The Contingent Send-off. Nelson Excursionists.

Colonist, Volume XLIII, Issue 9690, 20 January 1900, Page 3

The Contingent Send-off. Nelson Excursionists.

The Nelson Volunteers turned up in strong force yesterday mornincr, the H Battery, Nelson Rifles, Waimea Rifles, and Garrison Band having excellent musters, while the Stoke Rifles, though not proportionately as strong as the other corps, were well represented. In all about 220 Volunteers paraded in front of the Police Station, and afterwards marched to the Port, where they ombarked on the Government steamer Tntanekai. A large crowd assembled on the wharf and in the streets to see the Volunteers depart, and Port residents made a good show of bunting, but the proceedings for an occasion of the kind were of the quietest, and as the steamer left the wharf it was left for a Wellington gentleman to attempt to raise a cheer. The Band gave a few lively Selections ; a detachment of the H Battery from time to time gave forth a " Wakatu " war cry in Maori ; handkerchiefs fluttered, as the steamer moved away, and this, with some slight and spasmodic cheering, j constituted the demonstration. In addition to the Volunteers, the Tutanekai carried the Mayor (Mr J. A. Harley), Mr F. Trask, and several ladies. The Tutanekai was to leave Picton at ten o'clock last night, after taking the Marlborough Volunteers on board. The Union S.S Company's Takapuna took away a fair number of excursionists bound to see the contingent off, but the accommodation of the steamer was in no wise taxed.