OUR DEFENCE FORCES.

Evening Post, Volume LIX, Issue 11, 13 January 1900, Page 6

OUR DEFENCE FORCES.

Before the Heretaunga Mounted Rifles break up camp to-morrow a competition will take place, the award going to the three best turned out horses and men on the parade. First prize will be Mrs. Hayward's pair of field-glasses, and the second and third, whips presented by the firm which supplied the saddlery. Camp breaks up at 6 p.m.

The 'clear and intelligent manner in which the probationary contablos gave their evidence in the alleged sly-grog selling cases before the Court yesterday was further proof of the utility of the school of instiuction at Mount Cook, and of the thoroughness of the training given by Sergeant O'Donovan. The men gave their accounts of the • affair quite an well and perhaps better than some of the older hands, and not only did Inspector Tender go out of his way to make a few complimentary remarks, but tho Magistrate also, in 1 consequence of the suggestion that the men might have exaggerate or even invented, made favourable comment. The only thing calling for adverse criticism was a little mannerism — a tendency to combativenoss — on the part of one, which would probably be overcome when the constable had a little more experience of being cross-examined by able counsel. The manner ill' which the cricket pitches on the B;-^in Reserve are being looked after by the new custodian (Mr. Mail's) is giving every satisfaction, to the Cricket Association, which ha-s shown its appreciation of his services by presenting him with a cheque foi £3 3s. In the bankrupt estate of Heald ami Adsett, sawmillers, of Hautrce Cross, tlio (Supreme Court has released tho Assignee from detaining the balance of money due to tho wages of claimants. A balance of 7s 7£d hi tho £1 on the preferential wages claims is now payable making a total of 17s 7£d. Besides having its frontier relieved of the Boers, Rhodesia is now able to get plenty of labour, "boys" arriving from the Rand mines. During October the Sclukwe mines' output was 23200z, as against 18560z in September.