THE NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) „

Otago Witness, Issue 2250, 15 April 1897, Page 16

THE NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) „

Wellington, April 12. The selection of the mounted rifles who are to accompany tho Premier to England was made this morniDg. Considerable reticence is displayed in regard to the men selected, and the authorities absolutely refuse to give the names. From a variety of sources, however, I have been able to ascertain the names of those chosen, and you may rely upon the following list of officers and men as being absolutely correct :— Captain Robin (Otago Hu-sirs) in command, Lieutenant Pringle (Manawatu Mountsd Rifles), Bugler Cheg win (Cbristohurch Mounted Rifles), Sergeaut-major Rogers (Wellington Battalion), Sergeant Roll (North Otago), Sergeant Summerville (Alexandra Cavalry), Corporal H&ydea (Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry), Corporal SUmu (Heretaunga Mounted Rfles), Privates Parson, Crosley, Cardell (Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry), Rice, Montgomery (Alexandra Cavalry), Burr (Wairoa Cavalry), Hazlett, Freemau (Otago Hussars), R. Grant, Hufcson. Glover (Heretauaga Mounted R'fles), M'Donnell, Watnon, Hamilton (Marlborough Mounted Rifles), Boyd, Ennis' (Southland Hussars), O'Neil (Hawera Mounted Rifles), Lloyd, Close (Mauawatu Mounted Rifles), Henderson, Or.-anr", Marshall (North Otago Mounted Rifles). Nearly all the men are colonials, and the •election, on the whole, is a good one. The men have greatly improved in their drill during the past fortnight. The average height of the company is sffc 10in. Twelve men were rejected. All tho men sent by the Cauterbnry Yeomanry Cavalry, North. OUgo Mounted Infantry, and Marlborough Mounted Rifle 3 were chosen. Two Otago men were selectsd and two rejected. The contingents, under command of Colonel Pitt, lew«~ by the Ruahine from Ly ttelton on the 29th. j Fitteen out of the 20 Maoris have been selected. Included in the five remaining Natives to be ohosen will be two chiefs of th 9 Arawa tribe. It has bteu decided that the team of shooting men shall bo chosen from the whole colony, and not, as originally suggested, from the separate districts. The Post gives the following aa a possible team : — A. Bellinger, Williams, Howe, and Kirk (Wellington), Wakelin (Cnri9tchurch), Doughty (Auckland), Smith (Duuedin), Kmse (WanganuO, King (Oamaru), and Robilliurd iKaiapoij.