WITH OUR CONTINGENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2401, 8 March 1900, Page 65

WITH OUR CONTINGENT.

PERSONAL ITEMS

Slingersfonteiu, January 13

Troopers liurford, Ryan, and Young have been sent down to Capetown, en route for invaliding home. Ryan was .suffering from physical exhaustion, the doctor stating that he was a man who should never have come on this trip. Hurford was suffering from heart disease, and Young was strained very severely the other morning. Captain Ward is suffering a good deal at present, but is wonderfully plucky, and, though riding hurts him very much, he is out nearly every day. Compliments continue to fall around our gallant major. The- "Tommies" (who. it must be admitted, are the best qualified to judge), say that they never have .seen an officer who could do his duty in going exactly where he is told and yet Lake such care of his men. To say that he is fairly loved by his men is not exaggerating, for the men show, in all their actions, that they fairly worship him, and would all willingly follow him. anywhere. This morning, a locust cloud passed over the camp. They completely obscured 'the sun, and were about two and a-half hours in passing. The horses were a bit frightened at first, but they soon got used to it. Our " Rpecial correspondent and artist," Mr Moultray, has had the bad luck to contract malarial fever, and had to go down to Capetown. He will now have to return to New Zealand, as it would not be safe for his health to remain in this country. It is most unfortunate for him, as he was just getting into the wav of things and was becoming a favourite with the men.

The food, now we are off the line of communication, consists of bully-beef and biscuits, with lea and coffee for tea and breakfast respectively. There is no chance for men to get any extras, and they find the fare a hard one to work on. To-day they were served out with Sydney meat ; but it is generally America n-manufaetured stuff.

A small New Zealand mail came to hand yesterday, and in it were two Otago Wincsses. and I never knew until to-day what a valuable paper it is. I read nearly everything in it, from the first ppge to tha lust, and. though lying on my back all day in a aood dea 1 of acfonv in the field hospital, the Witness made the day pass quickly.