ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH MAIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1593, 19 September 1882, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH MAIL.

The mail steamer City of Sydney dropped anchor in Auckland harbour on Sunday afternoon^ with the English and American mails :—: — The War in Egypt.— Enthusiasm of the British People on the Deparparture of the Troops for the Seat of War. , The first batallion of the Scots Guards left London for service in Egypt, amidst a scene of public enthusiasm such as probably has not been witnessed since the time of the Crimean War. From the banks in Birdcage Walk to Westminster Bridge, every approach was thronged with dense masses of spectators, who extended along the Embankment almost to Blackfriars Bridge. The men were at once formed in sqnave, and Colonel Knox, who goes out in command of the battallion, read a, letter received by him from General Sir Henry Ponsonby on behalf of the Queen. Colonel Moncrieff, who is in command of the battalion, but who will not go with it to Egypt, congratulated Colonel Knox on the fine battalion under his command, and wished the troops good luck and God speed. The men afterwards i joined in column of four, and headed by their band thoy marched, amidst the enthusiastic demonstrations of the spectators, to the pier at Westminster Bridge, whence they were conveyed on board the Orient, which is one of the finest and largest steamers afloat, and she was towed out of the basin soon' after 12, amidst another scene of enthusiasm. Just prior to the" Orient leaving the dock, the Duke of Connaught, who goes out in command of a brigade of guards, arrived in a steamer, accompanied by the divisional staff, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh, and the Duke of Cambridge. On the Orient finally leaving the dock the many thousands of spectators who lined the piers and wharves, and were assembled along the bank of the river, gave a tremendous cheer, to which the Guards warmly replied. The vessel was soon out in mid-stream, and at once commenced her passage down the river with the royal party on board amidst a scene «of unbounded enthusiasm. It was expected that the Orient would reach the Nore at night. The Duchess of Connaught, after witnessing the embarkation of her husband, returned to London and proceeded by special train for Osborne. The distinguished party on board the Lotus, who were invited by Lieutenant-Colonel Farquharson to see the Scots Guards off, subscribed among them on their return £108, to be distributed among the wives and children of men belonging to the battalion.