RECEPTION OF THE SOUDAN CONTINGENT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2024, 24 June 1885, Page 2

RECEPTION OF THE SOUDAN CONTINGENT.

(BY ELECTRT.O TELEGRAPH—COPYRIGHT) ■ Reutkr's Telegrams. Sydney, June 23, 'The landing and formal -reception of the New South Wales contingent, on their return from the Soudan* I took place, as had been arranged, this morning; but the .heavy rains which had, been prevalent during the post few' days,' .continued through the night and ; during the next .morning, necessitating; "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 Wale s

had lent great importance to the occasion, a public holiday having been gazetted throughout the Colony, whilo the whole available forces of the Colony, tothenumboi- of oyer 5000 'men, were massed in the' metropolis for the. purpose of taking part in the ceremony. i,: : <': ■...The jfcransporfc Arab was brought alongside Circular Quay from '■.' her ■mooring in the harbour, and the contingent disembarked on' the same spot from which they sailed on March last. ■ . , When the work of disembarkation was completed, .n procession was formed, and proceeded to Paddington Barracks by the same line of route which was adopted on the occasion of the departure of the Contingent. Rear Admiral Tryon furnished ■an Imperial escort of seamen and marines belongiiig ! to her Majesty's ships now in harbour, and in the procession were the following :—His Excellency the Governor Lord Augustus Loftus, Admiral Tryon, the members of the New South Ministry, the special representatives of the neighboring colonies, namely—Victoria, Sir Georgo Vernon; South Australia, General Owen; Queensland, Colonel Mein ; Tasmania, Colonel Leggie; and New Zealand, Colonel Haultain. Then came carriages containing a number of persons occupying public positions in the Colony. On arriving at the barracks, the troops, who had all along been loudly cheered by the 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 their services, after which they were dismissed. The original intention was'to hold a combined review of the forces, but the heavy downpour prevented the carrying out of this part of the programme... .'.