THE EIGHTH CONTINGENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7322, 7 February 1902, Page 3

THE EIGHTH CONTINGENT.

THE NORTH ISLAM) BATTALION. United Press Association— By Electric ' Telegraph— Copyright. (Received Feb. 7, 10.12 a.m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 7; The members of the Surrey's Contingent are in excellent health and spirits. The Government has placed the yacht Victoriai at their disposal to-day for a trip on the harbour.

Colonel Chay*c-r has granted general leave to all mien in oamip from 2.20 p.m. tall 11 p<m k to-dlay.

The parade state this morning was as follows: — Permanent staff, 9; battalion staff, 17 ; E Squadron;, 5 officers, 115 men - F Squadron, S officers, 116 men ; O Squadron, 3 officers, 116 mem ; H Squadron, 5 officers, 115 men ; total, 497. Seventh Contingent, 91.

In order to give the men every chance of writing letters before they go on board, the. Soldiers' Rest will be open all night. Men were fousv to-day erecting barricades, consisting of iron fences, in front of the Christchurcb, Railway Station.

Messra Kinsey, Barnß and Co., agents for the Federal Steam Navigation Company, owners of the Cornwall, entertained a number of gentlemen at luncheon oh the steamer this afternoon.

The horses of E and €r Squadrons, and a number of remounts were taken over the hill to Lyttelton, and embarked on board the Cornwall this morning. The Mayor of Lytteiton, Mr T. C. Field, invites the townspeople to close their places of busines^ so as to ensure a full attendance at the departure of the Contingent tomorrow afternoon. ( Sergeant William M'Kay, of Kitdheaier's 'Horsej retuntoedi to "this colony mi search of health some two moirths ago, and for the past three or four weeks (has been .recrui'fcisng at Hanmer Hot Springs, where he has greatly bearc-fited' by ti© 3»*hs and springs of the Grovernmieiat Sana)t<iriuai.- He returned to ChrisitchuToh. by tne iibrth train last ndght, aoid will leave agaim, for South Africa- by the Cornwalll to-morrow, in oharge of iwrses belonging to the Eighth Contingent. Sergeant MKay has seen a good deal oi service with tihe ImperM Axmy in differen-t campaigns, and has iiad an active tdime of ilfc daixing the present war in Kitohener's House and other colonial corps an Soutih Africa. •

Since the compilation, of the list- of names published yesterday there have bee 7 !! a number of additions to the A strength of the Contingent. The following are the c ames :— E Squadron : Troopers Dobson , Robert. Ambrose, clerk, Christchurch ; Jones, Jonathan Russell, coachman, Tai Tapuj Neave, Alfred, . clerk, Christcburch ; Rutherford, A. L., fanner, Culvefden ; Robertson, John, farmer, Hinds ; Smith, Sydney Lambert, shepherd, Sfc AFbans. F Squadrons Collins, John, groom, Christchurch ; Harper, Cuthbert, clerk, Christcaurchs Hood, Frederick, groom. Christchurch, (x Squadron : Harper, Leonard, joiner, Gpawa. H Squadron : Dddd, Charles William, waiter, Christchurch.

Some trouble lias amsen over the sJiipTneajtt of the horses, oping to the restriction of the number below that which was expected. Five hiiwwtaed and seventy-six ksrises only are to be taken on board the. Cornwall, an-i oonsequeaitfly some of the troops have been, compelled to return as maay as twelve horses to camp. Besides these, ai detachment of tibe remounts, numbering about thirty, aro still awaiting enhbadcaMooK