THE CAMPAIGN IN THE SOUDAN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 7484, 25 February 1885, Page 5

THE CAMPAIGN IN THE SOUDAN.

IBY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH—COPYRIGHT.]

[Reuter's Telegrams.]

LR«oeive<3 Feb. 24, at 11.55 a.in.l

GORDON'S LAST DESPATCH. LONDON, Feb. 23.

Despatches received by the Government from Gordon at Khartoum have been published. The last is dated Dec. 14. It shows that Khartoum was then reduced to the last extremity, and fighting was going on day and night, the city being besieged by rebels on three sides. Gordon concluded the letter with the words "come quickly." In his despatches, dated Nov, 4, and received on Nov. 14, he said he could hold out easily for 40 days, but afterwards there would be a difficulty. He added that there were five steamers at Metemneh, waiting Lord Wolseley's orders. • [Reuter's Telegrams.] fßeceiveu Feb. 24, at 12.30 p.m. J SYDNEY, Feb. 24. The Patriotic Fund now amounts to ,£30,000. Objections have been urged as to the legality of the action of the Government in despatching New South Wales troops to the Soudan, and a petition to the Governor against the expedition is being prepared. NEW ZEALAND VOLUNTEERS. [Pee Press Association.] AUCKLAND, Feb. 24. Captain Bennett's office was besieged by applicants this morning desiring their names to be placed on the roll of his proposed naval contingent. Among them were several ex-naval officers with most excellent discharges from the Royal Navy, and one •with special certificates on torpedo and big gunnery and marine mine work. G. Hazell, late rough riding SergeantMajor in her Majesty's service, and now at a riding school on the New North road, has communicated with the Minister of Defence, ofEerinv, if required, his own services and the' use of his riding school for the instruction of a cavalry troop in mounted and dismounted drill, swords, carbines and lance exercises free of all charge, if it is determined to send such a force to the Soudan. ASHBURTON, Feb. 24. At a parade of the Ashburton Volunteers, this evening, Captain Douglas informed the men that he had received a letter from Captain Hamersley, of Timaru, asking if any of the Ashburton Volunteers would be willing, in the event of volunteers from New Zealand being accepted, to proceed under him to the Soudan. Captain Douglas asked those who were willing to go to hold up their rifles, and fifteen of the company immediately responded, and gave in their names. Captain Douglas informed the volunteers that, in any case, their services would not be required till about July, so that they would have plenty of time to become proficient in drill and to make any other arrangements that were necessary. It is expected that several others will volunteer their services. DUNEDIN, Feb. 24. Messrs F. Fulton, J. Jordan and "W. Lowcay waited on the Premier in reference to the proposal to raise a force here for service in the Soudan. They submitted to the Premier that a hundred men could probably be got together, and asked, should their services be accepted, that the Government should assist the movement by giving free railway transportation and providing ai - ms. The Premier promised to bring the matter before' his colleagues at Wellington next week, and to forward an answer.