THE NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6647, 20 November 1899, Page 1

THE NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENT.

EXTRACT FROM A TROOPER'S LETTER. The following extracts from a letter byTrooper S. Joyce, son of Mr J. Joyce, of Lyttelton, written on board the Waiwera before her arrival afc Albany, will be read with, interest : — "All the fellows are a fine lot, and we are. like a lot of brothers . We have a piano, which was one of the pre- ; sents, aboard, and. we have some splendid players and singers. Of books, papers, etc., we have hundreds — in fact, we all say that people have been too kind, as we want for nothing, and yefc everything is under strict discipline. I expect all New Zealand will be watching for our arrival at Albany, and also at the Cape, and what we do afterwards ; and I can say, without boasting, that if we get a chance we will uphold the reputation of New Zealand . . . You know I learned signalling in the Torpedo Corps. Well, thero were two signallers wanted for each company, and I was chosen as one, and I am pretty good at it. Sheppard is the other from our company ; he has been in the Indian Army, and has seen service before, j We two, and two from No. 1 Company, are | off all guard duty, ride in the supernumerary ; rank, and get ls a day extra, so some good lias come out of my having been in the Torpedo Corps." Trooper Sheppard, refered to, is a grandson of a Lyttelton resident, Mr W. Stewart, of the Sumner Road, and has seen service' in. the Royal fiorse Artillery.