MAJOR ROBIN'S COMMISSION.
MESSAGES FROM PARENTS.
(By Telegraph.)
(raOM OtJB STECUtf. COBHESPOJTDENT.) WELLINGTON, October 22.
Major Robin , when seen, by a representative of the ■ 'Tost," was surrounded by a mass at papers, cribbed, coffined, and confined, in iris tent. On his right hand, no matter where it rested, there was a mass of correspondence. The bulk of the private letters came from parents throughout the colony, whose sons are members of the Contingent. Anxious fathers aad ioving mothers requested the Major to personally keep an eye upon their boys. One letter, of a bulky nature, when opened, disclosed ft religious tract, headed, "Are you afraid?" In handing the tract over for examination, the Major said:—"Do you think I wc-uld go where I am going if I was afrhid?" Somo <if the letters also? went into minute details as to parental instructions,' and ga.ve confidential particulars concerning the peculiarities of same of the "boys." There was. something of a grim humour about these commissions, but the commander of our warriors took tbe matter in ail seriousness. He even argued tie question for somo time, wondering how he could manage to control the troop, and yet keep a personal eye upon at least fifty men. put under his personal supervision by peaents. Commenting on this matter, Majcr Robin observed—"The hard part of it is that I may have to send these very young fellows, comi mended most earnestly to my coze, into tsbe
,-.'.<'« i!»i!rn>in positions when we are at the I, :it J dti not think that clue considera- ; ■: ■, :t Ix't'ii shown on the paxt of parent* in mo tbe burden o( these reeponaityAiua*."' . , "Weil. .Major, -what are you going to do abvtit it':" was tbe natural jjueatioa. ■ i>'u, well,' ho replied, with a heavy sigh (fur lie was very busy at the time), "I shall do niv best to show my men their duty, and ] luive m.t t!»e doubt t!»at they will do it well and faithfully, and with every can , . Titis rrituroUy kd to the question—"What is yynr <nilnion of the men as a whole, Major?" Whiireupun. -w-ith tliat bright smile which ia n, ciuirwU'TOtie of the commander, he raid. urn.> every filth in the men. They arc wn.'irt iihl «:beerful. aiirl r&wly and willing to <>b*'v. Uiu; ca.n askiin more of regular tiwjisi't :;tn that, and I only hope, as I said at the h:)ii'ju«:t tf>e otljer night, that our fellow-NW ZciiLinders whom we leave at hon»r will rt;in.«nbtT that we are a small party: vrv have kid no actual experience, and "are golni: into a foreign land under cir-«uciv»(.i.!H<-y wnuige to m. Ail I hope for is tho Uxt. and, btlkeve mc, our fellows will nut fail us.' .
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10483, 23 October 1899, Page 5
Word Count
450MAJOR ROBIN'S COMMISSION. Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10483, 23 October 1899, Page 5
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