THE THIRD CONTINGENT.

Otago Witness, 25 January 1900, Page 44

THE THIRD CONTINGENT.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, January 22. Many prominent citizens to whom I have spoken think that in view of the special patriotic efforts made by Canterbury the third contingent should receive their send-off from Lyttelton, and that the troopship conveying the contingent should also call at .Port Chalmers and sail via the Bluff. The New Zealand Times, writing editoriall*- in the subject, says : " The Maoriland Rough Riders, as this force of 250 men will be called, will consist of men from 20 to 40 years of age, who can ride and shoot, and who are otherwise fitted to do scouting and outpost work on the field of battle. Canterbury has given a magnificent lead in the formation of this force, and it seems probable that the entire company will be raised in the great agricultural and pastoral district of the colony. Possibly the North Island may supply no more than a half-company. In view of the prominent part taken by Canterbury it would be a graceful thing were a camp for the South Island to be formed at Christchurch, and the final send-off of the Rough Riders fixed to take place at Lyttelton. It is understood that the steamship Undaunted, of 4000 tons, which has been chartered by the Department of Commerce to convey produce to South Africa, will also carry the Maoriland Rough Riders and their horses. She has to call at Dunedin and the Bluff for cargo, so there is no reason why she should not also call at Wellington, take the North Islanders on board here, and then proceed to Lyttelton to ship the southern contingent." AN APPEAL. WELLINGTON, January 18. Mr G. G. Stead, of Christchurch, has requested the Press Association to publish the following: — "Canterbury having definitely undertaken to provide and equip a troop of not less than 50 mounted men for South Africa, it is hoped that the other provinces will fall into line and each similarly provide and equip a mounted troop so as to make a third contingent of, say, 250 men. Such a body, if composed of hardy rough riders selected from farmers, stockdrivers, boundary riders, rabbiters, musterers, etc., should prove invaluable in hilly country like South Africa. Light weight, active men mounted on first-class horses can be moved twice as quickly as heavy, tlra-

goons, and it can readily be understood that the value of a fighting ' force in a mountainous country depends very much upon its mobility. Great Britain is not in need of money, but is much in need of hardy mounted men to do the scouting and outpost work necessaiy to cover regular infantry in South Africa. Our Govern- ! ment having undertaken, on be-half of the I imperial Government, to accept contin- 1 gents from all parts of the colony, pro- I vided the total number of men does not ex- j ceed 250, it is .earnestly hoped that the ; several provinces will rise to the occasion and show their public spirit by each providing their quota of the class of men so much required to help our kin in South Africa." AN OFFER FROM FIJI. AUCKLAND, January 17. A copy of the Fiji Times to hand rrum Samoa by the Taviuni says :— " A move- [ ment is on foat in Suva just now Avith the ' object of collecting the names of tho&e members of the volunteer force and others who are willing to offer for active service in South Africa. When collected, the names are to be handed in to the commandant, and if the Colonial Government is willing to disburse the necessary funds, there should be no great difficulty in the way. Already a goodly number of signatures have been appended. When the news of the movement gets about many offers will come in from Levnka and from the country. The movement is by no means confined to volunteers. All the names ~v\ ill be forwarded to headquarters." January 19. j-he acting-mayor lias informed the Mayor of Christchurch, in reply io the letter's telegrams, that, judging from public feeling, it was felt in Auckland that if a third "contingent was sent the whole thing ■ should be done by the Government. , WAXGANUI SENDS 25 MEN. WANGANUI, January 17. A large and enthusiastic patriotic mass meeting was held to-night. The Drill Hall ! was densely packed, the local volunteers 1 and. band being present in uniform. Speeches were delivered by several leading ' citizens, and it was unanimously resolved 1 to provide and equip 25 men for the thiul ! contingent at a cost of something like i 31700. Patriotic songs were sung during ! the evening, and the splendid sum of £200 j odd was raised in the room, making, in ad- ' dition to the £600 already subscribed to- | wards the " more men" fund, a total of £800. • It is expected no difficulty will be experi1 enced in raising the balance. More than 1 the required number of men have already I volunteered. j January 19. j Already £1200 has been collected to- | wards Wanganui's special contingent of 25 > men in the third New Zealand contingent, J and 60 odd names have been handed in to j Lieutenant-colonel Watt by volunteers ' and rough riders. Several of those volun--teering have offered to provide their own horses and full equipment. J January 22. The mayor reports that the amount of £1700 for the equipment and transport of I Wanganui's special contingent of 25 men is now assured, and that the fund will ' probably exceed £2000. Spare horses will be sent with the men, who will all be expert horsemen and fair shots. WiiJuLINGTON, January 19. A meeting was held to-night re providing a Wellington contribution to the third contingent. It was stated that the estimated cost of sending 25 men would be £25G0. The meeting deputed the chairman (Mr C. B. Morison) to wait on the mayor and arrange to hold a general meeting of citizens to discuss the subject. The meeting was very enthusiastic, and 29 men volunteered in the room. One gentleman promised £25 to the funds. A number of letters were read from men in the country districts expressing a desire to join. January 21. The Premier yesterday announced definitely that it is intended to despatch a third contingent. If the necessity arose every man who could bear arms in the colony would go to their assistance, because by securing the • Transvaal the unity of the Empire was being preserved and the peace of the colony maintained. CHRISTCHURCH, January 19. Over 300 applications have been received for enrolment among the Canterbury contingent. The public have a strong feeling that England does not want money, but urgently needs .mounted troops ; hence the determination to send a strictly Canterbury contingent, and the project is being taken up with the utmost enthusiasm. January 21. Two hundred and eleven suitable *y° un S men have volunteered for the Canterbury troop for South Africa. Of these only 50 will be selected. January 22. Mr ,G. G. Stead writes to the Christchurch papers: "It is generally conceded that more mounted men are urgently needed to assist the infantry in South Africa. The Government in New Zealand, although willing, is unable to send more men at present, as the cost of the second

contingent has exhausted all the funds thaS were available. Various centres in New Zealand, however, have collected large sums towards patriotic funds, horse funds, etc. What more patriotic use can these funds be put to than by each centre . equipping units of a troop to form the ! third contingent? England does not re- ! quire money, but sadly requires mounted ! troops. What is the use of our remitting j money to England which is not required, j when it could be well spent here in asi sisting to provide men and horses, which are required. Cabling money to England is a wasted effort. Sending mounted men is rendering invaluable assistance." The Premier, on being interviewed by the correspondent of the Oamaru Mail, said that the position taken up by the Government in. respect to the . third contingent is that the public must provide the cost of equipment, including the horses, at £50 per man and £25 . oost of .transport. Outside that, the expenses 1 would be borne by the Government. "We will arrange for shipment, and so forth, and will pay the men the difference between Imperial pay and that we are now paying to those serving in the first contingent. Our %-eterinary surgeon will pass the horses, and the officsrs commanding districts will pass the men. The commander of the forces will, as in the case of the first and second contingents, have entire charge. The selection of the men will be in the hands of those who find the money. I presume that 250 men will form the third contingent, and up to the present there seems a prospect of 100 men and funds for their equipment and transport being provided. We have chartered a steamer, and she is to be here in the first week in February, and will probably take her departure to South Africa in the middle of the month. Recognising what'tho people of Canterbury are doing in the way of furthering the despatch of a. third contingent, the send-off will be froii Lyttelton of the Canterbury detachment. Ib crocs without saying that there will again be a , demonstration in Wellington as the final port j of embarkation." RAILWAY VOLUNTEERS. 1 Some time ago the point was raised amongst railway officials as to the probability of fail- ; way servants being required in the Transvaal and Cape Colony during the war. It was suggested that railway men of every description might be required, and the Government were communicated with and urged to make inquiries. It is understood that the Wellington authorities have considered the matter, i but have received no definite information as ,' yet as to whether railway men will be wanted in connection with the present war. They appear to have reason for the belief now, however, that if skilled men were available they , would be accepted, for steps are being taken to ascertain how many men would be willing Ito go if called upon. With this object in I view the following circular is being issued to j the heads of departments: — "The War in the s Transvaal. — In the event of railway men being ' required in South Africa during the present trouble, will any member of your staff volunteer for service there? If so, please send in names at once to this office, with statement of qualifications. The positions of the men ac- . cepted will be kept open for them." There , has been insufficient time for replies as yet, ', but it is likely that there will be numerous j volunteers on those conditions.

j Mr W. Jarvie, of the post office, and Mr ! P. Taylor, of the Railway department, have ', received instructions to proceed to Dunedin. — Grey River Argus. j The Public Trustee has filed in the Supreme ' Court at Wellington an election to administer I the intestata estates of the following deceased persons : —Annie M'Hugh. Invercargill, and Robert Templeton, Waikaka Valley. Mr F. Larking proceeds to Whangarei short- ' ly to supervise the co-operative workmen engaged on the section of the Y7hangarei-Bay of . Islands railway which takes the line to Huke- , renui. — Auckland Star. ! Messrs George Stewart, James Edgar, John ' M'Alister (Tapanui), John Mackenzie (Glen- : kenich), and George Milnes (Waiboikoi) have | been appointed trustees for the Tapanui 1 Agricultural and Pastoral show grounds. J The epidemic of influenza is at present causing a lot of trouble in and around Westport, where few families have escaped its , malignant grip. One hundred and fifty I miners at Denniston are also said to be suffer- ! ing from the same disease. — News, j One of the employers when giving evidence before the Conciliation Board on the 16th ea'd ■ he always let men smoke when they liked j and as much as they liked. He did not think that smoking -interfered at all with the amount of work done ; but did believe that men would do more work and better work if they were not troubled with unnecessary restrictions. Upwards of 10,000 acres of the Ngapaeruru block 'ire to be thrown open for selection in abemt a month's time (says the Bush Advocate). The land is of first-class quality, and the co-operative parties which have been at work there have made good roads through the block. A local resident of a fiendish disposition (says a correspondent, writing from Waihi to a Waikato paper) has been writing letters to several persons here, to wives accusing husbands, and in other cases to husbands accusing their wives of unfaithfulness, and without the slightest foundation in fact. Naturally, ii ha 3 caused a great deal of feeling. It is said on good authority that the Hon. J. G. Ward has in view the accelerating of the express trains by reducing the time which they will stop at certain stations. For instance, at Oamaru it is intended to stop no longer than will allow incoming passengers to alight and outgoing passengers to take their seats. By this means the time of the journey will be considerably shortened.— North Otago Times.