THE RETURNED TROOPERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 102, 15 May 1901, Page 2

THE RETURNED TROOPERS.

—•« -- RECEPTION AT NEW PLYMOUTH. When' the mail train arrived oa Tuo.s ■lay evening a largo crowd had collected at iho railway station. The Taranaki Rifl s (undo;- Captain Oltey) arid th' Guards (under Capt, Taunton), hoadeJ by the City Band, had matched from the dr'll hall, and taken up a p u ion outside the staf'on, and as the train •Irew up the band struck l.p, " S e the Conquering Hbro Oouks," and the crowd cheered lustily. As soon bs possible the Taranaki men—Trorpers T. Richard-ion (Rough Riders), Third Con iag<nf; M.Duggan (Rough Riders), Third Contingent; and C. F. Richardson (Thoi neycroft's Mounted Infantry), atd a number of the Auckland men cimo out from the s'ation, and w.-ie addies-ed by hiWorship the Mayor (Mr, E. Dockiil) Mr. Dockdll sad ho hd to welcome them, on bebalt'-of the porpie of the dis trict, on their return from the Tnmsvaal, who.e they had acquitted themselves with notour. He had to thank ■hiiri for the manner in v. hich they ha I upl eld the repu'nt on of their country Turanaki held the honour o. sending the first volunteers in dnr fire r.gainss a superior foe. lie had also to extern! awdcoma to ths Aucklad m-n. The people of Taranaki were proud of thoi' own represent stives, i.nd of tLoso v,ho had eo nobly sod by them ia th« Transvaal.

Hecal'ed for three cheers for the leturned mer, which were bean ily given. The Rev. F. G. Evans Chnp'aia of the local Volunteers, then briefly addressed the men, and at tie closy asked that all heads be bared for a minute in memory of those men who wi.nid iiev: r return.

Captain Todd, rf the Auckland Contingent, spok) a ff-w worris of thanks to the people of New Plymuth for so kindly joining thvm in their welcome with (he Tafanaki men. Ho stid the Taranaki boys had proved them o'.ves brave in the field, atd he had co doubt i ih.it if the need arose all the other men whom he saw around him would prove as good as those t hay wero now welcoming home. Tue Auckland troopers then boarded tho waiting train, which steamed out of the station '.o the str.iiis of music from the Bad.

Tne T..ranaki troopers were then taken posses-nn of by of theii frieni's being carried out shoulder hi«h and escorted by the Volun'ceis along Egruont and Ddvoa-sireo's as far as the corner <f Curn'e-strcet, whore, t.t oi mo:e chears, themtnweid dismii.sod.

In cocivewatiuu with a News repoWor I-for on one of t'»o returned ni-n said thoy bad received a gr. at welcome dining the whole of tho run 'h-cugh the colony, ev. c.e lading at Duwdin. fc-po-iking cf South Aide-, ho said 119 did cot want to go bach arairi for a while ; bub ha thought that later on it wou'd boa spl -ndid field for on'erpn'.S' for any young fel'ow v h ■ w ii'il i.'"' and b prepur d to push and do a Intle "ln.d g afs" Pis of Sou h Afrit-1 would b. Aiy suitable. Lrfartuin:,-pu-suits, hut in tli< Trans tho groitir |> i-t of the nounfciy w s ; oo diy in ■ U's .ummer, widi vor-, co d liijjlits anl s ore'ung days, and t m will in tho wir.-ter.

There wis gnat enthusiasm all along tim lin.i yesterday, and as the ir.in ate ■med into eich station large crowds we ont-xombled. Troop rswero dropped at. Waverloy (where it i-s said ntoh a crowd had not been seem w'th.in th memory of tie oldest iiilnbiU-.ts), P..t u, Hawera, Jvtham. Str.itfoid and '(glawod. So many hava beri tho ■-speeches" which th" men have had io Mmcu to eir.ee tnoir return tba' in ir-.y of them would not come out ofj the carii'gesat Uo vaiiuia station*,! and, indeed an Auckland speaker at tho j hie 1 stat : on last night, iu thanking tho] peop'o for their welcome, said tho wel-l tome I ill b en " a right royal o.te «Jll through ; hut as for speeches, we aro I sick of 'em!" '