WELLINGTON NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 67, 20 March 1900, Page 5

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent?

WELLINGTON this day.

There were 22(3 men in camp this morning. A shed has been erected in the encampment for comtmissariat purposes, which will obviate the inconvenience of having to procure everything from -Mount Cook Barracks Colonel Sommerville intimates his intention to give preference to New Zealand born applicants in the selection of the Fifth Contingent. The Mayor's Patriotic Fund has reached £ 6270, and the More Men Fund £ 5630. .Nothing has definitely been decided, regarding the charter of the steamer Maori by the Govetrnment. for the conveyance of troops to South Africa. She sails for Lyttelton to-day.

The steamer Gymeric having been released from quarantine is now being fitted up for the reception ot the Fourth Contingent. She sails for Dunedin this afternoon.

Mr Souter, the chief steward of the Government'steamer Tutanekai, proceeds to Capetown in the Gymeric as superintendent of the Commissariat Department. .

Lieutenant McMillan, of the Cycle Corps, has volunteered, for the Fifth Contingent.

The men had a good passage down

in the Monowai. The horses were promptly landed, and yen- taken with the men to camp. Un_>_tunately, no heelropes were sent as part, of the equipment, and before the supply could be secured one of the horses was badly kicked, and others knocked about.

Colonel Pen ton arrives to-morrow and takes charge of the camp.

Captain Harvey's company wiH.be made up as follows:—Fifty Southlanders, nine West Coast, ,10 Marlborough, 37 Hawke's Bay, and one Ohingai'ti.

Thirty-four men from Nelson, Greymouth, and Rlenheini came into camp to-day. Four were found to be only twenty years of age, and were rejected by Colonel Sommerville. Captain Tanner and Lieut. Jlaselden,, with sixty men engaged in ball practice at Miramar this morning.

The Tramway Company have granted free passes to till members of the Fifth Contingent.

Five hundred horses are expected within a. fortnight. Eighty arrive tonight from Manawatu. Eighteen came this morning by the Te Anau from Gisborne en route to Dunedin.

Sir A. Mil tier's invitation to the New Zealand Government to send over railway men is not likely to be accepted. Eflieient men are unlikely to be attracted by the offer of lower rates of remuneration than are paid here and pay their own passages.

Dissatisfaction is expressed in some cprurters with some of tin. commissions in the Rough Hitlers jj.unt.l just prior to their embarkation. It is alleged one, who is lhe son of a prominent politician, ' being below Ih. u-gti for enrolment as a privn.te, was appointed lieutenant. Another, sun of an certain oflicer, who failed in Die riding test, received a conwnis:sion. A

third is said to hare been appointed Cn the strength of his being a Civil Servant and son of a clergyman. A fourth was a. resident of a district much favoured in official quarters.