THE SIXTH CONTINGENT

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6995, 10 January 1901, Page 1

THE SIXTH CONTINGENT

THE CANTERBURY MEN. A REFERENCE TO THE RIDING TEST. SPEECH BY MR 'WARD. [From Otsn Correspondent.] WELLINOTON, Jan. 9. Some indignation has been expressed here at the face that the Canterbuiy members of the Contingent were nob subjected to tie prescribed tests before being forwarded on to Wellington. The Hon. J. G. Ward, acting Defence Minister, made reference to the fact in a speech which he delivered today in .camp,. -while holding a review in the pouring rain. . He said that he desired officially to thank the officers whose assistance had been voluntarily offered and: accepted for the excellent work they were doing, which was of great service io the colony. Arrangements had been made for day and night attendance whenever possible, and it was a most gratifying feature to find that such efficient arrangements- had been made for the comfort of so large a body of men as were now in camp. It was a pleasure to see the officers devoting tha whole of their time to the work* and that such a fine spirit was displayed by those who were giving vahiable assistance, whiirfh was highly appreciated by .him. He regretted, however, that a. number of the detachrafint from Canterbury hadl nob passed j through the riding tests < as members of the Contingent from other parts of' the •colony ihad-done in accordance - with -the- general instructions issued in all parts" of the colony. He would be sorry if, after going so far, ib shquld.be found that any of them were unable to fulfil the conditions necessary for their final enrolment. , The Defence (Department had been obliged, with very great regret, to decline the services of 1600 volunteers for the front, but those who had not been' successful in their applications were as deserving of the thanks of the colony as the men now on. parade. ;• The men who had been, selected from the different districts had been chosen upon their merits after the prescribed tefcts had been passed, with, the exception of the section from Canterbury, \who !had not complied with ' the riding tests before their departure. He, however, expressed the thanks of the Government to the large number of men throughout the colony who. had so readily responded to the call to proceed to South Africa in order to reinforce tie men already there upholding the honour and -the interests of the Empire, tout it was unnecessary for him to point out that after the experience the colony had gone through it would be an improper act to despatch men to the seat of war who were not individually and collectively efficient in those duties in which good riding was an esfeential qualification. Though it might be regretted that come would have to be set aside on this account, the conditions which he had referred to would have to be insisted upon. He. only hoped that the preliminary 'training gone through during the interval ; before departure would be so far extended as to render the Sixth Contingent as creditable to the colony as those which had preceded it. The steamer which would convey them to South Africa was timed to leave on Jan. ,25, and as far as possible that arrangement would be adhered to. He made this announcement in order to enable the mem-..bets;-of the contingent to. .attend to their private' business before' their " departure. He expressed the thanks of the Government and the country to the men /who had volunteered iii such large numbers, and Ihe wished the men now around him the utmost success in the various, duties which would devolve upon them, and when tihe time came they" would receive a hearty j send-off. He hoped to hear from their officers as favourable eulogisms on the i •merits of the Sixth Contingent as, had -been pronounced on their predecessors who had gone out to assist in maintaining the honour of the Empire. The present inspection was only a preliminary one. He might inform them that too difficulty 'would occur in regard to uniforms, horses arid equipment for the men and those of the returned members of Contingents who were again going to South Africa. There was no reason to doubt that these requisites would .'be in the hands of the- men within a. week or so. As men who were going forth to fight for their country, he felt sure that any trifling inconvenience would be cheerfully borne. For £heir information, as welf as. that of the public, he desired to state that 500 horses had been purchased. He complimented the officers, Sir Arthur jDougla-?, Colonel Porter, Colonel Messenger, Und officers of the Wellington Volunteer Corps, the officers of. the Agricu'tural Department and otliers for the very effective way in which they had secured large supplies of equipment in a very short time. He could not refrain from expressing his admiration of the efficient manner in whidh the work of organisation!- had been carried out, and of the harmony and. energy with which thej- had all worked.' He hoped' that the Minister of Defence (the Hon R. J. Seddon) would bs present to. bid farewell to the Contingent in his capacity as ' head of the Government. V