NEW ZEALAND FOURTH CONTINGENT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8761, 27 February 1900, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND FOURTH CONTINGENT.

MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE.

;_ A meeting of the Gisborne Contingent Committee was held at the Borough office this morning, there being present — His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. Townley), Messrs DeLautour, W. Miller, Kennedy, J. Maofarlane, Robinson, Harding, W. L. Rees, A. Rees, and Captain Winter. The Mayor introduced the business before the meeting, which was to consider ways and means for the despatch of the Giaborne portion of the Fourth Contingent. He did not know whether a fourth contingent would be required, but it was as well to.be prepared. Mr Robinson said that there was very little money in hand to defray the cost of equipping the Fourth Contingent. There was a sum of £275 in hand, but no accounts had yet been received from Christchurch. The suin'of £500 had been paid on account of the .ten men previously sent, but there would bound to be other amounts to pay. His Worship said that it could be taken for granted that the sum of £900 would cover all ekpenseß in connection with the Q_ despatch of the last contingent. There ■ a sum of £330 of the general fund which could be utilised for the purpose. Mr Miller thought that a start should be made that day on the understanding that they should have to find the sum of £500, and not interfere with the general fund. Either that or the idea of sending the contingent should be abandoned. ■ Mr Harding thought it would be a * difficult matter to raise a further sum of '£500. He did not, however, wish to throw cold water on the proceedings, and would do his best towards raising the amount. It was proposed, on the motion of the Mayor, to send fifteen men from Gisborne in the Fourth Contingent, and to raise* the sum of £500 to defray the cost of the same. Mr Macfarlane offered the use of his paddock and stables when the men went into camp, and Mr Kennedy, on behalf of ' Messrs Williams and Kettle, offered feed for the horses. Other members of the Committee also offered provisions for the men whilst in camp. On the motion of Mr Kennedy, it was decided to forward a copy of the following h resolution to all telegraph and 'telephone h Btations throughout the district :—" The Gisborne Patriotic Committee is now organising a detachment of fifteen men to join the New Zealand Fourth Contingent for South Africa. Applications close with the Town Clerk on Friday. Inspection will take place on Saturday. Send all particulars aud qualifications at once. The Committee must raise five hundred pounds (£500) to defray cost of above, and request subscriptions towards the fund. Applicants must find a horse which will pass the judges." The question of raising the £500 was disoussed at length. Several members considered that neither the town nor country had done its duty in respect to contributing towards the fund, and that a canvass should be made of both. A suggestion was made that several young " ladies should canvass the town on Saturday morning, but the matter was deferred. ' It was agreed to have an outside demonstration in aid of the funds one day next week, and Messrs Kennedy, Miller, and A. Rees were appointed a committee to make arrangements. Mr Rees said he would get the natives together to see what he could get from them towards the fund. He thought in the course of the next twb or three weeks he could raise the Bum of one hundred pounds. MrHardingsaid the Licensed Victuallers Association would uudertake to pay the of equipping one of the fifteen men. The offer waß received with thanks. It waa agreed that the Committee should meet every morning at half-past ten. Mr Kennedy stated that Mr Ackland Hood had offered a pair of field glasses for competition among the men at the range prior to their leaving. Messrs Maefarlane and Harding were deputed to wait upon the tradesmen in towa with a view of their making gifts of provisions towards the maintenance of the men whilst in camp. It waa decided that the twenty men . from which the final selection was to be made should be got into camp on Saturday '~~ evening if possible. The following is a list of the names of those who have already appljed to be included in the Fourth Contingent: John Rogers, W. Maxwell, F. Parker, J. Thompson, W. Whitchend, J. Robiuson, W. Clunie, T. Peakman, R. Pascoo, S. Paviour, Q. Langham, T. Birch, T. Coots, H. Ferris, O. Croon, J. Croon, W. J. Brown, J. Goodley, R. Fraser, B, Monk, H. Brown, G. Myer, Beatson, M. Ryan, W. Lougher, G. Scott, G. Bonghum, J. Hackett, B. Stcggall, J. Davidson, A. Lamont, D. Mclntyre, W. Mcßurney, G. A. C. Simson, W. Taylor, P. Taylor, A. Turner, Young, A. G. Turnbull, W. S. Black, A. Zaohatiab. The men are requested to parade for inspection at the Drill Shed on Saturday next, at 2.30 p.m., mounted. Auckland, this day. The receipts of the Domain military display in aid of the Roua;h Riders' Fund are expected to realise £500. Young ladies went round with tambourines during the afternoon and collected £50. The takings should make the Rough Riders' Fund up to a total of £3800. A telegram was received to-day by the Rough Riders' Committee from the Premier : " You have been in error coming to conclusion that the cost of transport of the men and horses for the Fourth Contingent is to bo borne by your Committee. The cost of transfer from Wellington to South Africa will be otherwise arranged for. Responsibilities of Committee cease on arrival ao Wellington." Woodville, this day. Our contribution to the patriotic fund is £175. At a meeting last night it was decided to send- £100 to tho Mansion House Fund, £50 to the Hawke's Bay More Men Fund, and £25 to the Wellington More Men Fund. The latter sum was voted so that Troop-Sergeant Grant's equipment should not cost Wellington any - " thing. »■ CmtiSTCinmcH, this day. In connection with the Press More Men Fund, the editor states that it has been deoided to present each member of the Fourth Contingent with a box of comfoits Bimilar to those given to the previous contingents. With this object a letter was sent to the manauer of the Gear Meat Company, Wellington, forwarding an order for 250 tins of extract of meat, and asking to be allowed to pay for them, as the Company had previously given a quantity as a free gift. The Company, however, sent three eases free, which makes the donation about 1000 tins free. Dunedix, this day. The camp roll this morning numbered 221, which means that 70 men from Otago and Southland have yet to be excluded.