VISIT OF IMPERIAL TROOPS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 35, 13 February 1901, Page 2

VISIT OF IMPERIAL TROOPS.

Wku.'Vuti..-,, F b.uiirv 12

T! 9 l,»lf of H:e Ljj;-,'.i, : h] tmops who I visifct.d i]a-ftf rv.') v > yes'e;-day wire nccomp>.Qii.'d by Mi. Seddou. 'i fee vi?itoiK rectiivrd aa onthuisiastic wtlcotuf aad wero entviifjiinud by the cit ; /eus. A. la-go nuraboi- of visit-iis were pie.s<iit from the MUiTcunciin,-; districts, aad the crowd who witLesscd the ar ival \tai :ho largest <ivor B'on there. Lirg? cumbers ci Maoris danc : d bakan, and thu troops gave an exbibituu of physi--1 cal drill. The muw returood to We!linglon in the evmirjg. That portion of the Imperial representative corp3 who yesterday visited Masterton were to-day cnts tained at a garden party at the Hutt. The function was attended by hundreds of people. Ths men sp'.nt a very enjoyable afterooop. The Wsnganui ceciion returned to the city tliia afternoon. They mst with a cordial greeting at the various towns en route, their welcome at Palmerston North being very whole-hearted, This evening the officei s were entertained at dinner by the Ministry.

Mr. E. DoDkiill, Mayor, sent the following ti Ingram to-day : -" Hon. J. G. Ward, (or forward), —A visis of tho Indian troops weuld bevery much apprteiifed h»re, Please inform ma of tho number of men and the utimbar of those we will have to find horses for. ~lt is much t9 be togre'ted that your inHtructions to give our veteran 3 a free passage to Wanganui did not gnt here on Saturday, as only a few could hear of it in time to go.—E. Dockrill, Mayor." The following roply has been received ;—"E. Dockriil, Esq., Mayor, New Plymouth. - I am very soiry if any of the votnrans of New Plymouth were not able to avail thomselvei of the fre3 concession T felt it desirable to make to them. I trust, howevor, tha; the visit of tho led an troopi to Now Plymouth, if we can possibly arrangi\ will be sorao recompense to fcVm. The total nurulrr of Indian troops is about one huadred and thirty, and I thay proseut a very fine sight; there are four or five Europe m ojliuacs only. I cannot tell you an> thing concerning horses yet. Mr. and I meet over tho matter in Wellington tonight in the hope of b<=m;* able to arrange a programme, and you will be advised an r.oon as possible" of the resuit. I need hardly tell you that had it been possible to arrange for the Imperial troops to lave go : ,o to New Plymouth voting vvou'.i havn given me rrovter nbas u--, bn ahh m i ] x I cii i my bos', 1j try «nJ gg-. a p >t\kn. o'" thorn through it was iuip.scibiir'. As I explained bifoic CWor.o! Wyndhaui would not consent, and wo have not the power to do anything excepting with the full oocsent of tho Colonel commandir;g tho ooipi. Tho tiuiu journey has been very heavy for the men at different phces I admit;, ar-d if Oolonel Wyndhnm had couseutid t&l allow a portion of them ti goby ioa| from Now Plymouth difficulty would htoa overcome, but be! would not agroo to it under any consideration.—J. Q. Ward."