PREPARATIONS ELSEWHERE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11686, 20 March 1900, Page 3

PREPARATIONS ELSEWHERE.

(Pee United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Alarch 19. 'Tho first Auckland detachment of tho fifth contingent loaves by the Mararoa tomorrow under tho command of Lieutenant Boaworth. It consists of 20 men. WBL^^ TGTON, Alarch 19. - The following'appointments are announced iii connection with the fifth contingent: — No. 1 Company:,.. Captain Abbott, Seniorlieutenant Tucker,' No. 2 Company: Captain Tanner, formerly of the Rhodesiari Horse, South Africa; Senior-lieutenant Rose,. D. Battery. f " . Lieutenant .Haselden, son of' the stipendiary magistrate here, has gone into camp as acting-lieutenant. . : *, - .-■-;■ ■ The steamer Gymeric, which takes' part of the fourth contingent to South Africa, leaves for Dunedin to-morrow. •-■ CHRiSTCHURCH, March 19. Work is going orj. steadily in the fifth contingent camp, at Addingtbn: ■ Jt is understood that as soon'as the steamship Waimate is ready the present camp will be'struck, and the men and horses transferred to Wellington. Thursday is assigned as the probable date of departure, from Lyttelton. Gangs of men have been working day and night without intermission in discharging the cargo of the Waimato and in clearing out her ballast tanks, so as to fit her for the purposes of a transport. The men of the contingent who are to proceed to South Africa in her will be accommodated in the after 'tween decks, and Mr Lewington, foreman carpenter to the New Zealand Shipping Company, has in hand the task of fitting up their quarters. It is expected that Mr J. Daniels will supervise the fit-ting up of the horse stalls.

(From Our Owk Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, March 19. There is still much adverse comment here in regard to the appointment of officers to the fourth contingent,, and the matter was brought up to-day at a meeting of the Executive Committee by Mr Morrison, a wellknown lawyer and volunteer, who protested against the action of the Government in ignoring the committee in the selection of certain officers. fie moved—"The committee regrets that, in view of the fact that the Wellington section of the fourth contingent was wholly equipped by voluntary contributions, the Government should have disregarded the expressed wish of the committee in regard to the appointment of officers by' displacing Lieutenant Johnston, and making other appointments not recommended by the committee, and respectfully requests that the Government will attach Lieutenant .Johnston to the Wellington company in his former capacity:" Messrs T. K. Macdonald and T. M. Wilford, M.H.R.. protested against the motion, which could have no practical result, and would have an irritating effect. Mr Morrison declined to withdraw the motion, which was put to tho meeting, and lost by 6 to 4-. Mr Souper. chief steward of the Tutanekai, has been commissioned by the Government to proceed to Capetown by the Gymeric to superintend the commissariat department of the fifth contingent. Mr Smith, second steward of tho Tutanekai, will fill Mr Souper's place during his absence.