THE FIFTH CONTINGENT.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10683, 15 June 1900, Page 6

THE FIFTH CONTINGENT.

NOTES OF THE WAIMATE'S VOYAGE. (FROM OUR SPECIAL WAR COREESrON'DEXT '{with the contingent.) -Troopship Waimate, April 28. Though-the Maori reached Albany some nine hours before us, she only? got away two hours ahead—viz., at sir o'clock on Thursday morning (April 12th). At a general parade, Colonel Newall announced that we were to proceed direct to Biira. It is understood that no special instructions were received as to what is to become of the sixtynine reserve men. Speculation is. now rife as to whether they will be landed at Beira. As they have not horses and only part of their kit it seems doubtful, unless the Imperial authorities have made arrangements ior them. Since leaving Albany, we have lost two more horses.. THE CASUALTY LIST. Veterinary Lieutenant Lillioo met with an accident at Albany, when he put his knee out slightly. He was on the sick list for a day or two, but is now able to hobble around. Other,small accidents have happened through slipping on, the decks. Lieu- ; tenant Rose sprained his wrist, but has now recovered. Trooper Davis (Reserve) met with a similar accident. Lunce-Cornoral Jotks (formerly from Wanganui) sprained' his ankle, and is still laid up. APPOINTMENTS. The orders for to-day contain the following —Further acting appointments in the reserve, reebmmended by laeuteua.nt Tuckey, are made aa follows: — Trooper Parsons and Trooper Hay Mackenzie to be sergeants, Trooper Bakei to be corporal. Sergeant Parsons to the WelUdgmember of the wellknown musical family. Sergeant Hay Mackenzie comes from Dunedin (formerly Napier). His parents reside at Westport. Corporal Baker held a similar position in the Dannevirke Rifles. His parents reside at Ashburton. The appointments of lancecorporals are made by officers commanding companies, and are not approved in orders. Lieutenant- - Commanding Tuckey has appointed Troopers Charlton and Steward to be lance-corporals in the reserve. The former comes from Hawke's Bay, and the latter is a son of Hon. Major Steward, M.H.R. for Waitaki. COMPLAINTS OF THIEVING. Lieutenant-Colonel Newall paid all hands to-day. There has been considerable rejoicing accordingly- Frequent complaints are madie that petty thieving is rife in the men's quarters. Small sums of money, razors, and the like, are most favoured by the thief or thieves. THE CONTINGENT DOG. The Transvaal President has a namesake on board*, in the form of a fox terrier d*og. Wβ got him a silver-mounted collar at Albany, and had it inscribed "Kruger, Fifth New Zealand Contingent." Kruger iowls dismally whenever a <i?ad horss is thrown overboard. He went into camp at Newton Park with the Fourth Contingent, and when they went away he joined the Fighting Fifth,*and decided to accompany them to South Africa, "Kruger" usad to live in the guard l tent, and ha. regularly went round when the sentries were being relieved. He will have xothing to say to our officers. GIFTS TO THE CONTINGENTS. Our midday meal.has beeni greatly improved the last two diys in an unexpected manner, two hogsheads of -beer from Mr J. Morrison's brewery at Petone having been brought to light. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr Morrison-, and it was unanimously that his beer deseiTes the highest" testimonial. A'further welcome parcel of magazines has beero discovered, Mr A. »B. Clater being the demur. NON-CCXMMISSIONEB OFFICERS. A number of changes have been made in our non-commissioned officers. Corporal H. F. Henry ' has been made sergeant, and Trooper A.'-S. Wier made corporal, on- the recommeiidetkui of Captain Abbott, who has also appointed Troapers A. Anderson, Sullivan. H. H. Fletcher, and H. Thompsott, , lance-corporals. On Captain Tanner's Lance-Corporals .G. D. Carter (Napiet) and Jones (Wanganiui) have! been made corporals, and-Troopers Simpson, Brown, Flyanu F. Br|ce, and Ashby, lance' j corporals. . . . .

SUNDAY OX,BOARD,

A boat drill lreld. on*"sbe« Sunday morning, when we had been a w#ejc out, ami we were paraxkd wearing our life-belts. Divine service was heLi as usual by Lieut.Colonel Xewall. Dr. addreseed us on a few simple prineipJes regarding health, and urged us to abstain from 'excessive eating and drinking. Lisut- Dewar's service in th« men's quarters was largely atterxfed at night

STRING PRACTICE. '

On Monday morning firing practice was indulged in, squads from each company keeping up a stead-v fusilade all day. The horses were entirely unconcerned by the rifle reports. Tho officers practised" with their revolvers, Captain Abbott making top score.

That much-hackneyed song "Soldiers of the Queen" has been completely cut out on board by Mr Alf. Hill's tuneful song, "Boys of the Bush Brigade," the capital chorus of which is to be heard every evening. Compulsory baths are ordered on board. The captain and lieutenant for the day come along at 5.30 a.m., and sees that every man goes under the-hosa regularly. Hospital parades are also held once daily, when Surgeon-Major Thomas gires each man a refresher of quinine.

ARRIVAL AT BEIRA.

We arrived off Belra. about 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 28th. Shortly afterwards the pilot came on board, but as he was a Portuguese and spoke very little English we were able to gather onSy meagre war news. However, i» told us that the Maori bod arrived, and' he sLoweci us a Lisbon paper with a picture of the New Zealanders relieviag the York* at Slingersfonteio.

April 29. We anchored for the night when the pilot came on board, and made a fresh start at 5 a.m. About an hour later we ran aground, and were fast on the mud all the morning, floating off easily at 2.30 p.m., when the tide was again nearly hign. From the time we lift Wellington 'to the present we have onlylost four horses —a feather in the cap of Vet.. Lieutenant Lilico.

BLOEMFONTEIN DESCRIBED

Trooper A. L. Ross, in a letter to his mother, dated Bloemfontein, May 9th. says: —"Bloemfontein is a fairly decent place. They have some very nice buildings and good streets, but inches :n dust. All the towns and villages here seem to be within a circle, and outside that is open country, no rivers or suburbs like New Zealand. Our First Contingent are all leaving and joining hand over fist the Cape Mounted Police; I heard there were only 83 left. In this place the average number of cases of fever per day is nearly 30, so you see we are in a fever-stricken place. The flies are something terrible., and they say they carry the fever about with them. We got helmets served out to us this morning, and they make us look like the real "Tommy.''

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A SOLDIER,

Trooper James of the Third Con- I tingeiut, writing from Smithfield on Api'il ; 2nd, states that on the Sunday previous he ; liad been sent oo picket duty, and at four i o'clock in the morning was sent off scouting, i He did not get back tilt midday, and as he had had: nothing to eat during the time he ■ was on picket and scouting, he was read}' for something to eat, but in the meantime camp had been struck. At a farm house he I managed to get a piece of bread, and during I the afternoon he managed to get two ducks, | } which he boiled and shared with others who ' j had been on duty with him. He had not had Ms boots off, on one occasion, for twelve ', days, and he had not had his clothes off for i three weeks except to wash. There were seventeen men in a tent., and there w-as not room to turn round. He had decided to sleep outside as long as the weather con- : tinued fine- But in spite of all this he never felt better in his life, and had never even had a. cold.

"IN LOVING MEMORY."

There 'has bean printed and circulated in Bloemfontein and the districts surrounding, a tastefully-printed and , affecting little memorial card, containing the following inscription.? l : —On the outside: "In remembrance of Croraje, who succumbed to an j attack of 'Bobs' on Majuba Day, February i 27th. 1900. Not lost, but gone before (to St. Helena)." On the inside appear the lines: — "No" more will Cronje roam the veldt, In exile he doth yearn. For justice unto him is dealt, As many more will learn." —"In loving memory." i The following little poetic twist appears on the last page: — "Though taken away from a world of strife, : Hβ leaves a Steyn behind him." |

'leaving for the front. I

Our Wellington correspondent states that f Lieutenant-Hovell,-son of Dean Hovell, of ' Napier, and Lieutenant Collett, of Waipawa, ' proceed to the front by the Ormazan to-day. The former joins the 4th Contingent, and the latter the sth Contingent. j

THE PEACE CELEBRATIONS.

A public meeting was held in Lincoln on Monday evening to make arrangements for celebrating the declaration of peace in South Africa. It was decided to fall in with the ! Acting-Premier's suggestion as to the date, and a strong Committee was formed to work up the details of the demonstration. A considerable sum was subscribed in the room, and the district will be canvassed for further subscriptions. The suggested programme in- • eludes a procession of the school children, I the unfurling of a flag at the school, fire- ' works, a bonfire, and an open-air concert. A public meeting was held at Rangiora on Wednesday evening to consider the ques- , tion of celebrating the declaration of peace, i The Mayor presided, and there was a fair attendance. After considerable discussion, it was decided to hold a thanksgiving service ; in the school grounds at 11 a.m., to be followed by the unfurling of a new flag for the [ ■i borough school. In the afternoon a procession of the various bodies and school children will march through the town to the Show Grounds, wbere sports will be held. A torch-light procession and a bonfire will i take place in the evening. It was resolved i to ask the scholars of the adjoining schools .. j to attend, and to invite the'tradesmen to ! illuminate their places of business. A Com- ' mittee of about thirty persons was appointed j to carry out the above programme.