AVELCOME AT LAAVRENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2471, 24 July 1901, Page 26

AVELCOME AT LAAVRENCE.

The lecept on accorded to the returning tioopers on Wednesday (writes our coiiespoudent) was marked by the greatest enthusiasm. The whole of the business places closed ?t 12 o'clock, thus enabling employers: and employees to take pait in the leception, and by the time the train steamed in about 12.40 there must have been at least 500 people present. The troopers who arrived by tiain were troopers Duncan, M'Donald, and Swanwick,, who were received by the assemblage with ringing cheers. The Reception Committee having conducted them through a guard of honour ioi'ined by the Mounted Rifles and the High School Cadets, his AVorship the Mayor mounted ithe stage 'erected for the purpose, and in a j\eat and appropriate speech gave them, on belialf of the townspeople, a most hearty welcome^ the crowd showing their appreciation by vociferous applause. The troopers each said a lew words expressive of their pleasurable feelings at their kind reception and the satisfaction they felt at being once more at home. The Fire Brigade also attended in uniform, and the Lawrence Brass Ba-nd played several appropriate tunes duiing the short but pleasant cc-remony. The railway station was tastefully j decorated with everygreens, banners, and flags. | Over -the archway of the station was h banner with the word " Welcome" thereop, and a large'number of business places displayed bunting. -The social at the Town Hall in the even- I ing wa,s .exceedingly well attended, a large humbei having to be refused admittance. The hall was tastefully decorated by the Ladies' Committee in a manner appropriate to the occasion, aiyl had a most pleasing effect. The

chair was occupied by his Worship the Mayor, i who opened the proceedings by expressing the gieat pleasure lie felt at presiding at such a large assemblage to do honour to and welcome back our boys from the war, after having so well sustained the honour of the Empire in doing their duty with credit to themselves and the district fiom which they had gone. At the conclusion of his speech, the chairman called for cheers for each cf the troopers, which were rendered in the heartiest possible manner. Short addresses were given during the evening by the Eevs. "Will, Ellis, Canon Richards, and Mr J. C. Arbuckle, interspersed with songs (which were all encored), by Mrs King, Mi=s Leech, and Messrs Corrigali, Orchard, and I Mason. An overture was also played by the Orchestral Society, and a bagpipe selection by Piper Jarnieson, who gave as encore, by special request, " The weann' o' the green." The number of returned tioopers on the platform was augmented by the arrival of Trooper M'Laren, who came on from Gore by the evening tram, and on entering the hall he was mo&t enthusiastically greeted. The pioceedings of the evening were appropriately concluded by the presentation of handsome gold medals to Troopers Duncan, M'Donald, and Miller. Trooper Swanwick is to be presented with a gold albert and pendant by the Welhcrstones residents on Friday evening, to which part of the district he belongs, and Trooper M'Laren, having gone as one of the Mataura contingent, received his presentation at G^ore. -The proceedings were brought to a close by singing the National Anthem, thus ending one of the most enthusiastic and pleasant gatherings ever held in the district. I 1 ■ i > i i |