OUR SECOND CONTINGENT.

Evening Post, Volume LIX, Issue 4, 5 January 1900, Page 5

OUR SECOND CONTINGENT.

NOTES FROM NEWTOWN CAMP. Despite the extreme changes which have taken place in the weather during the past few days, the men in camp have come through their work uncomplainingly and in the best of spirits. Guard duty, which extends in watches from 8 a.m. to 8 a.m., is looked upon as the most irksome of all camp duties, as, to use one trooper's phrase, there is practically "nothing to do, and nearly two days to do it in." Every man would much rather be out on the hills with th© horses skirmishing, although tne experience on the isthmus yesterday in the higa wind gave them some idea of what it must be like to face a sandstorm in the Transvaal. Nevertheless, this morning saw them in the best of spirits when "boot and saddle" was again sounded. AH hands are . settling down to messing m sections, instead of in companies, and the experience they are now gaining in this respect will be found extremely useful when they get to the front. General pleasure is expressed at the announcement that the Contingent is to leave on the 13th inst , and, as was the case with the members of our first Contingent, both officers and men like the idea, of getting away ahead of the Australian contingents, which are to leave on the 17th. Good behaviour still prevails, and the health remains good, the only cases in the doctor's hands being those of two men who have been attacked by influenza, another trooper who received a kick from a horse in the lines yesterday afternoon, and yet another who hurt his ankle. Sapper H. Barnes, of the Christchurch Engineers, who was hurt during a bareback parade lost week, and has just come out of Hospital, was this morning discharged from the Contingent at his own request, as ho is afraid he will not be able to recover his strength in time to go, away with the troops. He was examined by Dr. Fenwick, who expressed the same opinion. Barnes who is a very young man, hopes to be able to join the third contingent, should another be sent. This morning No. 1 Company was beyond its strength, with 103 men and four officers. No. 2 Company had 68 men and tow officers, and as 22 Southerners came up this morning, with more to follow, there is every likelihood of the Contingent having a complete roll by Sunday. This morning also saw 208 'horaea in the lines. It is now reported that Captain Reid will be unable to take command of No. 1 Company. Lieutenant , Montgomerie, of the Wellington City Rifles, went into camp last night, and has taken temporary charge of the North Islanders. Yesterday several of the officers indulged in revolver practice. The target, which has been fixed up in the gully south of the camp, shows that some fair shooting was done. Lieut. -Col. Sommerville and his son (the lieutenant) proved themselves good shots. The officers will practice as occasion offers. Col. Penton and Major Cradock spent yesterday afternoon in camp choosing the members of the Hotchkiss Battery from among the artillerymen present. It is understood that the strength of the battery will bo 30. instead of 40, us original.

ly announced, and 27 men were chosen yesterday. They were placed in the •hargo of Sergeant Sadd for the time being. Tho other Wellingtonians in the battery are Privates Froser and M'Tavish. These men paraded this morning and were given instruction by Staff-Ser-geant Farthing, and they will daily bo given special work. A Maxim gun fe already in camp, and the others from Mount Cook aro to be sent up this afternoon. Next week tho battery is to be taken out to Lyoll Bay, and will there practice with ammunition, of which there is an ample stock for all arms in camp. It is probable that tho Maxim men will also have target There is no word to hand yet concerning an instructor from H.M.S. Tauranga for the battery. Special horse lines nave been set up for the Hotchkiss Battery, on the northern side of tho encampment. No. 1 Company paraded this morning as near its full strength a« was possible, each man being served with rations and rounds of ammunition. At 10 o'clock the troops set out for Miramar, where the whole day is being spent on the rifle range. Col. Penton, Lfeut.-Col. Sommerville, and Major Cradock went out, and each man was tested in his skill as a marksman. No. 2 Company, which in the early morning had instruction to spend the day in camp for foot drill, was surprised' to hear the call to "boot and saddle." "What for?" asked some curious ones, who do not yet understand that it is not theirs to reason Why. But when section leaders were ordered to " get out femartly," they all,knew that business was meant, and within 15 minutes that troop also was on its way to Miramar, but with instructions to return to dinner. The men oi No. 2 spent the morning on the sandhills skirmishing, etc. The officers of tho Contingent are to dine with Col. Penton this evening. On Tuesday evening they will dine with Bishop Wallis. Wednesday evening is booked for the Opera House. The officers' uniforms will probably be ready in time for Sunday's church parade. Messrs. Hellaby 8r03., of Auckland, who had given a horse for the Contingent, which had been rejected, telegraphed to an Auckland trooper this morning that they will send a sum of £20 with which to replace the horse with another. Seven of the horses in camp were last night rejected as being over the 15.3 hands standard, and three others were found to be unsound Lieutenant Findlay is to-day's orderly officer. Sergeant De Carteret, who came from the North and went into camp last night, was for 18 months a second lieutenant in the 2nd Dragoon Guards. He has also been in the British Militia, and served in th« ranks of the 16th Lancers > he Red Lancers). The Rotomahana this morning brought up 22 volunteers for the Contingent, and four horses. In a letter signed "Kitty," a correspondent suggests that the departure of the new Contingent should not be hurried, but the men should be- kept in camp for at least three weeks, and that ■a band should play in camp every Wednesday and Saturday. The writer adds — "I hope the impression that is creeping around that we shall not have as good a send-off for the second as we had for the first Contingent is not true. The second go to face fight. That part of the programme was " not assured the first when it left. T*he Government and shipping companies should strain every point to afford easy and cheap trips to Wellington. The date of departure and programme should not be left to the last moment. The whole of New Zealand should have all the arrangements at their finger-ends at least four days before the departure. Hurry may be speed in this case, but it is not security. The splendid and moving sight of the last send-off will have an effect on the young of this country that will never die, and the fruits of which may be good some |day when the British Empire, and perhaps our colonies, are in real danger." Mr. Herbert Seaton, of the American Novelty Establishment, of Mannersstreet, has hit the happy idea of striking a cheap medal to commemorate the departure of the New Zealand Contingents. It is about the size of a shilling «and of yellow metal, a portrait of the Queen's head being on the front, while on the reverse side is the New Zealand flag and the motto " Success to the New Zealand Contingent, 1899-1900." No doubt the public will be quite as eager to snap up these medals at 6d each as they have been to secure the Contingent badges so widely circulated. The Mayor invites the citizens of both sexes to meet in the City Council Chambers at 3.30 o'clock on Monday to make arrangements for a send-off to the Contingent. [BY XELKOKAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] . AUCKLAND, 4th January. At a meeting at Hamilton to-day a telegram was read fiom Colonel Penton requesting Captain Reid and Lieutenant Heather to proceed to Wellington immediately for service in the South African Contingent. Tho news was received with enthusiasm. Thei Mayor congratulated Captain Reid, who was present, on his appointment, and wished him a safe return. Captain Reid) is not certain whether he can go, but Lieutenant Heather leaves at once. Mr. George Fowlds, M.H.R., has sent the following telegram to the Premier: — 1 Five Austrians, well drilled in their own country, desire me to offer their services for the Contingent, and to say that others will offer if they are accepted." No answer has been received fiom Wellington. . Another small detachment of Auckland volunteers for the Transvaal left for Wellington by the Mapouiika to-day to join the second Contingent. Colour- Sergeant Eastgate and Sergeant Lambert (No. 1 Native Rifles), Privates Paul and Wright (of No. 1 Waikato Mounted Rifles) comprise the party. The total number of Aucklanders in the second Contingent is now twenty-four. Several more volunteers will probably be passed. Trooper Acheson Jones, who has left for Wellington, was five years a member of the South Franklin Mounted Rifles under Major Harris. CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. The editor of the Press, having requested the members of both Houseß of Parliament and the Mayors of all local boroughs to forward their views regarding the despatch of a larger contingent, has received a mass of replies of five columns, which are published in the pa{>er this morning. Most of them strong* y favour the sending of more men. The Press analyses the list as follows; — Legislative Council — Approval of larger contingent, 12 ; disapproval, 2. House of Representatives — Approval, 16; qualified approval, 5; disapproval, 2; leave the matter to the Government, 1. Mayors — Approval, 39; qualified approval, 6; disapproval, 8; leave it to Government, 2. [by telegraph— -own correspondent.] CARTERTON, This Day. Mr. F. Armstrong, of Akiteo, has given two thoroughbred horses for the Transvaal Contingent, and Mr. J. S. Handyside one.