NEW ZEALANDERS AT THE FRONT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 62, 14 March 1900, Page 3

NEW ZEALANDERS AT THE FRONT.

LETTER FROM A TROOPER,

A member of the No. l Company of the first New Zealand contingent of Mounted Infantry writes us as follows from Kle'infontein, Northern Cape Colony, under date of January 20th:—'

On Tuesday, January 16th at ten o'clock in the morning we moved further out. to the north-east with a detachment of tho "()" Battery R.H.A.. Life Guards, Carbineers, and picked up with th_ Rimington Scouts, and camped at Potfonteiu, where there is a big dam of good water and a large orchard of poaches. These are a trreat treat.

On Wednesday, the 17th, we were engaged in reconnoitring the surrounding country, and nothing of importance occurred.

On Thursday, the ISth, we wers again scouting the country, and moved west towards Norval's Pent, bivouacking at Elienfontein. This is a fine place for the horses and men— good water and grass in plenty. News was received that one of our best spies was captured yesterday. He is a Rimington Scout.

On the ISth inst. the. Boers occupied a farm about four miles from Klienfontein, and our artillery went out to shell them, but'without success. They are reported to be moving towards Norval's Pout in great numbers from Colesberg, as the howitzer gnus shells are having effect. We are now only about twelve miles from Norval's Pout and the Orange River. Beyond picket work, patrolling and scouting with the Rimington "Tigers" we have very little, excitement.

On the evening of Thursday, the 25th, news came that our artillery had a duel with the Boers, and oneot their shells had killed one man and killed and wounded three horses. Later we found that it was one of the No. 2 Company's men who had been struck on the head with a shell and killed while holding General French's horse, which was wounded. His name was Booth, and he came from the South Island. We are about six miles from Colesberg, and hear next to nothing of our other division's work, and get few .papers. This place (Ivlienfontein) is a' very nice spot for camp, and many other farms about it have excellent fruit getting ripe.