WELLINGTON NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 68, 21 March 1900, Page 5

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(By Telegraph.— Own Correspondent.)

WELLTXGTOX. this day

Further appointments announced to the Fifth Contingent, Dunedin Company, are Lieutenants Me'l>nnan and Marshall; No. I. Wellington Company, Lieutenant Poison. Ir has been definitely arranged that the Maori and Wtiimate sail for the Cape on the- :;ist inst. The (.lymerie joins the Monowai, conveying the Fourth Contingent to South Africa, and also takes .ion of the Or ago sedioiu The Maori rakes a portion of the Fifth Division, leaving Lyttelton on Thursday, and bringing? up a. hundred of the Canterbury division.

Three hundred men are offering'

from Wellington districts, besides 50 Xew Plymouth, etc. As only l."> 0 can be.selected the defence officers will not have an easy tusk. It is suggested that the surplus form a nucleus for a. Sixth Kesene Contingehr, and lill up the gaps in the previous contingents caused by death and disease. A hundred horses Tor the Fifth Contingent arrived last night. Lieut.Colonel Xewall goes in charge of the Fifth, and is highly recommended by ihe New Zealand Government, for the permanent command. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Lieut. F. Hume, who Iras been appointed an officer of. the We.stralinn Bushmen's Contingent, was formerly in, the X.Z. Insurance Company's office lere. and recently was transferred to ihe Perth branch. A hundred horses, selected by Mr Slovens. M.H.R., have ! u-rived for the Fifth Contingent.

The following temporary appointments have been made in connection with Ihe Fifth Contingent: — Sanderson, netingf-quarter-innslei'-sergennt; Privates French and Speedy, corporals; with special supervision of-horses.

Colonel Somerville will take charge of the vessel'con tain ingl Major Da vies' section of ihe Fourth Contingent, and accompany them I ill he hands the command over To .Major M. Dnvies.

Colonel Newall will go to (he Capo in charge of the Fifth Contingent, but it, is not actually settled whether ho will .have ultimate command. He will take a letter recommending him to the Imperial authorities for employment.

The Gymeric left, for Lyltelton en route for Dimedin lnst evening, and she and the Monowai will take the Fourth Contingent to South Africa; also, 100 of the Otago section of the Fifth Contingent, both steamers leaving Diniedhi on the 24th inst. The Premier and the Hons. .1. 0. Ward and J. McKenzie will be present to witness the departure.

The Premier says that in appointing Lieutenant-Colonel Somerville to the command of a half-section of Hip Fourth Contingent, the Government heartily appreciate the services of that officer, not only in the assistance rendered to the Defence Department in connection with ih<> despatch of the contingents, but also his highly rrieri'torioiis .services to volunteering in this colony, and particularly with respect to the advancement of shooting.

Tlie steamer Maori is to be fitted up to carry a portion of the Fifth Contingent, and she will leave Lyttelton for Wellington on Tuesday, bringing the Canterbury section to camp here.

The YVahnate and Maori take the Fifth Contingent, and both vessjels leave here for South Africa on the 3.lst inst.

In the absence of Colonels Somerville and Collins from Wellington, Captain Loveday will have charge of the camp for the Fifth Contingent, and on the departure of Colonel Newall, Colonel Webb, of Dunedin, will take charge of the Wellington volunteer district, and Major Moore, of South Canterbury, will temporarily succeed Colonel Webb, in Dunedin.