NEW ZEALAND ITEMS

Press, Issue XLI, 25 February 1885, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND ITEMS

AUCKLAND, February 23. Mr A. D. Bennett to-day, in company with the Mayor, waited upon Sir J. Vogel, and represented to him he had been solicited by a large number of men who have had military experience to raise a corps for service in Soudan. He was prepared to form such a corps at once if the proposal should meet with the approval of Government. The Colonial Treasurer replied that several applications had come in from various parts of the colony. They would come up for consideration at the Cabinet meeting this week. Mr Bennett might submit his offer formally. Acting upon these suggestions the following telegram was dispatched to the Hon. Defence Minister, Wellington, "I have 'hahonor to offer to raise for service abroad to the Imperial Government, through the New Zealand Government, a volunteer naval contingent, three hundred men, composed of ex naval men, armed constabulary, and ex volunteers, all hardy and experienced men, each company of 100 men under a Lieutenant who has previously seen service. Such men to be raised in provincial district of Auckland within six weeks, and aa a guarantee I start a subscription with .£25. —Abthtjb Bennett, late Captain of the Naval Contingent on service." DUNEDIN, February 20. Mr J. Fulton, who recently forwarded to TTin Excellency the Governor an offer to raise and equip, with the assistance of friends in Dunedin, a corps for despatch to the seat of war in the Soudan, this morning received the following reply from His Excellency:—".Christchurch, February 20th, 1885, 11.50 a.m.— Received your telegram yesterday afternoon, and appreciate highly the loyal offer of yourself and all concerned. I cannot reply, however, till I have obtained the opinion of my Ministerß.---W. F. D. Jbbvois." In the meantime Mr Fulton is busily engaged in enlisting recruits, aad has met with great success. The C and E Batteries of Volunteer Artillery, of Timaru and Christchurch respectively, have, through their commanding officers, Captains Hammersley and Martin, signified their willingness to start within fourteen days for the Soudan should their services be accepted. Not being properly equipped as batteries for the field, they have signified their willingness to act as infantry in conjunction with the Australian Brigade. The offer has been made to the Defence Office through Lieutenant-Colonel Lean, the officer commanding the district, and should it be accepted something like eighty men will go. DUNEDIN, February 21. Up to noon to-day Mr Fulton had received applications' from sixty persons willing to .undertake service in the Soudan. One female offered to go as nurse. POET CHALMERS, February 22. The Naval Artillery have offered to proceed to the Soudan. The men are principally seamen, and if their offer is accepted would be found very useful. TIMARU, February 23. ( j Since the offer made by Captain; Hamersley for service in Soudan he has j received offers from nearly every man who went to Parihaka with him. Volunteers here are very anxious to hear the result of the decision of-the Government on the matter, and trust that in any case the Imperial Government should be communicated with.