NEW ZEALAND AND THE SOUDAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7260, 24 February 1885, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND AND THE SOUDAN.

PROPOSED AUCKLAND CONTIN-

GENT. , Yxsterday Mr. A. D. Bennett, recently captain of the Devonport> Naval Artillery, and formerly in command'of a detachment of Wellington Navala at the Paribaka affair, accompanied by His Worship the Mayor, waited on Sir Julius Vogel in reference to a proposed contingent from New Zealand to serve in the Soudan, . The offer is contained in the following telegram, which was franked by Sir Julius Vogel:—" To the Honourable Minister of Defence,—l have the honour to offer to raise for service abroad to the Imperial Government through New Zealand Government, a free volunteer naval contingent of three hundred men composed of ex-naval men, Armed Constabulary, and ex-Volunteer*, all hardy aud experienced men; each company of one hundred men under a lieutenant who has previously aeeh service; such men to be raised in the Provincial District of Auoklaad within six weeks of acceptance, and as a guarantee start with a personal subscription of twenty-five pounds." Sir Julius said he considered it a most laudable and patriotic offer and would forward the telegram by franking it, and that it would come before the Cabinet on hie return. After some further conversation and suggestions the Mayor thanked Sir Julius and withdrew. [BY TKLEGRAFH. —PRES3 ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, -Monday. Captain Edwin suggests starting a patriotic fund in New Zealand to help the sister colony in sending her troops to the Soudan, and has forwarded a donation as a nucleus to the fund. •

Tijcaru, Monday. Since the offer made by Captain Hamersley for service in the Soudan, he has received an offer from nearly every m*n who went to Parihaka with him. The volunteers here are very anxious to hear the result of the decision of the Government on the matter, and trust that in any case the Imperial Government will be communicated with. |BV TKLKGKAPH.— OWN COBBESPOKDKNT.]

Chbistchorch, Monday. The Tiuieu this taoruiug says :—" Considerable enthusiasm has been created »mong our volunteers by the prospect, remotethongh it appears at present, of seeing active service in the Soudan. The example set by Captains Hammeraley and Martin has produced a spirit of emulation among all rank*. Several officers and a large proportion of the men have expressed their willingness to join a contingent should such .be formed. Of course, the absence of definite information as to the intentions of the Government prevents the matter from taking any shape, but the general idea is that a regiment of infantry should be raised, to which the district should contribne s> quota. Its has been affirmed that a< least 200 drilled or partially drilled i>cn cou U be enlisted in Christohurch in the ca.u-ae of a few days. A motive which very strongly with many of the men i i the desire to ehow that the Canterbury volunteers are not mere 'feather-bed soldiers.' They fosl that the respect in which the force is held would be enhanced if they could point to an honour* able record of work done on the field of battle, and they are not ill-pleased that an opportunity of gaining euoh a record has presented itself."