THE NEW SOUTH WALES CONTINGENT.

Kumara Times, Issue 2661, 31 March 1885, Page 3

THE NEW SOUTH WALES CONTINGENT.

Although, as would be seen by our cablegrams last evening, the greater portion of the Sydney Contingent for service in the Soudan have been landed at Suakin, and are expected to start to-morrow, with the British troops, in the general advauce against the Arab rebels at Taraai, on the way to Sinkat aud Berber, a few additional particulars, promised yesterday, relative to the duties of the day on board the troopship Iberia, in which they embarked at Sydney, will not be without interest. They are from the pen of the same writer : Troopship duty was. commenced on board the Iberia at 4 p.m. on the day of em'oarkaiioo, and is carried on in accordance with that portion of the Qaeen's relations dealing with the movement of tioops by j,ea in hired ships. No 1 company took duty from the 3rd Maich, as the company supplying the guard ; the other three companies taking the first, second, third watches respec ively. The arrangement will be continued for six days. The general routine of duties throughout the day is as follows : 6 a. re).—Reveille, coffee and biscuits, turn out, stow hammocks, bedding for airing to be taken on deck. 7.30 a,m.—Rations, orderlies draw breakfiist. B—Breakfast, sit down to breakfast. , B.3o—Rise, day watch goes on, declare the watches below, clean their messes, the troops clean deck and then themselves, after which all but the mess orderlies and troop deck-moppers go on deck and remain there until after the inspection. 9—Fall in, followed by the company's call, day wa,tch falls in, being on duty until 9 p.m. 10—Reassembly parade, all the troops except the cnoks and mess orderlies fall in on the nppe-- deck for inspection ; tho officers of the day inspect the troops and messes. 12.30 p.n>. Rations, orderlies draw dinner.

I.—Dinner, sit down to dinner. I.3o—Grog, issue of grog under tlm superintendence of the officers of the day. ?j —Fours go and sweep out the messes and take all the dirt to the ashshoot, the sweepers fall in and sweep the decks. 2.3o—Rise with the company's call, the troop decks to be cleared for sweeping, the watch falls in, when troop decks are cleared up all but the watch on deck can go below. 4.3o—Rations, orderlies draw tea. s—Breakfast call, sit down to tea. s.3o—Rise, clear the troop decks of all but the swabbers and mess orderlies, who will sweep out the messes and decks. 6—" Quick," take down hammocks. 7—Close, clean up decks for the night. B—Fall in, followed up by company's call, uight watch falls in, being on duty until 9 a.m. B.ls—Lie down, lights out, every man to be on his hammock. 9—Rouuds by officer of the day and police. 9.39—Retire, everyone below but the watch of the troops and the sen. tries. 11—Lights out in officers' saloon. Adelaide, March 8. Two hundred free messages were received from New South Wales for the men on board the Iberia, and 600 were sent, by them to New South Wales. The Iberia was met in Antechamber Buy on Friday night by the gunboat Protector, the mail tender Yatala, the s.s. Adelaide, and the Governor Musgrave. The Protector had on board several members of the Ministry. The Governor Musgvave took the leading members of the local volunteers. The Yatala took 14 tons of fruit, beer, periodicals, &c, which were sent as presents by South Australian colonists to the contingent. A large quantity of fruit was sent by the Government. The Iberia arrived iu Antichamber Bay at about midnight, and was enthusiastically welcomed. Most of the volunteer officers, including Major-General Downes, visited the Iberia, and were received by Colonel Richardson. Sesole, whose wife was killed in Sydney harbour in the collision between the Nemesis and the Iberia, came ashore at Adelaide, by permission of Mr DalJey. Colonel Richardson broke the news to Sessle, who was deeply affected. The New South Wales Government will support his children. Mr Wright landed at Adelaide. The local solicitors of the Orient Company, the officers of the Iberia, Mr Wright, and Mr Yuill, the agent of the Company, were closeted for four hours inquiring into the cause of the collision. The evidence showed that the Iberia was not to blame in the matter.