THE RE-MOUNTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6729, 26 February 1900, Page 4

THE RE-MOUNTS.

Yesterday the s.s. Takapuna brought twelve horese from- Wellington, to be shipped to South Africa by the s.s. Undaunted as re-mounts for the New Zealand Contingent. These make a total cf 85 burses sent to Lyttelton with that object, but, as one has been invalided by a kick from another, there were 84 in the lines on the reclaimed land yesterday. Fifty-two of these were received from the North Island during the last three days, sixteen being brought from Wellington.in the s.s. Zealandia on Friday, fourteen from "Wel-. lington in the s.s. Rotomahana, and six from Napier and four from Wellington in the s.s. Westralia on Saturday, and twelve from Wellington in the s.s. Takapuna yesterday. The remainder were sent from Christchurch. The majority are animals of a very good sort, but some are light, and look hardly fitted for the -work they will be called upon to do': The horses are under the charge ofa non-commissioned officer and eight men of the Permanent Artillery, for whom • a couple of. bell tents have been pitched at the lines. Two men are constantly on guard over the lines. A small temporary tank has been constructed and connected with the Lyttelton water supply, for providing water for the horses. The lines have been prepared and other arrangements made, under the direction of Sergeant-Major Webb, who is in command of the detachment of Permanent Artillery stationed at Lyttelton.. Yesterday afternoon the little camp was visited by a considerable number of people. Mr Daniels*. repairs superintendent* of the Union Steamship Company, arrived from Wellington by the "s.s. Takapuna yesterday on business in connection with the fitting up of the s.s.. Undaunted to receive the remounts. The steamer has beeri prepared for the reception of 96 horses in padded stalls on the nvun deck, similar to those on the Waiwera and Knight Templar. The stalls are roofed with planking covered with tarpaulins. There are, in addition, four loose-boxes for sick horses, and a houso has been constructed -on deck for the accommodation of nine grooms.' Messrs Oppenheim, Wilson, Johnston, Bull and Hall were sworn in as troopers for South African service by Colonel Penton on Saturday morning, after havinopassed a medical examination by Dr Dia° mond. It is understood that ten more men from ' Wellington have also been sworn in, and that the fifteen will go to South Africa in the Undaunted, with a drill instructor. They will sign on the ship's articles, will learn their drill, and look after the horses on the voyage, and when landed in South Africa will join Major Robin at the front. The above information, though not official, is probably correct. ' During' the whole of yesterday people were visiting the " Lyttelton Times " Office in search of further cable news as to how the war in the Transvaal was progressing. Shortly after eight o'clock last night the latest news was posted, and a large crowd soon collected, and so dense did it become that only a few could re,ad the messages afc a time, and several persons in turn read the cables to those whox had assembled.When the message stating that the Czar had declined to agree to the suggestion of the Minister of War for the seizure of Herat was read, an enthusiast in the crowd oalled -for three cheers for the Czar, which were heartily responded tio.