VISIT OF INDIAN TROOPS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 40, 23 February 1901, Page 2

VISIT OF INDIAN TROOPS.

PKit PRESS jiaaoaiA'nos. Then option of the Indian troops wso mp'e'ely spoilt by rain. The offioial ceremouy on the Marine Parade w.s abandoned, aid the visitors ass mbled »t the Drill Shed, to which the !.">■ n-p ople aie flocking. Hiif ihe contingent leave for New P>> month at 4 p-m., and the remainder «o 11 Wellington to-morrow mori ing. The Cal. donian Championship Meeting is ppstponpd till tp-mqrrow, Fifty ef the Indian troop* left by (rain this afternoon for New Plymouth stopping at the principal stations en I route. Tl.e visitors were accorded a most: enthus : a3tio send-off. The! Premier went with them. The Hons. J. O. Ward and Carroll will accompany the remaining fifty to Wellington.

PROGRAMME FOK TO-DAY. Tho procession will leave the Drill Hall at 2.30 o'clock sharp this afternoon, and will proceed along Devonstieet, Brougham-stieefc north, through St. Aubyn and Queen-streets and back into Devon-street and byway ot Gover-street to the racecourse, where the formal reception will take plu(e- The order of the procession will bo «s follows:—Guird of Honor of Mounted Infantry, carrisgea with vititing gnos's, the Town Band, the Mounted Infantry, Rifles Qu&rde, Waitara Volunteers, Cadotp, Cit.y Jr "') and tjt'o Indian Contingent. Captain" Symes, with the Stntferd Mounteds, will attend.

A. luncheon will be given in the Foresters' Hall at 12.30 o'clock. The tickets, only a limitad number of which will be issued, obtainable fit m the Committee, } r ' i" expected that there will be a large .influx of visitors to the town, and thii display will bo an exceptionally intoi eiting character,

The following telegram was received I from the Premier oa Friday evening : —"The detaclament of Indian troops leaves New Plymouth at 7 a.m. on Sunday morniup, and stops 5 minutes at loglewood, 15 minutes at Stratford, 10 minutes at Eltham, 20 minutes at Elawera, 5 minutes at Patea, 5 minutes at Waverley, 5 minutss at Waitotara, 30 minutes at WaDganui, 5 minutes nt Marton, 10 miautes at Feilding, 30 minutes at Palmerston North, 10 I minutes at Longwood, 10 minutes at Shannon, 10 minutes at Levin, 10 minutes at Otafei, 10 minutes at Porirua, 10 minutes at Johnsonville, and reaches Wellington at 8.30 p.m. The detachment from Napier goes through the Government line to Wellington, leaves Napier on Saturday at 9.45, and stays at Hastings 10 minute?, Waipawa 5 minutw, Waipukurau 5 minutes, Ormondvilles minutes, Dannevirke 10 niinntos, Wcodville 30 minutes, Pahia-I tua 5 minutes, Ekefcahuna 10 minute*, Misterton 10 minutes, Carterton 15 minutes, Featherston 10 mioutcs, Upper Hutt 5 minute?, Lower Hutt, 5 minutes, arrives in Wellington at

9.30 on S iturday night. On Friday evening Hia Worship the Mayor received a telegram from Coloaol Pole-Penton intimating the Indian troops had asked thit if possible a Maori haka and poi dance might bo arranged for, and that if so, it would afford them tho greatest pleasure. The Mayor at once requisitioned the services of Mr. W. H. Skinner, and every effort will ba made to carry out the rt quest. Natives taking part in the haka and dance will be allowed to travel free by the railway. It is anticipated thrt there will probably be a rush this morning for the remaining tickets for tbe luncheon, especially when it is known that the Premier will be present, the Mayor : having received a telegram last night i conveying his acceptance of the invitation,