THE TENTH CONTINGENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11952, 29 April 1902, Page 5

THE TENTH CONTINGENT.

SEDDONITE TROOPERS. !>; A MILD SENSATION IN SYDNEY. . (> Sydney, April 28. A few of 1 the Norfolk's troopers were responsible for a mild sensation in one of the main streets of the city lat: on Saturday night, by.objecting to a reference t« Mr. Seddon contained on the contentsboard placarded, outside a certain • Sunday newspaper office. They requested that the reference should be deleted, nnd the request not being conceded, they forcibly removed the board inside, and gave cheers, for Mr. Seddon. lb is alleged that subsequently, finding the board again displayed, two troopers entered the office and vented their displeasure in suasion sterner than moral upon one of the employees. '": '/ It is stated that 19 stowaways .were found on the Norfolk. Tliree were . taker as troopers, and the balance \v?re v put ashore. • ''•'" •' "•'. '' (Received April 29. 12.58 a.m.) '-' Sydney, April 28. A delayed telegram from Albany., states that the Drayton Grange, with the North Island section or the Tenth New. Zealand Contingent, arrived yesterday, and sailed today. No details of the voyage have been received. '• ' -, .'■]• : ,•■,>■;'; ALLEGED DRINKING AND GAMBLING ■ ON THE NORFOLK. ;: (Received April 28, 9.50 p.m.) '" Sydney, April 28. i On the day that the Norfolk, -with the Southern section of the New Zealand Tenth Contingent arrived, the evening paper"published a somewhat sensational statement regarding alleged gambling and drinking on the transport. , Inquiries made at the time showed there was little, it any, grounds for the statement. . • ."

To-day the same paper publishes a letter from Sergeant-Major Pleasants , denying any gambling aboard, or at any rate only a, little, of a harmless description, meant to pass away the idle hours of a tedious voyage. He adds: "I have been in several troopships conveying troops, v'> '■} •< and from South Africa, andean say the men aboard the Norfolk are exceptionally well behaved. There is less gambling amongst them than in any other contingent thai has left New Zealand."

A second letter, from the Rev. Mr. Luxford, the chaplain, states the charges are not only unfair, but untrue. He :is pleased with the.sobriety of the men, the majority of whom are teetotallers. Gambling is not prevalent, and the order prohibiting it, with very few exceptions, is willingly obeyed. '":'\ ■[''~. '

MESSAGE FROM MR. SEDDON. ' [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington. Monday. Sir t J. G. Ward has received the following cable message from Mr. Seddon, dated Albany, Monday, 6 p.m.:— "All well. The health of our party, officers is first -ate. We lost .five horses in the rough weather in the Australian bight." Another message states that Mr. Seddon had a very cordial reception. The Drayton Grange leaves for Durban at mid*, '■ night. _ TENTH CONTINGENT SEND-OFF FUND. [BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.] <* , CriRiSTCHCRcn, Monday The total credit balance of the Tenth Contingent send-off fund is , £112 4s Id. It is to be held in trust for purposes con neefced with any of the contingents.