AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2437, 28 November 1900, Page 18

AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH.

THE FEDERATION ESCORT.

LONDON, November 21. The Durban Daily Mail announces that the Duke and Duchess of York, after their Australian visit, return by way of Canada. The Britannic's contingent for Sydney paraded through the main streets of Malta. November 24. The Britannia, with the federal inauguration contingent, has reached Port Said. DURBAN, November 26. The Natal Government sends a Minister -to Sydney to represent the- colony at the Commonwealth celebrations. BOMBAY, November 21. Lord Hopetoun has sailed from here for Colombo. He is so weak that he had to be carried aboard the Dhooly by Major Philson, of the Army Medical department, who accompanies him. - November 25. The steamer Dalhousie has left Bombay i for Sydney with the Indian contingent who j are to participate in the Commonwealth inauguration. COLOMBO, November 26. Lord Hopetoun has arrived here, and was carried ashore. He is the. guest of Sir West Ridgeway, Governor of Ceylon, during his stay. Major Philson states that Lord Hope- j toun's condition was serious when he left Bombay. The voyage improved him, though he is still weak. SYDNEY, November 23. Sir W. J. L3'ne, replying to a question, j slated that certain communications had ■ passed with regard to State Governors and ! the appointment of Chief Justices to the { post. So far as lie could see no local men would get an appointment. November 24. Queensland sends a contingent comprising 75 military and 25 naval men for the Commonwealth celebrations. November 25. Mr Chamberlain has cabled that Lord Hopetoun hopes to be able to land upon arrival at Sydney, but he will not be in a position to attend banquets or make speeches until his strength is restored. November 26. Sir W. J. Lyne received a cable confirming the news that a \ Natal Minister will attend the celebrations. PERTH, November 26. itSir John Forrest announces his candidature for the Federal Parliament. He reoffers himself for the State Parliament. (From Ottb, Own Cokresfondent.) WELLINGTON, November 22. There will be no difficulty in filling the New Zealand contingent for the Commonwealth celebrations in Sydney. Several officers have offered to go as*- troopers to get a place. Ministers have decided that | Colonel Penton should have command of the contingent. Major Hawkins, of InvercargilL, as the senior major amongst the officers nominated, will be next in com- J mand. Captains Loveday (Wellington), • Holgate (Auckland), Dunk ( Palmer ston j North) , Hayhursl (Temuka, formerly with I the New Zealand forces in South Africa), J and Acting-captains Kierrian (Nelson) and ' Montgomery (Auckland) have been recomZ mended' for the captaincy. Captain Lovet day is the senior officer, and it is almost certain that he will be selected. The contingent will consist of 58 men, including eight members of the Maori corps in the Wairarapa. There are to be three lieutenants, one of whom will be Lieutenant Riemene, of the Wairarapa, representing the Maoris. The contingent will undergo a fortnight's training in Wellington the first two weeks of December before leaving for Sydney. WELLINGTON, November 21. The Tutanekai, with the Ministers and the mounted contingent, leaves for Sydney about the 20tti December. The idea of sending a separate contingent of Maoris has been abandoned. The Premier has no objection to those members of the first who are on the Harlech Castle, and wish to do so, remaining in Sydney to assist in representing the colony at the Commonwealth celebrations, but "he thinks most of them will be anxious to come on home, and therefore it would be a hardship to compel them to stay. November 26. There will be 12 Wellington representatives in the Commonwealth contingent, instead of 11, as previously proposed. Sergeant Morice, Corporal Williamson, Troopers Richards and Dickson (of the Otago Hussars), Sergeant Adam Campbell ,and Trooper W. J. Keys (of the Clutha Mounted Rifles), and Trooper Glenn (Maniototo Mounted Rifles), Trooper C. J. Moloney (ot the Mataura Mounted Rifles) have been recommended for acceptance as members of the Federal escort. Three men from the Southland Mounted Rifles will complete Otago s complement. It is reported that Lieutenant Freeman; -of the Otago Hussars, is also likely to be among those finally selected to form the escort. Although it has been decided not to send a Maori contingent, some eight or nine Natives will be included in the special "troop of mounted men from this colony. "The following Otago men have been finally selected to form part of the New Zealand escort for Sydney in connection with the Commonwealth celebrations : — Lieutenant H. Freeman (Otago Hussars), Sergeant F. H. Morice (Otago Hussars), Sergeants Adam Campbell and D. T. Fleming (Clutha Mounted Rifles), Corporal James Williamson (Otago Hussars), Corporal James Glen (Maniototo Mounted Rifles), Privates A. Richards and W. J. Dielcson (Otaeto Hussars), A. O. Saunders and 0. ' Lyons (Southland Mounted Rifles), John t Thmcan (North Otago Mounted Rifles),

and Mitchell (Clutha Mounted Rifles), the last-named being a member of the first contingent, who was invalided home from South Africa. The men have to report themselves in Wellington on Ist December, ' taking with them a camp kit and undress uniform; no horses, arms,'or accoutrements being required. The Premier telegraphed to Mr Arnold, M.H.R., on Saturday stating that he would be pleased to learn that Lieutenant Freeman had been selected to go to Sydney. Lieutenant Freeman was one of the contingent sent to London on the occasion of the Jubilee celebrations. Some idea of the elaborate character of the decorations for the Sydney streets along which the procession will pass may be formed from the fact that 7000 poles will fly flags of the Empire, that 15,000 banners and bannerettes will be displayed, and that 8000 flags will be required to work out the devices surrounding the shields to ' adorn 2000 of the flag poles. An immense quantity of red, white, and blue bunting has been purchased, and it is estimated that nearly 20,000 yards of- it will be made us© of. The Citizens' Committee estimate that their expenditure will be at least £5000, and are confident of raising that amount by subscription in^tlie course of' a few days. With' regard to the 2000 ladies and gentlemen resident in tbe other colonies who will be invited to attend the festivities, about 50 of the more distiaguished guests will be provided with suitable hotel accommodation by the Government. It is understood that the North German Lloyd' <s made an offer to place the saloon cabin berths on their, large steamers at the disposal of the Government for the accommodation of 20 distinguished gxiests. The organising committee, at its initial meeting, considered the reports of several sub-committees, and decided to make the following among other recommendations to the Government : — ' ' That a monster aquatic demonstration (including rowing and sailing races) be held; that steps be taken for the decoration on a liberal scaJe of aU the shipping in port ; that a swimming carnival be held, to include races for federal championships, and life-saving displays. It was also agreed to recommend the adoption of the report of the Military Siibcommittee, which proposed that the whole of the country corps be brought to Sydney to take part with the Imperial troops in the procession, and in a series of military evolutions, and that representative detachments of all arms in tlr* other States and New Zealand be invited to attend, payment to be allowed to partially paid forces in the colony for four days.