INPERIAL SOLDIERS ON VISIT.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 15 February 1901, Page 4

INPERIAL SOLDIERS ON VISIT.

What Tommy Atkins Thinks of us

"Tell 'em New Zealand beats everything 1" shouted a crowd of " Tommies " as they bundled into the train at Oamaru afterstaying an hour at that place. " Yes, Mr Newspaper Man, tell 'em that we've had nothing like this before. Australia simply isn't in !" Truly, the troops are enjoying themselves in this colony. They cannot say too much of the kind treatment they have received, and thefr different hosts since the landing on Tuesday last will be delighted to find that their efforts are so thoroughly.appreciated. A feed every two hours ! Why, 'ome was never like this," chuckled ono tartantrousered bandsman, unloosing his waistbelt, and again the appeal went up to the pressmen to tell the people what a good time they were giving the troops. It is the free and easy hospitality that seems to appeal most to the men, and the fact that they are cared for equally with officers has surprised as well as delighted them. "Tommy" is no respecter of other " Tommies." There was a Magersfontein

man in the carriage we travelled in, and in the course of a conversation with him a pressman remarked that anyone who came through that dreadful occasion safely was very lucky. " Oh, no! •' rapped out out a cynical youth; "he might 'ave been a artful rogue or a dodger." ' " Have you ever seen a terrible contrast, chaps," said a "Tommy" who had been dozing, '' a contrast that sort of rises up and hits yer in the chest ? " " Yes," ckuckled an irrepressible, " colonial beer." —" No, but ain't this treat we're having in New Zealand a knock in the chest contrast to the old ship ? " " My oath 1 " ejaculated a listener, and j the other " Tommies " chorused assent.

"Chase me, boys; look at me presents !" shouted ono lucky soul, displaying a handful of trinkets, presents from admirers.

"Yes," retorted another, "but I've got something better than all them—a big, fat head." And there were more sympathetic murmurs. "If I lived in this country," said one lively lad, "I'd never leave it. Anyone who would want to leave it ought to be shot."

"Cam! If we stayed here ten days we'd be dead. We couldn't stand the pace," chipped in a sad soul suffering a recovery. "Did yer see me at the dance last night ?" grinned another. "Yes, they told me I must dance, and I told them the only dance I could do was Sc. Vitus's dance; but they made me come out, and —l'll never dance again',—this with an expression of countenance which spoke eloquently of past agonies.

Most of the " Tommies " of the contingent are on the youthful side, and are particularly susceptible to the charms of the other sex. In fact in a set of verses published in the Imperial Bepresentative Corps " Gazette " the followiug lines appear :

For no lads are better at love or at war Than th' Imperial Representative Corps. During their trip from the Bluff to Christchurch the " Tommies " have fully lived up to this reputation, so far as the tender passion is concerned. Their conquests have been dreadful to contemplate, the havoc wrought among the impressionable damsels en route being tremendous. Palmerston and Oamaru gave the troops splendid receptions, to say nothing of the preparations made for providing more solid evidence of their kindly feelings in the form of eatables and liquid refreshment. Timaru was equally warm in its welcome, and a little thoughtful act on the part of tho people there was the crowning joy of the men. Each was presented with a small box of Capstan tobacco, and pasted on the outside of the tin were the words "With best wishes from Timaru." It was only a small thing, perhaps, but the men thoroughly appreciated it as a souvenir of what is to many the pleasantest occasion of their lives.

"Tommy" is a delightful travelling companion. Ho is bubbling over with high spirits, and on the present occasion is full of delight at the treatment ho has received in New Zealand. "Didn't they give us a time 1" was the prevailing cry on leaving Dunedin on Thursday morning, and the surrounding troopers would murmer sympathetically.

During the journey the men were full of delight at the sights en route, and their desire to entertain was in various ways. In the particular carriage in.which the representative of the 'Press' travelled they told talcs, and gave their experiences, and on one occasion, when things were slackened down a little, one " Tommy" offered to make a speech. "Fellow soldiers," he commenced, " Life Guards, Coldstream Guards, Scotch Guards, Irish Guards, and blackguards," and then he was hauled down.

They were like a lot of schoolboys ou for a holiday.

A very large number of the men are tattoed on various parts of the body, some of the tattooing work being splendidly done in various colors. It is surprising to see the number of boyish-looking troopers with stripes and medals—boymen who have seen active service, and make light of it. They are nearl/ all eagerly collecting souveuirs of their visit visit to the colonies, and some of them have already got together quite a number of momentoes.