OUR SECOND CONTINGENT.

Evening Post, Volume LVIII, Issue 149, 21 December 1899, Page 5

OUR SECOND CONTINGENT.

LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS. MEN TO GO INTO CAMP AT ONCE. The decision of Ac Cabinet to send another New Zealand Contingent to South Africa — which has been approved by the whole of the members of the Legislature with the exception of Mr. John Hutcheson, the senior member for Wellington has been received with enthusiasm " in Wellington. As an evidence of the patriotic feeling which prevails »a the city, it may be mentioned that offers of service have been received from over 100 local volunteers ; while nearly as many more persons who are able to ride and shoot, but are not connected with the volunteer force, are also anxious to go to the front. In his reply to the Premier's telegram published in. our issue of yesterday, Captain Russell states that he heartily apjproves the proposal to despatch more troops, and as Leader of the Opposition, ho accepts his full responsibility for sanctioning the necessary expenditure. He also approves the acceptance of the offer made by the Armstrong-E'swick Company tp supply the New Zealand troops with four rifle Hotchkiss machine guns. Mr. G. Fisher, M.H.R., who is in the South, replied as follows : —"Unnecessary to ask me. Answer to both questions emphatically Yes. My blood boils. I tell you honestly and truthfully that if I were a younger man I would volunteer for the Transvaal myself. This is what may be called a characteristic answer, but it is what I feel and what I mean. — George Fisher." ' 6 The Defence Department has lost no time in making arrangements for the despatch of the Contingent. A body of men from the Defence Department has been set to work to prepare a camp at Newtown Park. Tho volunteers in Wellington who have offered to go to South Africa have been ordered to parade at the Drill Shed to-night, when a selection of the most likely will be made. Those who are chosen will be required to go into camp at once, as it is hoped to send away the Conjtingent by the 11th or the 13th prox. In the selection of men preference will be given to those wno are able to ride and shoot well, and who are found to be physically fit. The following volunteers, in addition to those whose namus were mentioned in our issue of yesterday, have offered their services : — Star Submarine Mining. Corps —Sappers C. C. W. Haselden, F. S. Broome, H, R. Richardson, E. Fitz-Ger-ald, P. J. R. Fordhara, and Thompson. Post and Telegraph Rifles— Private A. H. Tucker. Heretaunga Mounted RiflesTroopers James John Clark, H. T. Richardson, Norman Brown, J. J. Feeney, A. Moss, H. G. Heywood, A. C. Hadfield, F. Harcourt, M. M'Kinney, A. Price, J. B. Vallanoe, H. L. Kinzett, A. J. M. Bonnar, H. Orme, E. H. Solomon, Johns, Jackson, Hume, Morgan, Anderson, Arnold, Powell, O'Neil. Cycle Corps— Lieut. Hutson, Privates Wighton, Gurney, and Burley,, Wellingtofli Guards— Privates W. and L. Henderson, and W. Taylor. Civil Service Rifles — Coropral G. D. jjiraser. Driver J. Algie, of the B Battery (Dunedin), who is at present in Wellington, has also offered his services. The Contingent will consist of 205 mounted men, in addition to which the colony will send, at the special request of the War Office, 30 men and 40 horses for the Hotchkiss gun batteries. The Governor has asked the Captain of H.M.S. Tauranga to allow one of his experts to instruct the New Zealanders in the use of the Hotchkiss guns up to the time the troops leave. Members of the volunteer corps who have volunteered to serve in South Africa are to parade at the Drill Shed at 8 o'clock this evening. Yesterday afternoon the Governor cabled to the Imperial 'authorities the offer of New Zealand to send a second contingent, and also 30 men and 40 horses for the machine guns. Orders for the equipment for the Contingent are being placed in all the chief townß. The New Zealand Clothing Factory has offered to make the whole of the uniforms free of charge if the Government will supply the material. The offer has been accepted with thanks. Offers of horseß have been received by the Defence Department as follows : — Friedlander BrosT, Ashburton (5), Hon. A. Lee Smith (Dunedin), Mr. Alex. Thompson, and Mr. Valentine (Inglewood), one each. [BY TELBQBAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.! TIMARU, This Day. Messrs. Bollantyne and Co. have been requested by the Defence Department to reserve their stook of kharki for the contingent. They hav4 enough for 100 full uniforms or 200 tunics, and there is more to arrive. CHRISrCHURCH, 20th December. Several members of the E Battery having expressed a wish to go to South Africa Lieutenant Lewin and the sergeants have arranged to attend every night to instruct the men in musketry. Messrs. Delamain and Hayward have lent horses to give them practice in riding. Messrs. Estcourt and Edmond Parsons, «tof Kaikoura, have each offered a horse for the contingent, and Mr. S. Sparks, of Halswell, has offered four horses.