THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. THE WORK OF ORGANISATION. ARRANGEMENTS MADE SO FAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2397, 8 February 1900, Page 28

THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. THE WORK OF ORGANISATION. ARRANGEMENTS MADE SO FAR.

; Messrs J. A. Park and W. A. Shields, who . are practically tho executive of the move- i ment which was originated by the Patriotic Committee on Thursday evening to f-end an (Dtago contingent of mounted men to the j i"ransvaal, were working ha'-d all Friday, I and on every side they met with hesHy sympathy and pupport. Their first work was to j obtain a secretary, and. in company with Mr T. W. Kempthorne, they waited upon Mr E. F. Duthie, and asked him to aceppt that ' nnerous position. After a short deliberation j Mr Duthie accepted the office, and in his <isual energetic manner at once started work, j The committee are exceedingly anxious to ' afford both the supporters of the movement and volunteers for the contingent all necessary information as speedily as possible. Some ' time must necessarily elapse before the camp arrangements are completed, but advantage ■will be taken of the offer of Lieutenant- | commanding Morris, his officer', and noil- ' commissioned officers to a«sist in every way in instructing the fourth contingent. They will ' undertake, if necessary, tho supervision of all , the men whilst in camp. 1 The committee do not expect to meet with j thp slightest difficulty in completing tho movement," and already they havo pronii-.es of money pud horses. The committee intend ho communicate with every centre from Wai- . taki to the Bluff and enlist sympathy from I Every local body in Otn.go and Southland. Up to the present telegrams have been received containing offers of men from a number of townships, so many, in fact, that it has been decided to limit the number of men from each township. Balclutha was the first to come forward, and Captain Harvey haf, offered 10 men fully equipped from the Clutha Mounted Rifles, There is no doubt that

• there will not be the slightest difficulty in raising, not 100, but 250 men, if necessary. ; The first offer received on Friday was from the son of one of the original officers of thej Otago Hussars. This young patriot is prepared to supply his own horee and gear. Another 1 young man, 22 years of age, has volunteered, and offered to pay all his own expenses. ; We are asked to state that early offers of horses for remounts for the previous contingents will be gladly accepted by the committee, as arrangements have been made ■ whereby they can be shipped by the Knight • Templar, which leaves this port for South Africa on the 17th inst. i trade idea has been well taken up, and i "Factory Girl" and "Standard Brand" are ' likely to be the names of some of the earliest horses offered.