THE LANDING AND RECEPTION OF THE N.S.W. CONTINGENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1357, 25 June 1885, Page 3

THE LANDING AND RECEPTION OF THE N.S.W. CONTINGENT.

Stoney, June 23. , The landing and formal reception of the New South Wales contingent on their return from the Soudan took place, as had been arranged, this morning. The heavy rains which had been prevalent during the past few days continued throughout the night and during the morning, necessitating a considerable change in the plans which had been prepared, and marring to a great extent the success of the demonstration from a spectacular point of view. The Government of New South Wales had lent great importance to the occasion, a public holiday having been gazetted throughout the colony, while the whole available forces of the colony, to the number of over 6,000 men. were massed in the metropolis for the purpose of taking part in the ceremony. The transport Arab was brought alongside Circular Quay from her moorings in the harbor and tbe Contingent disembarked on the same spot from which they sailed in March last. When tbe work of disembarking was completed a procession was formed, and proceeded to Paddington Barracks by the same line of rente which was adopted on the occasion of the departure of the Contingent. Rear-Admiral Tryon furnished an Imperial guard of seamen and marines • belonging to Her Majesty’s ships in harbor. In the procession were the following ;—His Excellency the Governor Lord Agnstus Loftus, Admiral Tryon, the numbers of the New South Wales Minis try,' the special representatives of the neighbouring colonies, namely:—Victoria, Sir G. Verdon ; South Australia, General Owen ; Queensland, Colonel Mein ; Tasmania, Colonel Legge; and New Zealand, Captain Haultain. Than came carriages containing a number of persons occupying public positions in the colony. On arrival at the barracks the troops, who bad all along been loudly cheered by crowds of spectators, who, notwithstanding the rain, thronged the line of route, were addressed by His Excellency, who thanked them in the name of their Queen and country for the services they had rendered. After this they were dismissed. The original intention was to hold a combined review of the forces, but the heavy downpour prevented the tarrying out of this part of the programme. .