OUR SEVENTH CONTINGENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2467, 26 June 1901, Page 30

OUR SEVENTH CONTINGENT.

(Fkom Our Ladysmith Coekespoxdent.) May 16. The seventh New Zealand contingent passed thiougli this. historic town late last night and early this morning. The Queensland Jinperial Bushmen, 400 strong, arrived by several special trains during the afternoon of the 15th inpt.. and after waiting a few hours passed an up-rountry. The New Zealanders began to arrive about 7 in the evening. Colonel Porter and staff coming by the first traiu. The New Zealand companies trained in geographical order, beginning with the Auckland company, the Otago company being fifth train on the list and last but" one. the la^t being composed of the details. 'JGhe contingent was supplied with mount's at the Mooi River, some SO miles south of Ladysmith. The officers aseuied me that the men found the horses supplied them were better samples than they -expected, yet at the same' time there existed a feeling of regret among all at not having New Zealand horses. The night was a cold one for Ladysmith for this time of the year, the thermometer registering 53deg at 8 o'clork in the evening. The Aucklanders allowed that it wa& a little cold, and the Queenßlanders had long- before resorted to their greatcoats — a thing I particularly noticed the New Zealanders did not do. I regret I missed the Otago company, through being misinformed .as to the time they would pass through : but I should say, judging from my own experience at fh>t in this country, that 55deg Fahr. would hardly make them put their tunics on. The officers and selected men attended to the want*, of the inner man. the other men having their food taken to their carriages, which they did not leave. It was specially remarked here that the men behaved in a gentlemanly manner — quite refrephing to witness after the rough manner more mixed troops sometimes display. It seems a pity that the contingent passed through a place of such historic interest during the hours of darkness. The Otago company passed about 5.30 a.m. I met Surgeon-major Burns, who appears to be exceedingly popular amongst his brother officers. Our meeting, by the way, was almost unique in it*, way. as my grandparents came to New Zealand in the John Wickliffc and his parents in the Philip Laing. The destination of the contingent at present is Standerton. A little incident occiured to which I was a witness. It appears that the stationmaster or someone else sent forwaid two train? containing- portion of the contingent without Colonel Porter.- knowledge. The trains in question having left without officers, the Colonel severely censured the station authorities, oiderod out an engine, and proceeded himself in chase of the two trams, which he would overtake some 25 miles from here. ' Although far removed as yet from possible ?conc3 of action, ,'uch caution is highly commendable m a commanding officer. _ Owing to the great traffic on the hiib;lp line here it Mas impossible for the contingent, to keep together without seriously hindeiing down traffic, and I svxppose that, as tho fetalionmaster found he could get two trains forward much sooner than he anticipated an hour previously, he seized the opportunity, not informing' the officers, who were exceedingly biu-y with other trainscoming in.