THE NINTH CONTINGENT.

Evening Star, Issue 11682, 14 February 1902, Page 3

THE NINTH CONTINGENT.

Captain Napier, MJLR, has received a reply foam thjß Defence Office to bju company's offer to «ead two Maxim, gun detach-nwarbs.-to South. Africa. General Babmgtwo, whSe thanking the company for their spirited offer, regrets that be cannot see his way to recommend its acceptance. DriDxog is' actively proceeding at the Ninth Contingent camp at Te Papapa, North Island. Some of the squads are going out between times, or ordinary drills, in weir anxiety to make themselves efficient. The instructors are particularly careful to make the men thoroughly conversant with tbs use ol the rifle, and, instead of merely putting the rifle in a man's hands on the range! and telling him to shoot, they give each man a systematic preliminary instruction. One of the recruits in camp met with a serious accident yesterday 'afternoon. He was playing football, when he came into colUsion with another player, and sustained concussion of the brain. He quickly recovered, and resumed his duties. Ser-geants-major Redmond and Burr have joined the staff' of instructors.; they arrived from Wellington yesterday. A large number of horses recently purchased for the ceatingent are now in camp, and appear to be-of a good class. A Wellington message says that R. W. B. Chambers, chief clerk in the Commandant's office, and late of the Third (Prince of Wales) Drjftgoon Guards, has been appointed quartermaster of the Ninth Contingent.