THE NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7895, 12 April 1897, Page 3

THE NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENT.

A VISIT TO THE BARRACKS. [Parliamentary Reporter.] Wellington-, to-day. Parliament; having approved of the proposal to send a mounted and Native contingent to England, I paid a vißit to Mount; Cook barracks this morning to ccc what was being done there. The men are under the strict ■discipline of the barrack room from daylight till dark, and cannot go out without a signed order. They are regularly put through mounted and processional drill and exercise, and during the fortnight they have been here have been transformed into real soldiery. Now that Parliament has decreed .that » contingent shall go to London, a ee'lcction will be immediately made from the foriTr-eight men in training, and eighteen will* • v *> weeded out. Had the expenditure been k.w&ed on the head the probabilities me that w * should soon have been without a mount* ** ioxce, for the whole of the companies .•epreaented wonld ,bave regarded themselves ai' "lighted, and in place of having an honorary jTMwanted force drawing only 60* a man cupi'^ 011 wa should have had to face a similar i>t*<* of affairs as exists in Victoria, where the Government have to pay £25 » year to their p'&id mounted men. As to the Maori contingent, three-fourth of tbe number are representatives of celebrated chiefs who took part in the New Zealand wara on behalf of the Crown, and who fooght against the rebel Maoris. They are immediately in charge of Tuninorangi of Wairarapa, and it is intended that they Shall take part in processional drill only. All *'re efficient horsemen. The .Maoris will »l«o take their native habiliments for the purposes of an occasional display. Both Maoris and Europeans will wear huia fe»thera, a supply of which is now being obtained. The men leave here by the Roahine on tbe 29tb. Dissatyfaotion is felt among members of the Permanent Artillery at their exclusion from taking part in the London celebrations after their being called upon to provide new uniforms, but as the Secretary of State's invitation was for mounted men it was impossible that they could be sent. Representations have been made from all parts of the colony that the Minister representing .the Maori race in the Cabinet ought >to accompany the Premier to England, as Ihis presence would tend to bring the Native ■contingent into prominence, particularly by acting a 8 the mouthpiece for them. Circumstances, however, will not permit Mr Carroll leaving the colony, as there are functions whicb must necessarily devolve upon him conuqaent on the Home-going of his chief. iTconr all quarters expressions of regret have (been received when this reply was conveyed :in answer to the representations made. A capital story illustrative of the power of 'the press was told by Sir Edwin Arnold When in America lately. During an imporitant function at Marlborough House the Hate Bir If. Knollys went up to the Prince of Wales and said : " Bir, some gentlemen of | tho press wish admission," and H.R.H. .replied ; " Show them in. If they don't I obtain admittance at the door they'll come ' in thrpagh the ventilator." | A. rjeculiar feature of a fire which occurred in W^lHoKton last week was an explosion ■cansea' by the hot air becoming blocked in Omi of tbe chimneys, and suddenly in some matuier being released. The result was that a huiV if 00 chimney-pot was sent a considerable oUataocfl into the air, and landed on the Bower levels about 100 yards from the scene of the' fire, smashing down a fence and narrowly missing the roadway, which wai> crowded with people. The Darlington, Wis., Journal says editorially of a popular patent modicine. "We know from experience that Chamberlain's Colic, Cholera, and Diarrhcea Remedy is all that is claimed for it, as on two occasions it stopped excruciating pains and posaibiy . saved na from an untimely grave. We would not rest easy over night without it in the house." This remedy undoubtedly saves .more pain and suffering than any other • medicine in the world. Every family should jkeep it ia the bouse, for it is sure to be ■needed sooner or later. For sale by E. D. *Smltb, wfeoJefflJe and retail agent.— Advt.