THE NINTH CONTINGENT.

Evening Star, Issue 11673, 4 February 1902, Page 4

THE NINTH CONTINGENT.

THE NORTH ISLAND BATTALION. AUCKLAND, February 4.

Captain O’Brien, of the A Battery, mil command the camp of the North Island Battalion of the Ninth Contingent at Te Papapa, near Onehnnga. Captain O’Brien too, receives a commission in the Ninth. The enlisting of recruits for the Contingent was resumed to-day. The Auckland section go into camp at the end of this week. The rest of ihe sections from, the North. Island will arrive here most probably next week.

Staff-sergeant-major M‘Donald, who has lieen acting as staff enrolment officer fn Trcntham and Addington camps, arrived in town by last night’s' express to perform a similar duty at the camp here. The Garrison Hall had a busy appearance this morning, when about 550 applicants presented tiiemselves for enlistment in the South Island battalion of the Ninth Contingent. No time has been lost in subjecting the candidates to the medical, shooting, and riding tests, which are expected to be completed some time to-mor-row, when the final ninety-two men will be chosen.

It is as well to direct the attention of intending applicants to the fact that their claims cannot now be considered. An exception, however, will be made in the case of those men who applied for places prior to this morning, and who so far have been unable to put in an appearance. The Northern members of the battalion will reach oamp on Saturday evening. Among the applicants are three brothers belonging to a. Caversham family, the father of whom is himself an old soldier. He willingly gave permission for Jiis sons to go and*fight for the Empire if they could.