CHRISTMAS COMFORTS FOR TROOPERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11780, 9 October 1901, Page 5

CHRISTMAS COMFORTS FOR TROOPERS.

[by telegraph.— press ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Tuesday. In connection with the supply of Christmas comforts for New Zealand soldiers in South Africa, the General Committee of the Post and Telegraphic patriotic fund has, after reference to the principal subcommittees throughout the colony, voted cue sum of £100 to the Mayor's fund, on the understanding that the comforts are to be forwarded for the benefit of the New Zealand contingents, and not for the Wellington men only.

THE SEVENTH CONTINGENT AT THE FRONT.

A lieutenant of the Seventh New Zealand Contingent, writing from Meyerton in September, gives a short account of a small engagement on the 31st of last month : —'.'All the mounted men were out of camp, to burn some farmhouses from which they had been fired at. I was sent along a valley with Lieutenant Cribb (Gisborne), to burn some houses and send the women and Kaffirs into camp. Before doing this we had to take a ridge of kopjes, and leave posts on them, as they commanded the valley that we had to work in. I galloped the ridge with 12 men and when about 500 yards off it the Boers opened fire on us, but fortunately they did not hit any of us, as wo were well extended. We continued to gallop at the ridge, and took it in great style, driving eight Boers off it. We just got to the top in time, as there were a lot of De la Rey's men coming up the other side. We let into them and killed" two and wounded one that we know of for certain. There were a lot of trees on the ridge, and these saved the Boers, as they afforded very good cover. This was as good a little 'go' as I have had for a long time, and Captain Batger, who was watching from another ridge, expressed himself much pleased at the way we rushed it."