THE SIXTH CONTINGENT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1507, 17 January 1901, Page 40

THE SIXTH CONTINGENT.

THE CONTINGENT "REVIEWED. The Hon J. G. Ward, Acting-Minister of Defence, is taking a keen interest in ail matters connected with the Sixth Contingent. Mounted on his presentation horse “Awarua” he paid a visit to Newtown Park at 7 o’clock on the 9th instant. In the afternoon Mr Ward again visited the encampment, accompanied bv the Hon. C. H. Mills, attended by Sir Arthur Douglas (Under Secretary of Defence), Colonel Porter (Act-ing-Commandant)/ Major Messenger un charge of the camp), Captain Davis (Officer of the Day), and Captain Joyce (Staff Officer), and reviewed the troops. After an inspection in open order —some of the men being mounted and the others afoot —close columns of companies were formed. The Hon J. G. Ward then addressed the parade. He said he desired officially to thank the officers whose assistance had been voluntarily offered and accepted for the excellent work they were doing, which was cf great service to the colony. Arrangements. had been made for day and night attendance whenever possible, and it was a most gratifying feature to find that such efficient arrangements had been made for the comfort of so large a body of men as were now in camp. It was a pleasure to see the officers -devoting the whole of their time to the work, and that such a fine spirit was displayed by those who were giving valuable assistance, which was highly appreciated by him. He regretted. however, that a number of tire detachment from Canterbury had not passed through the riding tests, as members of the Contingent from other parts of the. colony had done, in accordance with the general instructions issued in all parts of the colony. He would be carry if, after going so far, it should be found that any of them were unable to fulfil the conditions necessary for their final enrolment. The Defence Department had been obliged, with very great regret, to decline the services of 1600 volunteers for the front, but those who had not been successful in their applications were as deserving of the thanks of the colony as the men now on parade. The men who had been selected from the different districts had been chosen upon their merits after the prescribed tests had been passed, with the exception of the section from Canterbury. who had not complied with the riding tests before their departure. He, 1 however, expressc-id the thanks cf the Government to the large number of men thronghaut the colony who had so readily responded to the call to proceed to South Africa in order to reinforce men already there upholding the honour and the interests of the Empire.- . But it was unnecessary for him to point out that after the experience the colony had gone through, it would be an improper act to despatch men to the seat of war who were not individually and collectively efficient in those duties, in which good riding was an essential qualification. Though it might be regretted that some men would have to he sec aside on this account, the conditions which he bad referred to would have to be: insisted upon. He only hoped that the preliminary training gone through would, during the interval before departure, ho so far extended as to render the Sixth Contingent as creditable to the colony as those which had preceded it. The steamer which would convey them to Sc.n.th AfirL ca was timed to leave oil the 25th of the present month, and, as far as".possible, that arrangement would be adhered to. ITe made this announcement in order to enable the contingent to attend to their v private business before their• departure. Ho expressed the thanks of the Government and the country to the men who had volunteered in such large numbers and he wished the men now around him the utmost success in the various duties which would devolve upon them, .And when the time came they would receive a hearty send-off. He hoped to hear from their officers as favourable eulcgiums on the merits of the Sixth Contingent as had been pronounced on their predecessors who had gone out to assist - in maintaining the honour cf the Empire. The present inspection was only a preliminary one. He might inform them that no difficulty would occur in regard to uniforms, horses and equipment for the 500 men, and those of the returned members of contingents who wore returning to South Africa. There was no reason ho doulff that these requisites would bo in che hands of th© men within a week or so. As men who were going forth to fight for their country, he.

fait sure that any trifling inconvenience •would be cheerfully borne. For their information, as well as that of the pub_ lie," be de-Nod to state that 500 horses had been pr chased. He complimented ihe officers. 19ir Arthur Douglas, Colonel Porter C lovic-1 Messenger, and officers cf ■Wellington Volunteer corps, the officers cf the Agricultural Department, and! odors for Bne very effective way in which tier had seemed large supplies of equip cent in a very snort time. He could not refrain from expressing his admiration of the effiffieient manner in which the work of organisation had been, carried out and of the harmony and energy with which they had: all worked. ITe hoped the Minister of Defence (the Hon R. J. Seddon) would be present to bid farewell to the contingent in his ca-