THE EIGHTH CONTINGENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11856, 7 January 1902, Page 5

THE EIGHTH CONTINGENT.

AUCKLAND AND THE. COMMISSIONS. PREMIER'S REPLY TO MR. FOWLDS. The following telegram from the Premier Was received yesterday by Mr. Geo. Fowlds, M.H.R., in reply :to his message re the fewness of Auckland names among the commissioned officers of the Eighth.Contingent: — " In reply to your telegram as to granting of . commissions. In ; the first place I ; have not seen the report in the newspapers, and trust I am not to he held responsible for what appears therein. What has guided myself and the military experts, seeing that the lives of men are at"stoke, was the selection of the most competent men irrespective of locality. The . Imperial authorities ' ask that preference should be given to those having htid experience in South Africa, and next to these commissioned volunteers. If it has appeared in the press that* only two commissioned officers from Auckland district have been selected it is absolutely untrue. At the moment I am unable to see the connection between granting commissions and supply of' boots and shoes. I presume your telegram, like many others I have received, was intended for political purposes and publication, and were it not ] that the matter is so serious I would have j refrained from replying so plainly. The first refusal of the officer in command ; was given Auckland. The probabilities are that | the second in command will be an Auckland officer. There are one or two Auckland officers at the front at the present time,and under these circumstances you will un-' j derstand how pained I feel at being judged by an unjust and unauthorised report in the s press which is incorrect." : [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.} Stratford', Monday. Runciman, Woods, Maxwell, and Pinnamore, the Stratford men for the Eighth Contingent, left for Wellington this morning. j Woods, Runciman, and Finnamore are members of the Stratford Mounted Rifles. [BY telegram.— own CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Monday. A statement has been published in 'die Southern papers to the effect that the reason which actuated * Lieutenant-Colonel Davies in refusing the command of the Eighth Contingent was the fact that he was not consulted in the appointment of officers, but it is rumoured that the primary reason was an entirely different one. \ .It is stated that the question at issue was that of the rank which should be • held by the officer commanding, a contingent of 1000 men. Great- regret is expressed by the men ill camp at Trentham that LieutenantColonel Davies is not to be their leader." Names of various ■ officers have been ; mentioned, but nothing definite is likely to be known for the next ; day or. two. It is rumoured to-night, however, that Colonel Robin is to be offered the command, and that he is likely to accept the position." COLONEL DAVIES. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Monday. Though in the absence of the. Premier there is no official confirmation of the report that Colonel Davies declines to take command of the Eighth Contingent owing to a difference with .'the' Government as to the conditions f attached to the offer, it. is generally accepted as true. Considerable disappointment is expressed in camp. THE CAMP AT TRENTHAM. [BY TELEGRAPH. CORRESPONDENT.] - • Wellington, Monday. Captain' Bartlett, , as ■ the senior officer of those' returned from ? South Africa, has been placed in charge of the camp at Trentham. . . ■ The Auckland troopers in camp have justified their prowess by defeating the Wellington men three times in the tug-of-war contests. To-day a great trial of skill took place, but" Auckland won decisively, pulling the Wellington men all over the place in the second trial, to the jubilation of an enthusiastic group of Auckland ! supporters,, who looked on and "barracked" „ enthusiastically. - ; > - ' .- r