possibly hopo to £e» ; and when our kindred of the other race — the Maoris — dropped to the idea of military discipline the military instincts of their brave forefathers became maniffßH, and they settled down to duty as ro*l soldiers — (Applau«».) We landed at the Albert Docks about 1 o'clock, and -were inspected by H.RH. the Duke of Connaught at a quarter to 5. You have «11 read the remark* toe Dnke of Oounau^ht made, and I believe the appearance of tho Maoris and of their pnkehi comrades was really creditable. The fact is, we awoke one morning to find ourselves famous. Several of the London papers said the New Zealand march past was the beet of all, nnd the same thing ooenrred at o f .her places. I won't take up you* time now by saying anything about tho fleet we viafcerl, except to say ifc made one realise that it was -worth while to be British.— (AppUu^o.) There is the old sayiog that to secure peace you must bs prepared for war, aud the display there made— too vaso to attempt to deforibe,— 4he 26 mileaof four lines of warships, backed up by what was lying in the dock yards, randy to make another line, without disturbing a single vessel ou the foreign stations, showed a state of readiness, of prepn redness that should secure peace. — (Applause.) Then I can assure you that the people iv the Home country do no* only think a great deal of the colonies : they love them. — (Applause, and a Voice: "And so they should.") The expense of tbe contingent must be trifling compared wjrfi the return it will give. I doubt if the expenditure of a quarter of a million of money could have advertised th»B ooloay in England as this visit has done, and I think I may add that much -also has been done by our brethren in arms who vrere our representatives in the shooting teams. Captain Robia concluded by again expressing his thanks to his friends for "tho kind reception they h»d given him '

Mr James Hazlett proposed Hie toaeb of Mr James Robin, and to the toast was added the names < f Mrs aud Miss Robin, the toast being drunk with enthusiasm, and repHed to by Mr Robin in vc-rj feeling ietm3. The proceedings then terminated.

Wellington, September 11. The contingent are now disbanded, and their arms aud accoutrements were returned to the store yesterday. The Government, however, have issu«d an order that tbey should be handed back to the men and become their own property, as a recognition of iheir services. Colonel Pitt hai received a formal letter of thanks to the contingent from the Government.

Npt^son, September 11.

Colonel Pibfc readied Nelson by the steamer Richmond at 6.30 p.tn , and was heartily welcomed back from Eoglaud by the volunteers of the town and country, the city councillors, and a very larg? number of people. On stepping ashore he was welooraed by Councillor" Er-aret, in the absence of the mayor, and was heartily cheered. He then passed along tlie volunteer line* and -was cheered by the men, to whom be addressed a few words, thanking them for their hearty welcome. The Garrison Band played appropriate music.