NEW ZEALANDERS IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11347, 9 August 1902, Page 10

NEW ZEALANDERS IN SOUTH AFRICA.

TSfOTES FROM THE TENTH CONTINGENT C_-M_.

THE TRANSVAAL LAND SETTLEMENTSCHEME.

INDUCEMENTS TO NEW ZEALANDERS.

COLONIAL TROOPS IN TOWN* (F*to_c Ocs Special Corh.spon'dekt with the Tenth Contingent.) NEWCASTLE (NATAL), June 28There axe several cases of enteric from our camp in hospital, but none serious. Some of t_e men must be laft in hospital. The sick men are regularly visited by ths chaplains and officers. The Eighth is now camped close by, and mutual sailutation. are being .enjoyed. The Ninth is expected to-day. Some of our officers have been out shooting, but we have seen no game- Yesterday the South Island staff went off. The buck were scarce, but near an African farm they saw a guinea fowl. The report of rifles shook the ground. Enough cartridges were fired to destroy a Boer troop of horse, still that guinea fowl retained use of muscle and wing. Two feathers were seen to drop out as she flew, and all voted that a bullet from the S.I. Major did that. However, the fowl alighted on the garden of the African farm. The amused farmer was standing at his gate when the Adjutant asked him if he had seen a wild guinea fowl about. "Yes," he caLmly Teplied, it was tame a quarter of a_ hour .ago, but it is wild now." „ Jul y - Horsss are being handed over to British authorities, and preparations ore in full swing for embarkation. Very few men will be left in hospital. Tha few cases cf enteric are doing well. The Canadianhave left- They were obliged to leave six or seven me_ in hospital suffering from enteric. The Transvaal Government setttememt scheme for New Zealanders is interesting, and had it been better known there would have been a larger number of men remaining to see the country. It appears that a limited number of men and officers (130) may remain for one month on full pay and rations to visit the Ermalo district, where the settlement is to be. Formerly this la_d belonged to a Scotch company, who aCllowed it to lapse before the war. If a number of long-headed Scotchmen forfeited the land it cannot be of much value, but, on the other hand, the terms offered to New Zealanders are so Tavoux_b!e that they may make it pay. The minimum capital iequire. is £250- The Government will .give £ for £ and free supplies of rations for three months. They w_l stock the farms and give free passes on railways. No interest wil be charged for the first year, but 5 per cent, on all advances afterwards, the land being valued at 12s p?r acre. It may become freehold after thirteen years. It is guaranteed to carry at least one sheep to the acre. The size of the farms is from 1000 acres upwards. A married man's family will ba brought from New Zealand at one-third of the usual ccst, which will be advanced by the Government. A disputation of New Zealand dttegates _3 to be sent at once to report on the q_a_ity of the land amd the prospects. Advice , given by many old colonists here is, "Wait I for six months before you commit yourself to anything. Don't be in too great a hurry." Had this scheme been better known a larger number of men would have applied for permission to remam. . The Rev. J. A- Luxford is -to see all the New Zealanders in the various hospitals before we embark. Friends in New Zealand may rest assured that the few men remaining will be well looked after, and that everything possible is being done for the sick. South Africa will doubtless have attractions for voung'men. Tradesmen skilled in their work are being offered good wages. Young blacksmiths are already engaged at I 16s per day. Several mr.ners are- going to Rhodesia to prospect, and are guaranteed small wages* and rations, with a large bonus of something like £5000 if they find payable gd.dfield. i The following names from the South Island Tenth Contingent have applied for their discharge: — Staff—Captain A. C. Corfe, Adjutant; Sergeants J. M. Procter, T. H. Hutchinst_r and J. Montgomery. •E Squadron—Corporal F. H. Symons, Troopers R. Bradbury, S. Breach, R. Coleman, J. W. Gould, W. E. Jones, S. J. Metcalf, A. J. Porter, D. Paterson, H. J. Rodgers, V. R. Gunn, and R. W. South. F Jeffries, Sergeants Burnett and Marshall, LanceSergeant Nicolls, Corporal McLine, Troopers C. Nelson, Franklyn, Gilmer, Bra_sell, McLean, E. F. MeLeod, Tomosi, Mc-gim, Doonin, Glasson, W. H. Walker, - and G. F. MeLeod. G Squadron —Lieutenant Walmiley, Corporals J. R. Ross, S. Lawson and P. Tcomey, Troopers R. Kerr, P. Mackay, . and C. Cranwell. H Squadron—Sergeant-Majtr A. West, Sergeants C. E. B. 'McGregor, S. H. Wilton, J. Devereaux, McNeil, and W. J. Edwards, Corporals J. Sanderson, W. V. Ilamilton, J. Stalker, and J. McPherson, Troopers C H. Ancbrson, W. C. Price, and H. Turner. I Squadron—Lieutenant W. Smith, Corporals A'Court and Keddell, Troopers Parr, Mason, J. E. Hardy-Johnston, and Dunnett. July 4. Some of the men remaining to see the Ermelo settlement" land are beginning to feel uneasy about the price of stock. A milch cow of inferior quality will cost £25, and sheep cannot be had for kss than 303 each. Even a common Kaffir goat will cost 20s. I know of one officer with considerable capital and exI perience as a member of a former Contingent who has backed out of this settlement scheme, deciding to visit England instead. Government may assist in stocking the farms, but they will charge t interest on the exorbitant price of the cattle or sheep put on the farms. The report of New Zealand delegates going to Ermelo will have weight, and 1 don't expsct, nor would I advise any but strong single young men to remain. It is too early to decide definitely. The Canadians have been rioting in Durban, and have spoilt the chance of any colonial regiment having a few day 3 in camp in that pretty town prior to embarkation. This Canadian riot was serious. Telegrams state that after the canteens were closed, a Canadian trooper was arrested ; his comrades took exception, and 200 assembled at the police station demanding his release. The Fire Brigade turned out with the hose and dispersed the men assembled round the police station. Revolver shots were fired, but, fortunately, bullets missed. The superintendent was struck by a stone, and several civilians were hurt. The prisoner was taken by the water police to a transport ship. After the men had beer: dispersed from ths police station, they wrecked several buildings and destroyed valuable goods in shops. The riot continued up to three o'clock in the ; morning. Ordsrs have now been issued \ that all irregular troops are to embark from train to transport, and that during this exodus of colonial trocps, bote's near their camps art? to close at eight o'clock. Our colonial soldiers have a splendid name as fighters on the veldt. No ore cvsr thinks of discounting ths value of their services, but they are constantly getting into trouble in towns and when entrained. An order came to the commanding officer of the Tenth to send fifty armed m~n as a picquet to Newcastle when the Eighth arrived from Klerksdorp. It appears there was some looting on the way down by a few men, and the whole regiment was blamed. On arrival at Newcastle the men were quiet and orderly, and the picq_et returned without any exciting experiences to relate. fficera and non-coms, do all they can,

but town riots are too general, and at* seriously damaging the reputatloa Q f __ v colonials Our men are not Newcastle simply because a few rough __f acters have damaged the good nainToirt. regiment life is too monoS dor the colonial, and he is' not as ig disciplined as the Tommy. UnfortiWg' the regiment has not vet had a newi__t of and the <_rty tunic and S SrSp^° f ** Bmart •a-~ , 5