THE SIXTH CONTINGENT. THE WORK AT NEWTOWN PARK.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10863, 12 January 1901, Page 7

THE SIXTH CONTINGENT. THE WORK AT NEWTOWN PARK.

(3FECI—Ii TO "THE PKESS.") WELLINGTON, January 11. The Sixth Contingent is getting a taste of cold, rainy, and boisterous weather in camp. Ths Contingent has been formed into five cc_t__a_-de9. The headquarters'district (Wellington and Nelson) constitutes Nos. 1 and 2 Companies, Canterbury No. 3, Otago No. 4, and Auckland No. 5. It is expected that the whole of the ttsts will have been completed by to-morrow, and next week the „ suning wiil bo in full twiag.

CABLE NEWS.

The officers for the respective companies have not yet been appointed. There were close upon 200 horses in the! lines this morning j 400 will be taken away with the Park Contingent, and the others required will be picked up at Auckland. There is still a considerable shortage of saddles.

It is a pity the Canterbury men were not thoroughly tested before coming to Wellington. Some of those sent up were very poor horsemen, and no fewer than twenty had to be rejected. The remaining troopers from Canterbury and Otago constitute a fine body of horsemen. Among those rejected, as a result- of yesterday's riding tests, was a trooper from the war, and another is likely to go out for the same reason. Although New Zealanders, they were not connected with any of the former Contingents sent from the colony, but enrolled in corps formed in South Africa.

Telegraphed instructions have been received from Sydney to include in the "special" section of the Contingent several men of the Federal Contingent, as well as a number of returned troopers. The list is as follows: —Federal Contingent mcn —Lieutenant Markham, Sergeant Hamilton, Corporal Sutherland, Farrier-Sergeant Smith, Privates Davidson, Saunders, and R. G. Porter. Returned troopers—Sergeant-Major Card-ile (First Contingent, Canterbury), Corporals Morrison, Mitchell, and Emmerson. Farrier Neilson, Privates Lockett, Wall, Galleways (606), Wright, Crump, Mann (189), Wright," and Smith. These are all coming back to the colony by the Tutonekai, and are to go into the camp at Newtown as soon as they arrive.

In the shooting tests yesterday one man made a creditable score of 53 out of a possible 60, with the Martini-Henry, at 200, 400, and 500 yards. Trooper Gray, of the Canterbury section, received a contused scalp wound, through being struck by a horse's forefoot while working in the camp lines. The wound, which was dressed by the camp surgeon, is not a serious one. (SPECIAL TO "THE rBKS3.") DUNEDIIN', January 11. Dr. O'Neill, of the Dunedin Hospital, who has been appointed assistant-surgeon to the Sixth Contingent, leaves for Wellington next Thursday. (PBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, January 11. There are 426 men in camp at Newtown, including 18 returned troopers. Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon has received a telegram from Colonel Porter', who is representing Colonel Penton at? Wellington, speaking most favourably of the men that have been sent from Christchurch, and the manner in which they had been sent. Private McDowell, Rangiora Rifles, returned from Wellington yesterday.

THE CANTERBURY TROOP,

The Canterbury troop were to have gone into camp at the drill grounds yesterday morning, but the heavy downpour of rain prevented this. The men, however, were drilled during the day by Staff-Sergeant-Major Coleman. The men went into camp at the Show Grounds last night, and arrangements were to be made for them to board at the Star Hotel. 'They will remain *in camp till Tuesday, and be drilled by Staff SergeantMajor Coleman.