PRIZE PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2414, 14 June 1900, Page 30

PRIZE PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION.

So much interest was taken in the former Witness Photographic Competitions, and the circle of amateur photographers has so widened of late, that the management has every confidence in declaring a competition in connection with their forthcoming Christmas Annual. The standard of amateur work in all branches of photography has rapidly risen, and our climate is so favourable to the technical processes, our scenery so stimulating to artistic results, that we desire to give a wide choieo of subject as an inducement for really creditable v;ork. Prizes will be offered thus: Best and most artistic treatment of Country Landscape, lepresontmg some phase of Farming and Station Life — First Prize £2.2 0 Second Prize 1 1 0 Most interesting and aitistic treatment of subject iepresenting Goldfields Life. These rnu=t be distinctively Mining, and show Mining work of some kind, preferably Dredging or Hydraulic Sluicing, in progress. They must also have such interest as pel iv ins to the action of the toilers — First Prize £2 2 0 Second Prize 1 1 0 For the best Figure Stud}', sirgrle or grouped, illustrating New Zealand types of beauty, one prize is offered. The choice of subjects may inclvde matrons, yoi'ng girls, and children over four (4) years — Prize £2 2 0 The Photographic Competition must be dis« tinctly understood to be limited to amateurs. Ail photographs sent in to become the property of the Management. All photos to be in by TUBSDAYj'ffjjIS gb

ings with sullen looks. Many of these burghers had been fighting against the British forces, and yet, despite the clemency shown by the representative of her Majesty, there was no indication of gratitude. On the contrary, there were many signs of a bitter hatred that will take year 3of patience and diplomacy to eradicate. The cavalry, infantry, and artillery marched through the town and sought the quarters allotted to them. There were no signs of exultation «or of a desire to gloat over the downfall, and the Free Staters' property was respected, strict regulations-shaving been laid down in this connection. Not even lightsome banter was indulged in by the British forces, and when night fell the town hall and other public buildings were occupied by our soldiers, while the club and hotels were crowded with officers. There was absolutely nothing beyond what I have described to indicate that Bloemfontein had changed hands. While the British forces were stretching into Bloemfontein the New Zealanders maintained their vigil on the kopje that they held. The only incident worth recording was the arrival of several Boers who had decided to lay down their arms, and. taking advantage of Lord Eoberts's proclamation, the advance copies of which had been destroyed by President Steyn, so that they shoiild not fall into the hands of the combatants, return to and remain in peaceful occupation of their farms. On the 15th the remainder of the New Zealanders who had been detained at Kimberley on account of the condition "of their horses arrived at Bloemfontein. This company, 80 in number, was under the command of Major Robin, who had with him Major Davis, -Lieutenants Matthews, Johnson, Lindsay,, and Hughes. It had travelled from Kimber- " ley to Bloemfontein in fairly good time. Of its experiences details will be found later on. On Saturday, the 17th March, the New Zealanders paid their first visit to Bloemfontein. Major Robin, Major Davis, Captain Madocks, Lieutenants Canavan, Bartlett, and Hughes, and Dr Burns left oamp and rode into town. Perfect order prevailed, and the only point noted was the high prices charged for eatables and drinkables. Bread was Is the 21b, loaf sugar Is 3d per lb, jam Is 6d per. tin, candles 2s per lb, potted meats as high as 4s. and the small tin drinks Is 6d to 2s. Lord Roberts had taken up his residence at the presidency ; the Postal and Telegraph departments had been taken over by the military authorities; martial law prevailed, and arrangements were being made for the regular despatch of trains to Capetown. The bridge at Norvals Pont, lying due south of Bloemfontein and a few miles north of Colesberg, had been blown up by the Boers, but r the Pvoyal Engineers had made a pontoon bridge in remarkably short time, and it was intended that the train should run to the north of the Orange River. Supplies and postal matter crossed to and fro by means of .pontoons, and a connection was made with another train that was waiting on the opposite side of the river. On the 18th March the first Cavalry Brigade moved off in a westerly direction, the intention being to scour the country immediately ro.md Bloemfontein. The New Zealanders. to the number of 80, under the command of Majr • Robin, with Captain Madocks, Lieutenancy aytor, Lindsay, Bartlett, and Hughes, an i Surgeon-captain Burns, left camp, going in an easterly direction. - They were to form part of a flying column, the object of, the expedition being to facilitate the work of disarming the Dutch, and, if possible, intercept any Boers trekking from Colesberg northwards. The remainder of the New Zealanders, under Major Davis, who has with him Lieutenants Mathews, Johnson, and Canavan, remained in camp, the men's time being principally in attending to the sick horses. Some of the troopers had a somewhat unpleasant experience. New riding trousers had been served out to them at Kimberley, but the rough ; time they ha\'e experienced, their clothes being soaking wet night and day, has played havoc with their attire, and it is not an unusual sight to see some of the men with nothing to cover their nether limbs except a horse blanket or sleeping blanket, strolling j round camp like dignified Maori chiefs. The horses were in very poor condition. Many had sore backs, others were lame, and all anxiously awaited remounts, and some slight but nece isary additions to their limited stock of clothing. And now, to complete the record of the doings^ of the New Zealanders, let me give some details of the experiences of the second detachment which left Kimberley on the sth March, after being camped at the compound and subsequently at Kenilworlh, on the property of the De Beer Company, with Major Robin in command. The small band moved off at 8 o'clock at night. They travelled for five hours, and at 1 a»m. bivouacked on the veldt for the remainder of the night. After three hours' rest, the order to march was given, and, escorting no less than 80 waggons, another four hours' journey was completed. Rest for the remainder of the day was given. "As the convoy was drawn by 1200 oxen it was deemed advisable to avoid the extreme heat of the day. Hence the somewh%fc peculiar system of travelling adopted. At 4.30 on the afternoon of the 6th another start was made, and after four § urs there was another bivouac. It was then known that about 2000 of the Warwick Regiment were in the rear of the convoy to protect it in case of a surprise, it being stated that some of the Boeis were again coming westward with the intention of cutting off some of the convoys. At 3.30 a.m. on Thursday, the 7th, the New Zealauders moved forward as rearguard for the convoy. Captain Bailey, of the Queenslanders, blundered into a wire fence and broke his shoul-der-blade, while Trooper Rawson, of Blenheim, was seized with a fit. Rawson recovered in half an hour, the doctor's opinion being that he had had a narrow escape from simstroke. After five hours' march a halt was called until 4.30 p.m., when the convoy moved off from a vlei (a watering-place on the plain). Some of the waggons became embedded in the soft mud, and tbe New Zealanders had enough work to keep them busy. Slow progress was •made, and it was 9 p.m. before they outspanued for the ni^ht. Paardeberg was reached on Thursday, the Bth. Cronje's late laager was found in a terrible state. Hundreds of graves clotted the plain, many of the Boers being buried in sluits, which, when flooded, would wash the bodies into the river. Many of our I3olcliers had but a few inches of earth over them, but fatigue parties have since given them, a decent burial. The stench was still awful, and it will take months before the place is fit -for habitation. Thoxtsands of boxes of " biscuits, forage of all descriptions, and waggons and gun carriages littered the plain, but the Army Service Corps were busily engaged in reducing chaos into something like order. Slowly the convoy proRresse'd. The New Zealanders reached Poplar Grove on Saturday, the 10th. On the following day they acted as rearguard to one r>f the largest convoys that Gh-eat Britain has ever put into the field. It consisted of over 600 waggons, besides naval guns and howitfcsrs, and extended over many miles. Our

men, who had been on half-rations for several days, were praying that Bloemfontem would be reached, as they were very hungry, and almost worn out. Lieutenant Johnston and , a small party of men had to go out on picket > during tho night, and this after a tiring day's j march with short rations. In the morning | another advance was made, and another 13 j miles covered, and as Sunday proved a rej freshingly cool day the men picked up wonderi fully. The whole convoy had a long rest until Monday at 2.30 p.m., when the order to march was given. The head of the line moved off at the time stated, and as showing the length of the column it was 6.30 p.m. — four hours later — before the New Zealanders, acting as rearguard, had to start. On Tuesday, the 14th, the men suffered terribly. The wind blew with hurricane force. The whole convoy was wrapped in dust, and our men found it almost impossible to open their eyep. Many of them slept in their sadI cllep, and horses and men were nearly dead j beat. On. that day news came that Bloemj foutein bad surrendered. The convoy ar j rived at the divisional headquarters at 8.30 j on Tuesday night, and found all the troops ' resting after the long and tiring march from Kimberley to Bloeaafontein. The safe arrival of this important convoy greatly pleased Lor'l Roberts, and he expressed his satisfaction at the fact. The second party of the New Zealauders was thus enabled to join tho main column before the entry into Bloem- ! fontein was made., and all our contingent are | therefore entitled to any distinction that may be given to the troops taking part in the relief of Kimberley or the occupation of Bloemfontein. The work of the New Zeai landers had. iigl by any means concluded. 1 They were forced to march all night, and '• this proved one of tho most trying experiences ] encountered during the whole journey, i Heavy rain fell, a thunderstorm raged j throughout the night, and everything tended ! to make the journey as uncomfortable and trying as possible. On the Thursday, the second detachment of the contingent enjoyed a splendid rest, and slept nearly all the morri- ! ing. In the. afternoon they moved into ; Bloemfontein proper, and on the afternoon j of Friday, 16th March, the two detachments j of the No. 1 contingent shook hands and - joined forces. Both had had a most, trying experience. They were completely exhausted from want of sleep, and their horses were i weak and many of them unfit for further use. ; Still, every man was cheerful and anxioas to have another brush with the enemy, i Lieutenant Neave, of Christchurch, who obtained a commission as subaltern in the Yorkshire Regiment, was killed while leading a company of his men at Paardeberg. The official report described Neave as being of the Warwickshires, the mistake being caused by the fact that his brother, who is now in ! India, holds a commission in that regiment. In accordance with the usual custom, poor Neave's effects were sold by auction at camp. I believe it is the intention of the officers of No. 1 contingent to repurchase the fieldglasses presented to him by them when he left % us at Arundel to join the Yorks, and forward them to his bereaved parents. The news of his death cast quite a gloom over the camp, for he was beloved by both officers and me a. Lieutenant Lindsay, of Timaru, whose father is epptain of the Canterbury Yeomanry, has obtained a commission as sub- | altern in one of the cavalry regiments. I j hear unofficially that he will be transferred , to either the 6th Dragoons (Inniskillings) or the 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabineers). Mr Lindsay has been the recipient of many congratulations upon obtaining a commission in a crack cavalry regiment, and, from what ' I know of him, I am confident that he will do honour to his regiment and the colony ' from which he came.