THE NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENT.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10538, 27 December 1899, Page 5

THE NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENT.

Tlw next portion of the. Canterbury' Contingent for-the Transvaal will leave to-mor-row evening for ."Wellington. .■ The names of the members of tho Marlborough Mounted Rifles who have volunteered to join the second New- Zealand Contrngent for South Africa, and whose applications have been forwnrded to the Defence authorities, are as follows:—Troopers K. Robinson, H. Stace, Kelsall. A. Western, Jas. O'Dwyer, J. Kennington. Trooper Robert Kidd, volunteering from the Southland Mounted Rifles, for the Transvaal, is a qualified surgeon deutist, of S. Myers and Co., Invereargill, and in proceeding to the Transvaal, throws up «, lucrative poii'tion as manager. Ho gerved with the Mounted Police in South Africa on completion of the Bulawuyo railway, and after having served his contracted time with them, returned to this colony. / (PBXSS : ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, December 26. Over sixty names were sent in to the Auckland brigade office in .-response to the second call for volunteers. The number, however, was narrowed down by Lieutenant* Colonel Banks to 17, the conditions insisted upon by the defence out-horid'es debarring others. The stringency of the conditions of acceptance may bo judged from the fact that out of the 17 only 3 have been accepted, these being—Gunner Delaney, Colour-Sergeant ! Hay, and Private Lundon. Several of the 17 wero under the required measurement, two were rejected for physical defects, and others were under the neeessfiry age. Tho threo men selected -will probably be setut to Wellington to-morrow. Last night Lieutenant Banks, of the Auckland Mounted Rifles, received a. telegram from Wellington, stating that he had been chosen as one of the officers for the second Contingent, and ordering 'Km to proceed to Wellington forthwith. The following Auckland officers have also volunteered, and their offers are now under consideration at Wellington:—Captain Abbott arid Lieutenant Shsiw, No. 2, Victorcas; Lieutenant Todd, Nowtown Rifies; Lieutenant Ward, Onehunga Rifles, -Lieutenant Thomson, No. 3 Natives' Association Corps; Lieutenants Walker and Johnson,- Engineers; Lieutenant Swindley, Hauraki Rifles; and Lieutenant Walker, No. 3 Waikato. It is expect-ed offers of service will be received from country corpe within the next day or two.- " WELLINGTON, December 26. , Forty-five men were in camp to-day. A 'number of Northerners ■were expected tonight- ' i Major Sommervilla is very -well satisfied 1 with the class of men so for. Some of the Wellington men picked by Colonel Penton 'have been rejected because they hove not ■ seen sufficient volunteer service. I It is understood that Captain Cradock, late'of the 9bhi Dragoons, is to be promoted to 'Major, and receive the command of the second Contingent. The other officers have not yet been, selected. (Br TELEGRAPH.) ; (JBOM OTTB SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) WELLINGTON, December 26.. Br. Fenwick, of Chnlstcliurch, will accompany the Contingent to South Africa. •{ V 1 Amongst the officers aireody appointed are Lieutenant Sommervile, of the Alexondsa Mounted Rifles, a son of Major Sommerville, and Lieutenant Hutsoir, of the Cycle Corps. The latter went to England with the Jubilee Comblngent The Government have made the conditions I for joining the second Contingent so strict that unless they are considerably relaxed the requisite number of men will not be obtained. There are many complaints already about the rejection, of men. who would mak« excellent recruits.