MAJOR FRANCIS' COMMAND.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 11562, 15 June 1900, Page 4

MAJOR FRANCIS' COMMAND.

ARRIVAL AT BEIRA. [special to hawke's bat hebald.] [bt teleobaph.] Wellington, Thursday. Writing trom Beira nnder date May 3rd the Post's speoial correspondent Bays: — We left Durban on the evening of Monday, 24th April, and arrived at Beira after a three days' passage. The weather waß everything that oould be desired. A pilot came aboard and took us up the bay On whioh Beira is sitnated. As we passed by several large transports we were greeted with hearty cheers. There is a small pier, bnt it is not strong enongh to moor a ahip to, so we have to remain at anchor in the stream till the merchandise is landed in large lighters, which are towed to the pier and discharged. Horses are disembarked in the same way. We have since landed 60 of them, but there are several large troopships with horses to discharge lying round us, and all these must have their tarn before we come in again. One ship has finished landing 700 horses, ' bought in Hungary by the English Government. They are only ponies, bnt are a splendid lot of animals. I believe they are a special breed that the Austrian Government rears for the purpose of supplying to the cavalry. About half of them are unbroken, so there is ample work for the Rough Riders. Yesterday a guard of 60 men was sont from our ship to look after them in a large paddook about a mile from the centre of the town. This proved to be the first night round the camp fire. Bully beef and bisouits were sent up to us, but were not at all appreciated after , the good fare we had been used to on the passage. During the night a lion made his appearance just outside our paddock, and the horses stampeded through a seven-barbed-wire fence. We got a great many of them baok, but several got away into the mangroves, and have not yet been found. While on the Bubjeot of lions I might add that those in this locality are regarded as being very ferooious. Some six months ago a lioness came within 60 yards of the railway station and carried off a boy, and only a few days after a calf was carried away. Snakes, too, are very plentiful. . We killed two in a face under whioh our tent was pitched. Mosquitos, fleas, centipedes, crabs, &c, add to the general discomfort, bnt of course these are out of the question when lions are about. Several dead horses were dragged out of the paddock adjoining us, and were discovered last night by jackals and vultures. Erom what I could learn at Beira an Englishman owns nearly I the whole town, and half the Beira-Salis-J bury railway. Kumara has, in proportion . to its population, more hotels than any Other town in New Zealand, and Kumara is a very bad second when compared with Beira. Every other house is a hotel, and the liquor is the vilest on earth. c WITH ROBERTS' COLUMN. r The Post's correspondent with Lord Roberts' column, after describing the march through the Free State, in whioh the first contingent took a prominent part, says :—Some of the sick horses and invalided men of the Seoond Contingent were left with the details of No, 1 Contingent, near Bloemfontein. The horses » were in a bad condition. A veterinary silrgeon who inspeoted them ordered many to be sent to hospital for treatment, I others to be left behind for grazing purposes, &c. Of the 84 horses of f,he First Contingent 21 were put aside as fit for duty, provided new saddles were obtained. Thirty were sent out to graze, and 33 were forwarded to hospital for treatment. Of the 3*l horses left by the Second Contingent 18 were passed as fit for duty, provided new saddles were obtained. Three were sent for grazing, and 30 forwarded to hospital, thus out of 718 horses only 39 were passed as fit for duty, and even for these new saddles had to be obtained. During the operations of our forces in the direotion of Ladybrand several of the New Zealanders in No, I Contingent were prostrated by illness. Sergeant Brook waß Bent in from Thabanchu, and waa subsequently sent to one of the hospitals in Bloemfontein. Sergeant-Major Cardale was also knocked out, and was sent into the hospital at Thabanohu. The remounts from New Zealand (the first consignment) for Lord Roberta and Major Robin and his own men, arrived at BLoemfontoin on Sunday, 6th May, 69 horses in all. Whop the animals arrived at the General Remount pepartment, where some 3000 horses were oorraUed, intimation that splendid mounts had arrived quiokly spread, and the cavalry officers from various regiments simply besieged Prince Franoiß of Teck, who is in oharge of the remount department, with the object of securing chargers. The Prince said the horses were for the New I Zealanders, Lord Roberts having agreed that tbe colonials were to take the horses forwarded from their own colony. The splendid animals shortly afterwards graced our camp. The thanks of officers and men are here forwarded to the New Zealanders responsible for this most opportune and generouß gift. In a previous budget I mentioned that the Provost Marshal of Bloemfontein hsd called for applications for provisional mounted police for patrol work in the Orange Free State and Transvaal. Twenty-one New Zealanders have been accepted, viz., Sergeant Morgan, Corporals M'Donald and Shepherd, Troopers Gane, Cameron, Lookett, Smyth, Wood, Northe, Bowie, Bartrop, Glasgow, O'Shea, Ross, Fraser, H. G. Smith, Morri^ou, Arnold, Edward Moore, and M'Conway. Ofthuse Morgan and M'Donald (who retain their strips and draw Z6s and 13s a day reepectfully), Cameron, Howie, Barthorp, Arnold, Morrison, and M'Conway have already left the Contingent and joined the police. The others are at the front, and will join when opportunity offers. The troopers are to receive Us per day.