THE OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND CONTINGENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2397, 8 February 1900, Page 39

THE OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND CONTINGENT.

MORE MEN, MORE MONEY, MORE HORSES. I THE COUNTRY RESPONDS FROM WAITAKI TO THE BLUFF. Februaiy 7. Never before in the history of Otago ha"\ c residents had more reason to bo proud oi' their province. The noble rebponses to the appeal for the sinews of war that are pouring in from Waitaki to the Bluff must be gratifying to every true citizen and patriot whose heart thrills at the pight of the Union Jack fluttering in the breeze, and who knows right well that the piestige of that flag must be maintained at the cost, if need be, of Otago's life blood. Gratifying as it may bo to ourselves as a people to find everyone ready to do their utmost to aid in the prompt despatch of "our boj-s " to the theatre of the war, probably the men who can appreciate it ; rao&t are those gentlemen forming the General ! Contingent Committee, who, representing t Otago, came forwaid and wrote their names, I as it were, on the back oi Otago's guarantee of troops for Imperial ser\ ice. The man on the street cannot form an adequate conception of the enormous amount of contingent business transacted daily in the " war office," as the Hussars' orderly room has been aptly de»ignatad. All day long the secretary (Mr E. F. Duthie) i« hard at it, dealing- with lettcr=, telegrnm«, a hundred a.id one offers of ossistance, etc., while a couple of citrks and a messenger never have an idlo minute. The members of the committee — all of them business men, whose time represents hard cas.li — cheerfully put their daily work on one side and spend hours in giving a hand. "\lr Kemp-thori-e, Mr Park, Mr Fraser, Mv Sironach. Mr Todd, Dr Coughtrey, and olher-s almo-t live on the premises, and when all these gentlemen, who are working so hard for the honour of Olago, find that the country is backing them up so magnificently they probably think**they have thsir reward. When the office closed last night over 90 men, mostly in Dunedin, had filled in the enrolment forms, while about 200 names from the country had been filed. To all the centres enrolment forms have been posted, so thai the men in the back country will have tho same chances as their city brothers. Within the next doy oi two these forms will, begin to return, and then the committee will get some definite idea of the number of men they will have to choose from. In any ca?e the number of applicants must almost trebly exceed the number of men required, and the la^k of selection will be difficult. •A prominent member of the committee yesterday expressed his conviction confidently to a member of our staff that the upshot of it all would be that Otago would send 200 men, and that the country would readily find the money. It is premature, however, to speculate in this direction yet. ]t is probable that the selection committee will arrange as early as possible for " A " grade of the applicants — viz., those who provid" horse anil full equipment — to be medically examined. WHAT IS BEING DONE IN THE COUNTRY. " ' The following are taken from the she^f of telegrams received from the country, to show how the mo\ement h being taken up with emhusias'n : — Crornvel!.— Ernest Jolly, Hemy Solomon, ofter find hor-es, laoney, all equipment; good Jiark=mea and horsemen. — J. Stumbles. Invei-cai-^i'l. — Your telegiam leceived. Am much i!i sympathy with the movement, and will do an I can 1 o3«illy, lait being a public servant am Uiiab'e to come to Dunedin , about 40 a-p-ol'cants here, some v/ith horses.— Cautain Bawkms Cl'V.on — Committee taking matter v,) heprlily: have already been piomised Wo hoipes, or equivalent money. Understand that five men will eniol fiom here. — A. IM'Donald, secretary. OuHpiv. — Toh:i Andrew (Outrarn) and James M'Diirmid (Wooo'^ic'e) volunteer for service. . . Those 'loiiiinnted by you taking action — Snow and FuHon. Palmpi-jton. — F,:;e called meeimg gentlemen ■ named m telegiam ior to-inonow aitornoon ; will wire you lesuits; ha y e U\o app'icatioas for emonreit in contirment irom A lux. M'Laien* and W. M-Dous-all. L-n.i°jice — Foai men vlbh to nuol fiom L.i whence. Committee will endeavour xo pro- | Vjcl i.ojses. Polciiig concert oa 14ih for that i mupo-c. Will alto canvass district. — B. Wmn, | M..yoi. I nit i'"uu.-. — Waitdliuiia will do its duty in | '"ul'y oou pn.'ig Jas. Williamson, v!io has al..ivds' ppoliod thiough Co.onel Webb. — W. | Avid. ■ i^T. ~>y. — X«nics of men vohiuLaeiing fiom j M.i r '•*'*> -.i, fins cv !e Alexander M'Leiman ! (3'i-i l.i toi, A'o\iin'-cr Ycig >son (St. BplUa'.s), | .!ol.» '•'._! (SI Tiithau^. Robeil Sh.uv (G-im-inerLii j) jf'L"n.ian pioside hi& own ho_<e- He. divan. 51 i :.', .■ n..— lWet!< fu'lrd ioj to-iii«ht. Alj li-.u'- oio iiiM si'il. bL* applicant for eiuoll j."_, AY' 1 ] Co ,-3i :r.i(?-:t tiuck hoises fiom ! Cjc'c — ','i\i,i il "Ye \yn Yickcrmiui volun- ' lc:'s.' jo. U_j;:o Co.ii. ..'.(-lii, . . . Jol'u Ked- ' djli II I.'1 .'- i':o sen arn-liCi-tioji; hcr&e guaivuj { 1. —No- 'o ■ .\i. 'l G Jki*Pi>. ll? bum.— li ltalanui oilers 2Gouit sawn tim-

ber for military camp, will it be accepted as useful? Assume railway carry free. — W. Cailton. Hampclen. — Organising Committee, — Two men likely volunteer from here with noises.—Nicholson, Mayor. A Wellington telegram pays: — "Owing to pressure of business, it will be impossible for the Defence department to answer applications for enrolment for the fourth contingent. Personal application at the various centres, where committees are em oiling men, is advised to sill who are anxious to serve. The time and place to attend will be announced by the several committees."