THE N.Z. CONTINGENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9938, 15 January 1900, Page 2

THE N.Z. CONTINGENT.

NEWS BY SPECIAL. (Per United Press Association.) ARUNDEL, December 14. Wo have hardly had a moment's rest till to-day, when we got our much-need-ed day off. On tho 7th we wero ordered by General French to MARCH TO HARTEBEESTE FONTEIN, 15 miles from Naauwpocrrt, and if no resistani'o were oifercd, to occupy a lino of kopjes there, and cover the- detraining sth Dragoon Guards and CaraI Linen?. No. 1 company marched iv tho railway lino to sco that it was not tampci'ed with, and No. 2 company escorted the waggons along the road. Nothing happened on the way, and as soon as our arrival was telegraphed to Nauuwpoort tlio Carabiwim and Mounted Infantry came on by train. The former, fiUO strong, wero soon sweeping over the veldt, and ARUNDEL WAS SEIZED with little difficulty, as the Boers cleared out on their approach. The Boer adjutant was out shooting, and after a few harmless shots was captured. Wo heard tho firing, and it put us moro than e^or on tho '"gui vivo." As dusk tame on, our cossack outposts were drawn in and strengthened. This is a party of four mounted men posted in a commanding position from which the enemy can bo observed. That nigbi wo slept in onr groat-coats— our first experience of a stony bed in thp open air. Next morning a Kaffir, who had deserted from the Boers, informed us that tho

RAILWAY LINE WAS BROKEN a few miles on our side of Arundel, 'and wo wore ordered to cover tho arrival of tho train to repair it. Tliia done, we pushed on through Anindel, a beautiful little place, and joined the Carabinoera fivo miles beyond at a lino of kopjes supposed to be held by the enemy. Colonel Porter ordered \is to support tlio Carabineers, and wd" remained about 1000 yards behind. FIRING BEGAN ON BOTH FLANKS, but not in. front. The cavalry spread out right and left, nncTwe were ordered to occupy kopjes directly in front, Scrambling up W o could sco the Boers mostly two miles away, but some occupied a small detachpd kopje- about 1200 yards away. On those we opened fire. Two of their horses wero killed and threo men were believed to be killed or severely wounded. Their return fire was harmless. The cavalry, who met both artillery and rifle fire, had one or two hoies wounded. The New South Wales Lancers on llio left also received a hot nro, and galloped in again. At dark wa RETURNED TO ARUNDEL, and bivouacked, with orders to move again at 3 a.m. We were roused at 1 a.m. in inky darkness, and with great difficulty who ready at tho rendezvous by the appointed time. Tho intention was to make a feigned attack at dawn and make tbo enemy disclose its position and force, but tho New South Wales Lancirs did not turn up for an hour, and the scheme had to bo abandoned. I have not heard the reason of their dolay. Nothing was done that day, but our tents and fresh, meat and bread arrived. THE FIRST MAIL FROM NEW ZEALAND albo reached us, and there was dead silence in camp for a short time after the letters wore delivered. Nest day— Sunday— was also .m idle day, with two heavy thunderstorms which flooded out our teuta and drenched everything. On Monday, tlio 11th, from the top of a kopjo we saw A MINIATURE BATTLE. 40 or 50 Boers had occupied a farm about lour miles away, which had to br cleared. Suddenly we saw two guns of horse artillery and some cavalry walloping across the veldt towards tho°farm. Tho Boors, observing them, rushed out and at once made for the kopje a fow hundred yards in tho rear. They were, however, not quite smart enough as the guns, like lightning, came into position and two well placed shells at 2000 yards range KILLED ONE BOER AND WOUNDED SEVEN OTHERS. The romaindpr reached the kopjo safoly, and then cleared right away. Before dawn oft the tenth, with the New South Wales Lancers, tho New Zealancera started to reconnoitre the right flank and back of tho Boer position, the intention being to observe, the position and ccmo in and report. The Lancers led, bni. Eomehow did >iofc take the correct route, I'nd at dawn we found we were MAKING FOR A STRONG BOER POSITION. ' Our course was changed, and we then found ourselves nearly back in camp, and in imminent danger of being fired at by our cwn pickets. We were then ordered to make the same reconnaissance by daylight, -and pioceedcd out and presently got under FIRE FROM AN INVISIBLE ENEMY and withdrew. A few Boers were seen galloping across to seize a kopje in fiont ot lib, and before tlia order came for us to withdraw out of danger Boer bullets T.ere whistling all round, but mercifully no oho vaa hit. Saddler Harris' hoi&'e was shot through the leg and one of th" Liincor's horses was hit. Orders came to remain about *.vhere we werr, and nuiki' a tk>moiisti.'.timi on tit.- Bci r t\ ink, s\liile ionic fill's ,i;i'l eavaliy would bo f>ont rcund t> the far iHnk until a Mew oi

_ I ciumnor thi uquircd reconnaissance. In .itKinptmg this the cavalry came wider A HOT TIKE, ,'\d m\r~ serge int was killed and one cor- |)( nl As the day worn on we gradually •■'lutnctd on our sidp, the Boer flank being unaware of what was going on on Die oilier 'J.mk, bejond hearing firing. One of the companies and LnnceKi were 'lien dotaclied to make a further demonttuiticn, after which they returned to tdinp. On tho IStli an alarm wn*sounded, and wo rushed to our defence position, ll.e cause of alarm being that the BOERS WERE ATTEMPTING TO SEIZE THt; H.VIUVW. The cavalry wero flying about the plain, and guns wero banging away for tcietiii hours. The New Zealandera watched the sci'ito from tlie heights. The Bopis were wisuccossfu l , but could not bo induced to Itave the kopjes to give tho tavalry a chimee. Desultory firing continued, All of ono sqnadron of eaialry got under a hot lire, artd had a HALF DOZEN Ui:< T WOUNDED. At 3 o'clock the (rder came for the Now ZeaUnders to be sent away to Knalskop, seven miles distant, where it was loporled a squadron of cavalry and two guns were being pressed. No. 2 Cov.pany was sent, and reached the spot without mis-adventure, when it was found that, though partially surrounded, the men wero safe. The officer in command then wanted a farm that was occupied by some 30 or 40 Boers cleared, the New Zealandera being required to we ten the left flank of the farm. The ca\alry and New Zealanders screened two guns until within 2000 yards from the farm, when a mass of galloping Ik isos were suddenly transformed into n stationary mass witb. the guns blazing away in front. IHE NEW ZEAIANDERS SWEPT ON bef.ring away from the guns until 1000 yards from the farm. They then discounted behind a wall, waiting a chanc? at tho Boors. In a few minutes tlie order came for them to SEIZE THE FARM, and romounting, they, cleared the w.iii, riding on quietly until within four or five hundred yards, when we urged our horses to the utmost speed and shouting cur war cry "Ake Ake," etc., enveloped Wo sides of the farm, momentarily expecting a volley. Wo reached the ouUr encircling wall in safety and dismounted, fixed bayonets, and charged the place, but to the bitter disappointment wo FOUND IT WAS EMMY. Tho farm had apparently been ovacuated just prior to shelling. After a short respite we returned to Vaalekop, whafs we wore complimented on the way we bud taken tho farm. There we got STILL LESS NEVNS OF 'IHE PROGRESS OF THE WAR than wo did at other places. II .u\r of tlie corps are unaware of our pirns uutil a short time before nmving. .411 the New Zealandera have no wiejoined from De Aar, and have none otx the sick list except a few minor ailments. We expect to remain here until a general advance on Colesburg is made. SHAM FIGHT Af WELLINGTON. (Per United Press Association.) ' WELLINGTON, January 14. The announcement that the contingent would bo engaged in a sham fight with the local corps attracted thousands to Newtown. Park on Saturday. The Ist Battalion of the Wellington Volunteers, assisted by the Heretauuga Mounted Coips and Cycle Corps, formed the attacking party, while the contingent alone defended tho camp. The attacking force was under Lieut-onant-Colonel Collins. The latter made attacks from various points, and succeeded in capturing one Maxim, while somo of the contingent were put out of action. One mounted detachment of tho attacking force reached the camp and placed those occupying it under arrest, but it ib alleged that this detachment had been under a hot Maxim fire, and should have been pli(c«d out of action. Eventually tho Commandant, who was umpire, declared the battle drawn. CHUECH SERVICE IN CAMP. WELLINGTON, January 14. ' This (Sunday) morning His Lordship Bishop Wallis held church, services in tho camp. 500 of the local volunteers marched out, and it is estimated that 10,000 ol tho public attended. The collection amounted to £75, for tho Patriotic Fund, and it is believed it could havo been doubled had there been a systematic arrangement for collecting the money. ARRANGEMENTS COMPLETE FOR THE "SEND-OFF." WELLINGTON, January 14. Everything is ready for the departure of the contingent on the 20th instant, but again tho site of the demonstration has Been ohanged, and has not yet been definitely fixed on . Mr Wilford, M.H.R., will act as Marshal for the demonstration on the contingent's departure. The speeches on this occasion will be limited to five minutes each. The Government is to be asked to man the forts and salute tlie Waiwera- as she departs. Mr E. M. Gatenby desires to acknowledgo the receipt of the following amounta: — Mrs J. 8,., £2 2s; Mrs E. Robiiißon, Sea View House, 6a; Misa Robinson, Sea View House, 2s 6d. TO THE BDITOB. Sir,— Would you allow me to thank all tho contributors who placed donations for the Widows' and Orphans' Transvaal Relief Fund in. the box fixed on my window board for' that purpose, the daily amounts being:— Tuesday, 2s; Wednesday, 6s 3d; Thursday, 4s 6d; Friday, 3s; and Saturday, 2s 9d. By tho end of the month I hope to have a good amount to hand 'over to the Mayor aB the "people's" contribution to a fund unfortunately so much needed in times of war.— Yours, etc., G. F. CREMER.