DEPARTURE OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES CONTINGENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1314, 12 March 1885, Page 3

DEPARTURE OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES CONTINGENT.

Sydney, March 5

The departure of the contingent to the Soudan occupied all attention, and Tuesday last was a great day in New South Wales. From early morning crowds assembled from everywhere, and it was estimated tint the departure must have been witnessed by nearly 200,003 persona. Everything was well arranged, and there was no delay. Indeed so promptly did the transports get away that four or fire men who lagged behind to say their last farewells were left behind. The enthusiasm was very great. At Circular Quay the Governor addressed the troops, and also read a telegram from the Governor of Victoria. The procession through the streets was well carried out, and presented an imposing spectale. Mr Duller, who rod© in the Governor’s carriage, was nest to the contingent, and was the'hero of the occasion, and came in for a liberal share of applause. The crush at the Quay was very great, and several persons were injured. A boy fell through a skylight, a distance of 50fi, and was ki led. The most serious accident, however, occurred on leaving the Heads, where tl>e steamer Namra, crowded with pepple got foul of the Iberia, and two, women were .killed and one child injured. One of the women was watching her husband at the time on board the troopship, and was holding up their child fpr. him to see when the crash came, and the’wonmn was crushed to death. Several others were also injured, one . rather severely. The day was fine, and the

harbor was literally covered with steamers.

Parliament is summoned to meet on the ,17th to deal with military questions only. It is not anticipated there will be much opposition. At an open air meeting of the labouring classes a vote of censure was passed on th« Government, but the majority of opinion is in favour of the success of the expedition. In a case which came before him in Chambers, Judge Fawcett said he would not offer any opinion on the action of Government sending an expedition except from a legal standpoint, and to his mind it was quite clear that the Government, before enlisting an nrmy force, must have the authority of Parliament to enable them to do so. The Legislature alone fixed the number.