OUR THIRD CONTINGENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 39, 17 February 1900, Page 2

OUR THIRD CONTINGENT.

J TO-DAYS SEND-OFF. I CmtisTCHURCH, BWbrmry 16. No parade was h'l 1 at (lie nitup this morning, as all the time wbit-n could ba g lined by an early start wai fully utility] in preparations for departure. The last issue of clothing and equipments werj undo, and all the mb www busily engaged before breakfaat ia packing up their belongings. Tb# horses of the contingent were embarked on the Knight Templar to-day. They were taken to Lyttelton by road, and, their shoes having beun removed, they were takon on board by sut'cull, piepued gangways, Ihe wmk was expeditiously done. Visitors aro flocking into town,

is crowded. The railway authori--8 made arrangements to cope with traffic on the Lyttelton line toThe weather promises to be fine, and there is no doubt that the proceedings in connection with the send-off of the contingent will be witnessed by the largest crowd ever assembled here. The contingent will leave camp about ten o'clock, and march toHagley Park, where they will be addressed by the / Governor, the Premier, the Mayor of Ohristchurcb, and Bishop Grimes. Bishop Jalius will offer prayer, and the choir and school children will sing the National Anthem and patriotic songs. The contingent, escorted by local volunteers, will then march through ttw principal streets to the Kailway Station, where they will embark for Lyttelton. At the port the members of the contingent will be entertained at luncheon by the Lyttelton Committee, and subsequently the men will be given an hour's leave to bid farewell to their friends. They will be marched on to thowharf shortly after 3 p.m., and short addressee will be given by the Governor, the Premier, and the Mayor of Lyttelton. The troopship will leave the wharf about 5 p.m., and be escorted down the harbour by the steamers in port. The Canterbury War Fund new amounts to £12,584. Wellington, February 16. The Minister for Public Works left for Lyttelton to-night to witness the departure of the Third Contingent. Replying to a communication from the local Committee, the Premier states , that the distribution of the money collected at Home for the Rough-riders . /is not .yet depided, but thinks a fair basis would be in proportion of population.