THE CANTERBURY OFFER OF REMOUNTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2409, 3 May 1900, Page 30

THE CANTERBURY OFFER OF REMOUNTS.

CHRISTCHURCH, April 24.

At a meeting of the Canterbury War Fund Committee to-day the Chairman said that he had acquainted the Premier with the resolution poseed at laet meeting that 150 horse*), for the purchase of which the committee provided funds, should be sent to the Imperial Government. In reply to this, he had received the following telegram from the Premier: — "In reply to your letter of the 12th, 1 regret to say that, owing to the necessity existing for our own troops at the Cape, the Government cannot take horses on the conditions mentioned in your letter now under reply. We have now over 1700 men and officers at the Cape. The Gymeric has a. few spare hordes on board, but the losses which have taken place, and the anticipated losues, will leave the fourth and fifth contingents with baie mounts only. This being the case, you will understand, and, I hope, appreciate, the action of the Government in definitely deciding that the remounts must be for our own men. and it was on that assumption I accepted •your offer. If I have misunderstood the decision, I am sorry. The horses we have bought will go by the Tropea, and any money paid into the public account will be refunded. I would suggest you should call a meeting of your committee and let me know the result of reconsideration. — R. J. Seddon." After some discussion, it was agreed to postpone the meeting till next day, when a motion to rescind the previous resolution — thot the hor»es should be sent to the order of the Imperial Government — will be brought forward. Anril 25.

At an adjourned meeting of the Canterbury War Fund Committee, the suggestion of the Government that the committee's gift of 150 horses should be for the benefit of the New Zealand contingents in South Africa, and that the liorses should not be sent to the Imperial authorities to apportion as they pleased, was agreed to, after some discussion.

April 26,

The Premier has telegraphed to tht mayor, cs chairman of the Canterbury War Fund Committee, thanking the committee for rescinding its motion to send the 150 horses, provided by it, to the Imperial a,uthorities, and agreeing that they should be for the use of the New Zealand contingents.