SOUTHERN CONTINGENT

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 48, 25 August 1914, Page 4

SOUTHERN CONTINGENT

(IT TELEGKAPH.-*BFECML TO THB POST.) mJ-NEDIN, This Daj. ' It seemß to be; acceptett as certain that the troopships with the Otago and Southland contingent* 1 wiE take their departure on Thursday or Fnd'a-y next, pro' bably on tne last'nwafiion^d date-. The strength of the mounted' regiment now at Tahuna camp i» 73- officerj* and N. 0.0.'5, and 556 rneir, while the infantry totals 131 ofßcers and 1 N.C'.O.V, aßd 648 men. There- will probably, be a ciVic farewell before' tne men embark. A band 1 for the infantry regiment has been practically completed, and the question of furnishing' instruments is. before the Patriotic Committee. Hand 1 Sergeant George has been appointed h,andmaater. To enable the relatives of cTepa-rting troopers to accompany their boys' beyond the harbour Hnrite, the Harbour Board has decided 1 to; place the new tug ■Dunedin at their disposal. The tag wiu escort the troopships to the Heads. It is hoped that other shipowners will follow the board's .lead,, and that a sufficiency of *«BSel4 Wll be so available for limited number;, U 6f relatives o£ every trooper to wave tEeii 1 baa voyage from the Heads. , - ' , '/The Railway Bepartment. has decided that horses, fodder, etc.; tor the Expeditionary Force ' will be conveyed free over the New Zealand Railways,, but. railage on purchase " made by the Defence Department will'' be charged against the Defence Account. Eight candidates' sat in Wellington yesterday for direct' commissions in the British Army The examination was conducted by s the Prof essoriai Board of Victoria College, as the mili^ tary authorities had so many ofche* matters to- attend to. The candidates are: A. It. Campbell and I. Macdonald, Wanganui^ H. M, .Lepper, Wellington district; T.. Godfrey, Waipukurau; Second Lieut. A.'C. 'Clayton (unattached^ Auckland; 'E, X T. Beeves, Wellington^ • Robert ,*J. Robertßon, Christchurch> Lieut, W. J. Claohan (unattached), Wellington. "We have all the artillery and transport horßes that we require, with a. surplus to cover accidents before shipment," said Colonel Reakes to a Post reporter yesterday, "The largest number are being concentrated at Palmerston North, I with smaller ' drafts at the other three centres. The horses are of a very good stamn,.and^l should like to express my appreciation of th& way in which the farmers have come forward with good, horses of that class 1 . Generally speaking, they have Bold them at very reasonable prices. 'Ir. this I realise that the assistance-, of the Farmers' Union lias been of very gieat value," A j'eproaMiUtJ^e of -TJw Ppat £!# iu<_

formed yesterday that some of the Germans interned at Sonwjs Island are lacking in clothing and .comforts ; tobacco has almost run out, among other things. Any gifts, the official stated, will be greatly appreciated. A telegram received by the Defence Ofllce yesterday from the headquarters of. the Expeditionary Eorce> % states : " lb must be clearly understood, that pay in camp is to be in accordance with Financial Regulations. Scale oi? pay for Expeditionary Force only commences from and including day of embsu'kation." 1 The Defence authorities notify for general information that no liquor will be permitted on the Expeditionary Force troopships except as medical stores under the medical staff.