DEPARTURE OF THE INDIANS FROM DUNEDIN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2451, 6 March 1901, Page 24

DEPARTURE OF THE INDIANS FROM DUNEDIN.

The Indian troops left Dunedin on Monday morning by special train at 6.55 o'clock. The morning was beautifully bright and sunny, and the scene on the station prior to the train leaving was one of much gaiety and brilliancy. The scarlet and gold costumes of the Bengal Lancers and the Viceroy's body-guard, the fashionable khaki of the Madras men, the rifle green of the Hyderabad Lancers, the dark green of the Ghurka Rifles, and the drab, with scarlet facings, of the Bengal Infantry, all surmounted by the peculiar headdresses, together with the bustle and scurry of getting things ready for a start, afforded an animated picture that the many snapshots that were taken on the occasion must utterly fail to do justice to. The public attended in fairly large numbers, considering the early hour. Among those present were his Worship the Mayor (Mr R. Chisholm), the Hon. H. Gourley, the Hon. Mr Taiaroa, Mr M. GilfeSder, M.H.R. for Wallace, Mr J. F. M. Fraser, Mr N. Bell, Captain M'lndoe, and others, and as the train moved off hearty cheers were raised for the Indians.

The Hon. C. H. Milts (Minister of Customs) travelled north with the train, as also did Colonel Penton, Colonel Webb, Lieutenant Hughes, and Mr W. H. Gaw (district traffic manager) . Colonel Webb left the train at Palmerston.

• The train, which was composed of 14- carriages, with three vans, drawn by two 1 engines, kept equal to express time to Oamaru. All along the line small parties at wayside stations or at their homes waved i farewells to the dusky troops, and at the principal stations the people turned out in large numbers, showing that they appreciated the Indians' visit in the extreme. i At Waikouaiti the train stopped for 10 minutes. Several hundred people had assembled on the station, including: Mr T. Pratt. M.H.R., County Councillor Orbell, • the Mayor of Hawksbury (Mr Maxwell), Cr Bray, Cr Thomson, and Mr Allcock (chairman of the school committee). The , station was decorated with flags. Several of the Indians walked about the platform among the crowd, who regarded them as objects of great curiosity. A number of girls were very energetic in collecting autographs, their industry resulting in a rich harvest of signatures being secured. The train left punctual to time, amid hearty " Hoorays " and the joyful waving of handkerchiefs. The men managed to catch some of the as the train was moving off, and they were carried away as mementos of a merry time. The Palmerston people also turned out in hundreds, and on the arrival of the train j the troops were received with demonstrative cheers. The Mayor (Mr J. Gow) welcomed Lieutenant-colonel Peyton and the Hon. Mr Mills. The collection of autographs was again engaged in, and many of the people chatted with the men, and then said " Goodbye "to them. It was a novelty to shake hands with the dark-skinned men of India. The troops left the town with cheers ringing in their ears.

At Shag Point the train stopped for 10 minutes. Miss M'Kenzie, daughter of the Hon. J M'Kenzie, escorted the Hon. Mr Mills, Colonel Penton, Lieutenant-colonel Peyton, Mr W H. Gaw, and Mr W. Crov/ (secretary to Mr Mills) to her father's residence. The party had a very brief conversation with the Hon. Mr M'Kenzie.

A stay of five minutes was made at Hampden. Hundreds of people had come from far and near to see the Indians. The road near the station, with its array of empty trap= and waiting horses, resembled the pnddnck adjacent to a country ehui'ch on a Sunday morning. A large number of button-holes were presented to the officers by the ladies — a little attention that was prreatlv appreciated by the men. Mr W. Nicholson (of the Otaeo Education Board), Mrs Nicholson. Mr Watt (school teacher), Mrs Watt, and Miss Watt joined the train and travelled as far as Timaru. As at Palmerston, the Indians were enthusiastically received, and, after inspection, sent off with the heartiest cheerp. The school children had a holiday in honour of the visit.

Oamaru was reached at 10 minutes past 11, the train pulling up at the Thames street crossing, where the men disembarked. The Oamaru No. 1 Rifles (Captain Mahon), the Queen's Rifles (Captain Forrester), the Waitaki Naval Cadet Corps (Captain Graves), and the North Otago Hussars (Captain Nieholls), had assembled and lined tbe street, and in the centre the Indians formed into marching order. Mr J. M. Brown

O^f^' «£, Hon - G. Jones, Crs Haynes, ffi lo *> **"*«•. and Lang met the train. T . he }"?""%. Jf™ ""-w^ along Thames * treefc *° R'bble street heaaed by the % nt d Lieutenant . co i onel Pe ; ton had to t ' Hh th . tv o£ d an / the danger of fraction! horses. One f Colonel p* yton > s staff had the spur heel of hlg boot tr^ dden off in the £ Aft the men had partaken of light refres hment th boarded the train, which left only five min J utes after time amid the heartießt &eerß& eerB from the volunteera and the pe ople. , On the norfch Qn Mond^ our reporter ke to sev^ ral of the men 1 their stay in D unedin . „/ aII e highly pleased with the way they were treated, and with the reception they got at the hands of the citizens on Friday night and on Saturday in the procession. At the Agricultural Hall they had everything they desired, and for Captain M'lndoe, who was always at their service, they have nothing I but kind things to say. I Lieutenant-colonel Peyton also expressed his gratificaion at the treatment accorded i the men in Dunedin. As far as arrangements are made at present, he says, the Dalhousie will leave Lyttelton this week for , Hobart, which has not yet been visited, and then proceed to Adelaide, and thence to India. The troops came out for the Commonwealth celebrations only. The Indian Government cannot see their way to allow them to remain for the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York.