THE SEVENTH NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2565, 13 May 1903, Page 56

THE SEVENTH NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENT.

Major G. Johnston, late of the Seventh New Zealand Contingent, writes as follows from Pretoria, Transvaal Colony, under date April 3: —

" Sir, — I would consider it a very great favour if you would cause to be inserted in the columns of your valuable paper the attached copy of a letter to me from Lieu-tenant-colonel Hon. H. F. White, D.5.0., acknowledging receipt of a gold watch and chain, sovereign ease, greenstone pendant, with gold fernleaf thereon, which I was requested to convey to him on behalf of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the Seventh New Zealand Regiment as a mark of the esteem in which he was held by them while under his command during the Boer war in South Africa. Much of the success of the Fighting Seventh was due to this officer's enterprise, daring and dashing exploits, which on many eccasions resulted in the capture or routing of a wily and resourceful enemy. No doiibt many of the late members of the Seventh are in various parts of New Zealand, and will be pleased to know (through the columns of your paper) how much their o'd commander treasures the memento they have presented to him."

The letter referred to is as follows: — "To Major Johnston, late Seventh New Zealand Regiment, Pretoria. " Dear Major Johnston, — The gift you handed me to-day from the officers and men of the Seventh New Zealand Regiment I shall elway3 treasure with the greatest pride. It is not for me to apeak of the good work done by the regiment. All the world knows how gallantly it did its duty. I had the great honour to have the regiment under my command during its service in South Africa, and ever found it ready to duty' 6 call. . . Splendid horsemen, model mounted troops, and as brave as lions were the Seventh. That the officers and men of so distinguished a corps should have thought fit to give me so beautiful a memento I take as the greatest compliment ever paid to me. Any success I may have had is attributable to those gallant New Zealanders who so ably carried out my orders. To them all credit is due. It gave me the very greatest pleasure when at Home to hear nothing but praise of the regiment. England is proud of it, New Zealand is proud of it ; but I feel sure you will allow me to say that the pride i feel in having had the honour to have the regiment under my command cannot be surpassed. Will you convey to your comrades and my old friends my gratitude for the great honour they have conferred on me.- I regret very much that I could not bee them to thank them personally ; but though many thousands of miles separate us the memory of their grand fighting qualities and the cheerful way they did their arduous work will never fade from my thoughts. — I am, etc., " (Signed) Harry White. " Guards Club, London, 27/3/03."