OFFER OF CONTINGENT FOR SOMALILAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12399, 12 October 1903, Page 5

OFFER OF CONTINGENT FOR SOMALILAND.

AN EXPLANATION. [BY telegraph.— association.] Wellington, Saturday. Just before the House of Representatives rose this morning,

Mr. Massey asked whether there was any truth in the statement that the New Zealand Government bad offered the Imperial Government a contingent for Somaliland, and that it had teen accepted. He could scarcely believe that the report was correct. Mr. Seddon "said the New Zealand Government had not offered a contingent. Mr. De Carteret had offered to raise a contingent, and the offer had been sent to the Imperial Government through the proper channel, the Governor. Mr. De Carteret had not consulted with the Government before making the ofer. [BY TELEGRAPH. CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Saturday. Mr. A. C. De Carteret, who offered to get up a New Zealand contingent for Somaliland, is a Jersey or Guernsey man, well connected, and was at one time, it is stated, a lieutenant in the Fourth Dragoon Guards. On leaving the Imperial service he carne out to New Zealand, and, being here at the time of the outbreak of the South African war, he offered his services to go with the Second New Zealand Contingent. He went as sergeant-major in that contingent, and served . .with it. Getting his discharge in South Africa, he joined the South African Constabulary, receiving a commission as lieutenant. He served for some lime, and then resigned, and he has not since returael to the colony. In the list of the New Zealand contingents his next-of-kin is give!i as Mr. Reginald Thomas De Carteret (brother), Cuttcombe Vicarage, Dunston, Somerset.

Asked this morning if he knew anything of the circumstances of the offer, MajorGeneral Babington, Commandant of the New Zealand Forces, replied that the cablegram was the Brst intimation he had had of its having beer. made.