THE REJECTED VOLUNTEERS.
TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— the sake of justice, my comrades and mysolf, I should like to explain away, through the medium of your columns, this slur that has been placed upon us. In sending us from the camp, the excuse given was that we could not ride on the lines. I suppose that any excuse is better than none, oven if it is a. bad ono. I would ask, Was tho officer who judged a competent ono to judge? A few facts about some of those who have been thrown out will answer that. A noted rider from Christcliurch, horsebreaker and trainer, etc., was tried with us. He was put out on account of not being able to ride. When this was known another officer, who knew him, went to headquarters and explained who lie was, with tho result that he was reinstated. To come nearer homo, Draper, of the No. 3 Natives, just before tho contingent left here, rode victorious in tho hunt. Wilson has boon used to rough-riding for the last 12 years, ho tolls mo. Home has been used to riding sinco he could walk, has done tho 70 miles between Whungamata and Coromandel in a day many times— rough a vido as it is possible to get, so steep in one place, Hearing Whangamata, that tho track is cut in steps out of the solid rock. Yet we are put out because we cannot ride! Anothor oxouso I sco given is -.hat they wero trying to equalise tho two divisions, i.e., North and South Islands. It is well known that the whole of tho South Island could only rake up 60 men. What a difference to tho loyal manner, in which the North responded, especially Auckland. Now, at tho last moment, the Southern mounted recruits are loisurely rolling in. Perhaps they woro in hopes that it was too Into for their services to bo accepted, .or have they been shamed into volunteering by the ready response from tho North. Is it just that we should be put out to give placo to these?— ; I am, etc., A Disgusted One. j j
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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11200, 21 October 1899, Page 6 (Supplement)
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358THE REJECTED VOLUNTEERS. New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11200, 21 October 1899, Page 6 (Supplement)
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