THE SIXTH CONTINGENT

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12397, 10 January 1901, Page 6

THE SIXTH CONTINGENT

THE CANTERBURY MEN. ' A REFERENCE TO THE RIDING TEST. ■ SPEECH BY MR WARD. . ■ [Fnoii Our. Coubespondent.] ■ • WELLINGTON, Jan. 9.,. Some indignation has been expressed here •at the fact that the Canterbury members of the Contingent were not subjected to the prescribed tests before being forwarded on to Wellington. The lion J. G. Ward, .acting Defence Minister, made-reference to the faijt in a'speech which he delivered today in crimp,- while holding' a review in the. pouring rain. He said that he desired officially to thank the officers whose assist-, ahoe had titen voluntarily: offered -and accepted for--the excellent work) they were doing, wh-ch ■ was of gr.eat service to the colony. .Arrangements 'had' btCa'lnad-o for day and night attendance whenever possible,, and it was a mcit gratifying feature to find that such efficient arrangements had been made- fer the comfort of so large a body of men as wore now in camp. It was a pleasure to see the officers devoting the whole or their time to the work, and that such a fine spirit was displayed by those who were giving valuable assistance, which ..was Highly' appreciated by him. He regretted, however, that a number of the detachment from Canterbury had not passed through the riding tests, as members of the Contingent from other parts of the colony had dons in accordance with the general instructions issued in all parts of tho colony. He would be'sorry if, after going so far, it should be found that any of them were unable to fulfil the conditions necessary for their final enrolment. The Defence Department had been obliged, with very great regret, to- decline the services of 16C0 volunteers for.the front, but those who had not ; been successful in their applications were jas deserving of the -thanks of the colony.,-as-the men now on parade. , The men who.had' bseii'selecxedficiivtlie different districts had •been chosen -upon their .-merits after -the prescribed tests had been passed, with the exception of the section from Canterbury,, who had not complied with the - riding tests before their departure. He,.however, expressed the thanks ui the Government to the large number of men throughout tho, .colony who had so readily responded to the call to proceed to South Africa in order] to reinforce the men already . there upholding the honour , and the interests of the-Empire, but.it was unnecessary for him 1 to point out' that after the experience the colony, hud gone through it would-be an improper act to despatch men to the seat of war who v.cre not individually and collectively efficient in those duties in which good riding was an essential qualification. Though it, might be regretted that some would have to-be set aside cn this account,, the conditions which he had referred to; would have to be insisted upon. He only! hoped that the preliminary 'training gone through during the' interval before depar--tuf’e would be so far extended- as to render the Sixth Contingent as creditable' to the colony as those which had- preceded it. The steamer which would convey them to South Africa was timed to_ leave on Jan.25, and as far as -possible That arrangement., would be .adhered to;' He,-made thisAan-; nouncement in.-order to enable the membena of the ’contingent to attend to thenprivate ■ business ! before their departure. He expressed The. thanks, of the Government and the country to the 'men who had volunteered -in'such large (numbers,- and he wished the men now. around him .the. utmost success in the various, duties which! would devolve upon them, arid' when' time came. they . would receive. a,/hearty: send-off.- -He hoped to hear from, their officers as favourable eulogisms on the merits of the Sixth’ Co-nfcingeflt'.as-had teeni pronounced-on*..their predecessors 1 who- had ■gone.out. to assist.in maintaining the honour! of the Empire, b The -present inspection 'was only a’ preliminary one. .Ho.(might,inform' them that ho,difficulty-.vvopld /occur in. regard,, to uniforms,/horses and equipment for, thej’ men and-those-of the returned ; membersof Contingents'.who .were again/going, to; South'Africa); .There was .no reason to doubt that thesc-requisites would be in the hands of the_men within a. week or so.. As'.men who were going forth to fight - for their country, he felt sure- that any trifling in-, convenience would be. cheerfuEy .bcrnc. For their information,-as well- as tth’at of the public, h-e- desired to, state that,‘soo'.horses had been purchased.-'- He .complimented the officers,-Sir Ajjfchur-Douglas,. Colons] Porter) Colonel. '’Messenger, and .officers .of.,the.. '\Vel-llngton-Volunteer -Corps; the officers” of'' the Agricultural Department; and 'others .for;the very effective way in which they had secured large supplies of equipment in a very short time. He could not refrain from expressing his■ admiration''of the . efficient manner in which the work of organisation had been carried -out, and of the harmony and energy with which-they‘had-all worked. He hoped that the-Minister-of Defence' (the Hon R. J. Seddon) would be present tp bid. farewell t'o tb,e Contingent in his capacity, as head of the Government. ' - . i