WITH THE SEVENTH CONTINGENT.

Evening Star, Issue 11674, 5 February 1902, Page 6

WITH THE SEVENTH CONTINGENT.

[SraciAi to tecs Stab.]

VERY NTSARLY A MUTIM.

WELLINGTON, Fehmaay 4. TVs morning's mart brongbt to a Weiiesident a letter from a member of the Siventh written on 25th December, giving a» account- of what the writer describes as "'he biggest row on lecorJ in the bistorv <>f the Seventh Contingent. * rhe wirrer says: u White on the track from Vrvheid a very large number «»f our horses got knocked up, and the men were ordered to walk and lead them. The dav was broiling hoi and, of course, tie men were not in verv good humor. An officer came along and spoke sharply to a couple of them, and then there was some i>>iguage.' Two of tue fellows were couttmartialled in connection with the affair, and woro sentenced io forty-two days' 'first field punishment.' Up to the 22nd the men were subjected to ordinary field jmpnsonmentj but on that day the wbato legiment were thrown into a state of excitement by the news that the two defaulters were to be lashed to the gun wheel—that is, tied up tightly, with arms and legs widely extended, the prisoners being forced to retain a standing position. Two hoars of this torture morning and evening, coatstitutes the orst field punishment. No K»one: wt-rc he pri*MWTS tied up than the whole icghnent rushed the waggon and cut, ihe sbaps into scrap* The major at once paraded the whole lot and read the finding of the court-martial; but all to no use. The men would not srtand it. The major promise-' to see cbe colonel (Garratt) on the mutter, and ohe [,;omisc, I firmly believe, saved a mutmv, for the men would lathe- have 'piled an*' than have seen the New Zealanders subjected to such tieatimr.t. The Imperial officers sentence cur Mows, but I il.r.'t flunk they will get colonials to crurv their programme through. Don't think that we wish to rule the roost altogerbjer, but we do object to the particular forn ot punishment. If they had got ordinary punishment no one would have murmurcl."