WELCOME TO RETURNED TROOPS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 172, 2 August 1901, Page 2

WELCOME TO RETURNED TROOPS.

Thanes to the brilliant weather which prevailed in New Plymouth ob Thursday the arongements for the welcome to Lieut. Col. Davias and the returned Taracaki m 'tubers of Gontiogeots were carrie J out under most favourable circumstmces. The business people had been invited to decorate the town, but as m snaps were taken towards concerted action, that which was everyone's concern njet the usual fit 6, and at only a ve y few estublishm »nts was anv attempt made to give colour to the aniui ited scene iu tha struut. Mr. Neat's clo'hing e>tthlishmenc at the corner of Devon and B.ougham-streets short e i the enterprise of the proprietor, being decorated ia a very lomplflte and p irticulavly appropriate manner, one of the features bf>ing a pie tily made " Welcome Home " The premises of Messrs Ambury Bros., Mr. Hawke and the Ciiterion Hotel were all gay with bunting and greenery and being all in one block the efhct was very imposing, as wall as plensiag. The Taranaki Guards had a strip of linen stretched across Devon-street - , from their club room, baaring words of welconip, and flags wore flying over several buildings, but beyond this little else was attempted. Between nineand ten the influx of visitors commenced, and the town had quite a lively aspect, especially wbem the volunteers, mounted and infantry, put in an appearance. Tr.e school children in large numbeis assembled at the Central acihool, and headed by the Fitzroy Drum and File Bind, in charge of Bandmaster Tanbridge, assisted by Bind-Sergeant Riggall, they marched to the vaciuit laud in Egmont-st' eet. As this waß the iii-sf. publ c wppem-unce of this young band, it naturally received much attention, and we are pleased to record that on all sides their playing was highly praised, and their inarching showed that the indefatigable B. nd Sergeant had bestowed no little pain* on this important brauch of their work The school children presented a very gay appearance, which was all the more striking !>y reason of nearly every child carrying a small flag. Some of the lassies were especially brisk and martial in thiiir bearing, while here »nd theie a khaki c'ad boy was conspicuous. By the time the children arrived at their destination thiro was a large assemblage of people in the locality, and it was evident that the event; would attract a very large crowd. Some time befor" the triin arrived at the station Che Volunt. er Battalion, with the oa Jet*, headed by the Qarrison Band, had marched 'o their respective positions, Lieutenant-Colonel Ellis being in commaud, and the moun ed mon also rook their places. On the paiferm at the stition His Worship the Mayor, with Mrs Djckrill, Chaplain Evans and others awaite i the arrival of Col mel Davies and the other gu.sts. The tra : n, which was a very lengihy one, brought io a very large number of people, b( sides the military contingent. No time was lost in getting the function funder way, and th) fir 4 du'.y which Colonel Ikvies performed was to iospocS the guard of honour. After this had been satisfactorily accempl:shed the gallant officer joined the Mayor who, with Mrs. Davies and Mrs. Doekrill, were already seated in a carriage, and the procession prepared to move oft', in the order already pub' lishod, the Stratford Rifle? joining with tie luglswood and Waitara men. Here it may be stated that owing to 'lw lat-e despatch oE the invitati n to the 8 ta ford, Eltham and Hawera 'R'fles, coupled with the bad weather, the two J1 Uter compinies were unable to bo re pros nted and only a few of the St a'ford men could attend. The first feV-un wh : ch mot the eyea of the visitors af'er th"tpi\?ce»sion started was the fioeapp ar.ince made by the cadets who were liutd up at the station end of Egiijoiit-s'i-eotuuderCaptainD rapsey, No. 1 Company being in uniform and No. 2 Cjinpiny (the juniors) wearing foo'.brll cos'umo, which rather added to thorn detracted from their smart app atvnce A little further down '.ho str: et (opposite Mr West's stables) •"he school children ware assembled together with the Town Band, aud here a hah w-s rnad'3 whi'st the Band fdiyed, and the children sang the Na'ional Anthom. Tin Band was s rmiy: and the children's voices #ere foinj'e, but tug effect was very good, especially when t-lirt e cheers wuro given at tor the sin »ing. The proaossion then moved on to D going eastward, returning via Brougham s're-it eis 1 : tho station and by Queon-stieet back into Divon-street, where th>) chi'dren were again in evid rice. Opposite tho Criterion Hotel the space was kept clear by tie t-rjsps >-o that j tho carriages were enabled to draw up! at t.he hotel piopeily. Before alight-, ing His Worship callod for three | cheers for Colonel Davies aud the ro-1 turned troopers, wkicL wero heartily',

giv«n atjd re-ponded ttf by tbe Colonel, who expressed his thanks to the Volunteers for turning out to welcentsr him and the returned troopers, end particularly thanking the mounted mm who had come such long distances in order to be present. The volunteers ware then dismissal and the crowd began to disperse. During the progress of the precession the Tews Band played some very pretty selections opposite the Cofiee Palace In the afterncoo the public reception , he'd by Colonel Davies at the Uritarion Hotel, was largely attended. l Bandmaster Haigh was introduced to the Colonel, who congratulated him on the smart appearance of the Garrison Band and the excellence of their pitying. Shortly before 3 o'clock the party left the hotel and were present at the football match in the Recreation Ground. The Mayor of Stratford, with Mrs Patton, cim« to town by thel train in the morning, but through some inadvertence no provision had been made for their taking part in the ceremony, which would certainly have been all tbe more complete by bung comprehensively provincial in character. While the recaption accorded to the returned men was not demonstrative it was none the less h<ariy. People had come out in very large numbers to testify by tbeir presence that they appreciated tbe good service done by the troops in the cause of the Empire, and there was no doubt but that it afforded tbe citizens genuine pleasure to publicly welcome back those who had re turned with honour from South Africa. THE CITIZENS' BALL. In the evening the D.ill Hall w?s the scene of one of the largest and most successful gatherings of tbe kind ever held in New Plymouth. Between 600 and 700 people attended, of whom about 400 graced the floor as o-'tsn as the space would permit. The scene, with the flags and greenery overhead and around the waits, and the bright and dr«ss»B of the ladies, was one of great brilliancy. On the entry of Colonel Dtviee, Captains Bartlett an4/Nops, and the men of the contingents, they wero addressed b£ the Mayor, who extended a hearty welcome to then. Qolonel Davies replind en b'hilf of the officers and men, and wag heartily che°rad on resuming his seat. Dancing wts then commcnod, and was kept up till an early hour thih morning. The first to go in to supper were the returned Contingent officers and men and the locil voluntee" officer.', and after the toast of the Kiog h d be»n honoured, Colon°l Ellis propoFed th< health of Col«is?i Davies, which was drunk with enthusiasm. The ball arrangements were mo«t succ ssful, and wero due to the exertions of the large committees appointed, the supper arrangements being very complete, for which the ladies! committee is to be heartily congratulated. Mr. C. T. Milk made a capable and courteous s;cretary. The music was supplied by McKinnen Biin'a orchestra, and was votad excellent by tba dancers. M'slames McCleUnd and P. Webster and Misie? Standish and Black contributed extras. A mora extended notice is crowded out of this morning's i-wue.