THE NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5860, 30 April 1897, Page 1

THE NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENT.

♦ THE DEPARTURE POSTPONED. The hundreds of people who visited Lyttelton yesterday to join in the " sendoff " to the New Zealand contingent, who are going to London to take part in the Record Reign festivities, and tllO meJßbers of the Bisley'rifle team, were subjected to a severe The port was "early astir with intending passengers and their friends> while at No. 1 Wharf the scene was one of bustle and animation from the early forenoon. At 8 a.m. the three fine steamers of the New Zealand Shipping Company's line— the Ruahine, the Mataura, and the Rimutata — hoisted their bunting, the lastnamed vessel being completely "rainbowed." All the early trains brought large numbers of passengers, sight-seers, and others, all of whom sought No. 7 Wharf, where the Ruahine was lying. During the forenoon most of the members of the contingent were engaged in bringing their baggage from the Tutanekai in the dock to the direct liuer. As the morning wore on more passengers arrived. About 11 a.m. the members of the contingent who had been engaged in the transport of the baggage were marched on board and the troops " fell in " on the afterdeck. The contingent was photographed onboard, and then marched ashore and was photographed on the road leading to the ocean steamers' wharf. While the photographer was monopolising the attention of the men the crowd was swelling. The contingent was, as a matter of course, curiously inspected by the public, and the opinion generally expressed was that the members were of such a stamp as to worthily uphold the reputation of the colony on the mission of "impression" upon which they are bound. The Hon J. Carroll, who had been an interested spectator of the proceedings, then addressed the men. He said that on behalf of the Government he took this opportunity of bidding them God-speed. They were commissioned on a most important duty, that of representing the colony on an occasion the most extraordinary that had arisen in the history of the Empire — the celebration of the Record Reign of her Majesty the Queen. He knew that they would agree with him that the heart of the nation desired that the Almighty might prolong her life that her people might experience yet more fully the beneficence ■of her rule. In discharging their most important duty he would ask them to behave as men. New Zealand expected it of them. Although they lived in a country the farthest away of .any of her Majesty's dominions from where she was herself, he did not think the distance could in any way dim their loyalty and allegiance to the Queen, and he was certain that should .trouble arise, and should they have to take their share in it, they would do so with credib to the colony aud to themselves. They had excellent officers, and should implicitly obey their instructions and endeavour to do them credit. Above all things, let them be men ; act as gentlemen, act as chiefs, and they would leave a deep and permanent impression in the Old Country in their favour. To the Maori members he would remark, " Think of; the deeds of your forefathers, and that. alone will nerve you to the occasion." He would now bid all of them good-bye ; arid he trusted that Providence would shower, its blessings on them, and that they would be successful in every way. Colonel Pitt said that, on belialf of the members of the contingent, he thanked Mr Carroll for his kind words ; and he thought he could answer for them that they would fulfil his (Mr Carroll's) expectations. It was now considerably past noou, and the men were marched back to the steamer and dismissed to their quarters. The troops having for the time passed out of notice, an opportunity was afforded of viewing the crowd. It was a very various gathering. . There was a numerous muster of the fair sex, there were volunteers in uniform, tradespeople who had huiried away from their business, a large number of Maoris and many others, including several species of tho genus photographer. Very complete arrangements had been made by the New Zealand Shipping Company in providing access to the vessel, four wide gangways, two aft and two forward, having been rigged tip. The contingent are quartered forward, ami it was soon evident that it was the chief attraction to the large majority of the spectators. As two o'clock approached the gangways were drawn in, the lines prepared for unloosing and other preliminary arrangements made for the departure of the steamer. By this time the wharf was packed with people, and every point of vantage was occupied by eager sightseers. The Lyttelton Band, under Mr G. Collins, turned out, and was stationed on the Rimutaka on the opposite side of. the whai'f. The contingent was meanwhile paraded in single rank on the fore deck, while all the volunteers present were drawn up close at hand on the wharf. Colonel Pitt here took the opportunity to again thank the volunteers of the North Canterbury District for their kindness to the contingent, and called upon his men for three cheers. These were heartily given, and Colonel Gordon, who, with Major Slater, V.D., was with the Canterbury men, called for cheers for the contingent in return. Not only the volunteers, but nearly the whole of the assembled crowd responded, and shortly afterwards, upon the appearance on the wharf of the Hon J. Carroll, he was cheered by the troopers, the crowd ashore again returning the compliment, this time under the leadership of the Native Minister. About this time matters began to grow wearisome. The steamer had been to all appearances ready to leave the wharf for fully half an hour, and the crowd began to get a little impatient. Those who were "in the know " were aware that the harbour was responsible for this wait. The vessel was drawing some 27ft 2in aft in the forenoon, but the after water-ballast tanks had been pumped out, thereby reducing her draft to 26ft Bin. The tide was one of tho worst for many months, and it was known that some trouble would be experienced in getting the steamer away. At about 2.15 p.m. a whisper got abroad that the vessel's departure was postponed till 2 a.m. to-day, and very shortly afterwards this unwelcome intelligence was confirmed by a notice displayed on a blackboard from the bridge of the steamer. To say that the crowd was disappointed does not by any means do justice to their feelings, but to their credit be it said they accepted the inevitable with a good grace. The wharf was very soon cleared, and many passengers, including some of the contingent and the rifle team, came ashore for a few hours. The delay was niOSt vexatious, not only to the crowd, but to the passengers and the shipping company, and no doubt, after this glowing illustration of the need for dredging, the Harbour Board will take the' matter 'up. . It should be said, however, that the tide, ' neap at this particular time, was very poor indeed. The rise was only 4ft 6iu instead of 6ft 6in or 7ft., and although the steamer could easily have been taken .to the moles it is more than probable that she would have struck outside. To have got out she would have had to plough her way through several inches of mud, and this was a condition of things that those responsible for the ship and her contents could not be expected to take upon themselves. Last night the members of the contin-

gent paraded ( bn board the Ruahine at ten o clock, when the following orders were issued by the! officer commanding:— Officer of the day. Lieutenant Pringle; orderly sergeant, Sergeant Roll ; orderly corporal, Corporal Haytfon. Reveille, 7 a.m. ; breakfast, 8 a.m. ; pinner, 12 noon; tea, 5 p.m. The Ruahihe left the wharf at a quarter past two o'clock this morning, and anchored in the stream, where she will ■ -remain till about ten o'clock.