THE EIGHTH CONTINGENT

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

THE EIGHTH CONTINGENT

THE EIGHTH CONTINGENT. [Spkjux to te* Stab.] CHRISTCHURCH, Febraor 8. The presence of the Battalion of the Eighth Contingent m Christchurch daring th .- past two or three weeks has not had the effect td reawaceidng pubho interest in the war. The public in this post of New Zealand, at any rate, have grown ven( weary of the struggle, and ahhocgh they are just as determined as they ever were to see the thing through they find it impo&rble t<i work -themselves up to anything uke the pitch of entbusnsm to which they rose a couple of yean ago. Last Saturday afternoon I saw the battalion drilling in Hagley Park in Iho presence »,f scarcely a score of spectators, and to-day the Cricket Aacocsatioire cup aydehes are not even being postponed in honor, of the departure of the battalion. Up till almost the last moment the local authorities were very hazy concerning the programme for to-day. All they appeared to know was that the battalion were not going to pace through the city, but were to entrain at Addington and proceed straight through to Lyttelten. What function there is takes place at the latter place; but the Governor, the Premier, and perhaps one or two other speakers would probably address the men previous to their departure from camp. That was all the information they were vouchsafed until the arrival of the Premier. Yesterday there were no signs in Christchnrch ihat an event of unusual importance was impending. Very few, if any, country people came into town, and both hist night rnd this morning the city presented a normal appearance.