THE OFFER OF VOLUNTEERS -AND ARTILLERY DECLINED;. .

Otago Witness, Issue 2355, 13 April 1899, Page 24

THE OFFER OF VOLUNTEERS -AND ARTILLERY DECLINED;. .

THE SERVICES OF THE TUTANEKAI ACCEPTED. THE GOVERNMENT'S OFFER APPRECIATED. • AUCKLAND, April 5. The defence authorities here have received an offer from Major Gordon, officer in command of the Canterbury district, of tho services of several good officers as supplementary to the Auckland force. The proffered services, however, are not required. WELLINGTON, April 8. No reply having been received from Home re a New Zealand contingent for Samoa, the Government have sent another cable to the Colonial Secretary stating thaC the Tutanekai is being kept waiting, and asking an answer in respect to the offer of troops. April 9. The Premier this evening reqeived a reply through his Excellency the Goveyooc to the communication sent to the Imperial Government offering the services of tha volunteers and Permanent Artillery as well as this Government steamer Tutanekai should^ their service? be required to sup< press the present disturbance in. Samoa* Her Majesty's Government highly ap* preciate the offer, and, while gladly ac.« cepting the services of the Tutanekaf,, which will doubtless soon be required foe the despatch of messages and stores Uf Saiaoa^ intimate $9 tUe New Zealand Gg*

-vernment that the services of the volunteers and Permanent Artillery will not be Teqirired. Mr Seddon has arranged that the Tutanekai will keep on her usual trips -between Wellington and the north, but at the same time be in close touch with telegraph communication in order to proceed to Samoa whenever the necessity should arise.