THE NINTH CONTINGENT.

Evening Star, Issue 11677, 8 February 1902, Page 6

THE NINTH CONTINGENT.

THE WELLINGTON CONTINGENT.

WELLINGTON, February 8. The Wellington contingent left by the Hiuemoa at ten o'clock to-day for the Auckland camp. The Hon. C. H. Mills briefly took leave of them in the name of Ministers. Only one man did not turn up, and ho had been unable to dispose of h ; s business in time. Among the list is Felix West, who, as a child, was saved from the wreck of the Wairarapa. The men are considered to be a superior selection.

LOCAL NOTES

The selection of the Dunedin section of the Ninth Contingent is now practically complete. The Otago quotas arrived this afternoon by different trains, and the Canterbury men will put in an appearance tonight. In all 250 from different parts if the island are expected to go into camp by this evening.

The camp at Forbury win be self-con-tained, and will have its own staff to carry on the work. Passes will be issued at the Defence Office, Garrison Hall, by Colonel Robin and by the camp commandant (Captain Nicoison) to those having friends or relatives in camp or requiring to go there on business.

To-morrow will be an off-day at the camp. The swearing-in and enrolment cf the >men wall begin on Monday, and the Beginning of the week will be occupied - n squad drill, etc. Sergeant-major Kean, school instructor in Wellington, will put the men through musketry drill. . The horses which are now being purchased in different parts of the province v;£l come in towards the end of next week.

Our Christchurch correspondent wires:— “Recniits have come forward freely for the Ninth Contingent, and although the exact numbers are not evailable yet, it is known that applications have been received from at least double the number of men required. The selected men left for Dunedin by today’s express." AUCKLAND, February 8. The Devonport coastguard artillery have offered the Government two qualified Maxim gun detachments for the Ninth Cobtinaeot.