AUSTRALIAN TROOPS.

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1536, 3 June 1885, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN TROOPS.

The reception of the Australians, ■ays the Telegrttph correspondent, was a complete ovation, the crews of the ships in harbour all cheering enthusiastically and the gunboats manning yards. The staff was assembled on the pier to receive the contingent, the Scots pipers playing the Australians | into camp, where the troops turned out ; cheering. General Graham met them j half way, and rode in with them. Arrived in camp, the contingent deployed into line and saluted General Graham, who addressed them as follows: — '* In the name of tha British ! army under my command I heartily welcome you as comrades and brothers in arms, sharing with us our perils and toils, and, we hope, our glories too. This expedition is a proiul one. In our common country English hearts beat ' high when EajjlishniPii h«ard of the nohl«* loyalty of Australia, which is ! wedding the widely-divided parts of j the Empire together. We honour you j leaving your hearts and homes to I shai'e our desert campaign, abounding, |as it does, iv privations and dangers. I 1 feel sure that your disctpliue will | rqual your patriotic courage. Eng- | land and all her colonies indeed, the ! whole civilsed world — are watching i yon. Once more, I repeat, I am ! proud to command you, and certain I that you will .do honour to yonr ! country and ra& ' General Graham's ! address eoMclofled, the commandant j of the Australians called on the con- ! tingent for a cheer in response. Three { times three were given most heartily. The whole force, without a single exception, is ready to march to-morrow ,if necessary. Its uniform consists ef | a scarlet tnnic, navy kluo trousers 1 with a cord, white helmet and belts. • The infantry are arsted with Martinis ' and a sword -bayonet; the ambulance men with Winchester rifles. They . have be<m presented with 50,000 ! rouuds of ball cartridge by private ' subscriptions. The colonist contingent is composed of men belonging to all j social classes : prosperous citizens, I m«n strong, straight, and well set up, I from the eonntry and the bush ; j retired soldiers and sailers, artisans. I dkc. All display an admirable paysi | qne, and appear to he as hard as nails. | Their average height is in excess of that of any British infantry, and their average age. appears to he over thirty j years. They are fine, bearded fellows keen for a scrimmage. The first question asked by one and all was, "Are we toe late?" They sheered heartily when tola 1 that they wore amply in time to second the regulars when the next fighting khould taken place. They cheered again tastily on hearing that perhaps the advance on Tamai would come off to-morrow. The Australian commandant asked permission for his men to accompany a, convoy, jnst to shake themselves together and find their legs in preparation for more serious work. Some of hem will probably accompany the. next convoy. Whilst I was talking with the commandant he said that every man had got his whole heart in his work, and was thoroughly .aware what important bearing this patriotic outburst was bound to have npon the qnestion of colonial confederation. Bat the first and chief reason for his fellow-colonists' enthusiasm was their burning love for the old country, and passionate loyalty to the Crown, seeking no higher reward than the approbation of the Qneen and of Eagland — no greater honour than to stand shonlder to shoulder with the Imperial troops. He further said that enthusiasm without parallol prevailed throughout the whole colony, which rushed to arms with one ringing shoot of " Hurrah for Old England and our Queen ! " Men, money, horses, and supplies poured in without cessation. They only had to pick and choose. All the officers were only anxious to go to th« front forthwith. The doctors speak most highly of the stamina and general health of the contingent. The men themselves consider having been selected to serve as the. greatest gco«i

fortune possible. On talking with thoni I found their hearty expressions of patriotism were a perfect revelation of colonial pride in Ku^laud and devotion to her service Th£ Ambulance Corps is thirty-six strops including three doctors, on« of whinis Surgeon Grauville, of the Sulu War. Theee doctors are assisted by several qoalijfied medical graduates, who bafo I voluuteered in order to gain some field experience. The horse* are a fine selection, and were landed in admirable condition. The eoutingeut finds the weather here quite a treat after the Australian midsummer. On leaving the Iberia, the commandant •f the contingent led off the cheering in honour of Captain Shannon and the officers. He expressed his thorough satisfaction, thanking them most heartily. The Australian Brigade iseamping with the Shropshire*. They were entertained at dinner by 'the Scots Guards on March 20t The second Iransport, having on board the remainder of the Australian troops, arrived off the harbour on Monday, March' 80. As soon as- the Auttralasuui had got to anchor the other vessels in the harbour saluted oar colonial troops in theaame enthusiastic manner as their comrades on >lar«h 29. The contingent will be sent on to the front as soon as all the necessary transport can be forwarded,