The Taranaki Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1900. A THIRD N.Z. CONTINGENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9939, 16 January 1900, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1900. A THIRD N.Z. CONTINGENT.

The readiness with which the Imperial Government accepted the services of tho second New Zealand Contingent, and the increased necessity for moie mounted Colonial troops in South Africa, have led to the spontaneous oflor of a third draft from this colony. The terms on which the men are to be engaged iB that they ara to bo mounted, equipped and placed freo on board the transport, passagoa paid to South Africa at the public expense. It is estimated that it will cost ,£IOO per man to do this, or .£25,000 for a contingent of 250 men. Already li.rge subscriptions have been received in the diffeient centres of population towards this "Moro Men Fund," and (hero ia not the slightest doubt of the required sum beinj raised duectly it is known, that a third contingent ia wanted. Hia Worship the Mayor, of Wanganui, has called a mass meeting for 8 o'clock to-morrow (Wednesday) e\ tiling at the Drill Hall, and the C'astlecliff Railway Company has in the most generous manii'r agreed to put on a fieo tram to bring the residents of Ca&tleeliff up to ton n to attend tho meeting, which will bo asked to consider the Premier's suggestion that Wanganui should furnish a draft of 25 men. There UioTikl be no difficulty iv getting either the men or the requisite funds, as thero are a larga number of smart active yenng fellows who aro only top eager to go. These men arc good horsemen, used to bush country, and thoroughly capable of taking care of themselves in a strange place. As an irregular mounted troop they would be of thn greatest service in South Africa, where the New Zealand men have already won the highest commendation for their steadiness, uiilitj and courage under fire, They .ire just the kind of toops to cope with the Boers, as they know how to gel about the country and how to fight their opponents with their own weapons. The latter have already found to their cost that the Now Zealand boya are very hard to oppose, and have not so far been able to inflict defeat upon them, as they nre just na well able as the Boors to get out of danger, when it is useless attempting to hold an untenable position. To send five and twenty men from Wiinganui bhould not cause any undue strain its thf cost will only amount to ,£2500, a sum that ought to bs forthcoming in a week from tlio timo an appeal is made to the peoplo of this and the surrounding districts, who aro noted for their prompc aud generous assis'Aiice iv all cases of urgency directly they are mado uwaro of the necessity therefor. We truat tho mass mooting culled by His Worship the for to-morrow evening will bo an overflowin<» and enthusiastic galheiin^, aud thul the people of Wanganui will once moro dcmcnslrate to tho rest of the colony the fact that in iio part of New Zealand can bo found any moro loy.il or generous subjects of Her Majesty,whose closing years are being shaded by "grim-visaged war," iv which so many of her gallant soldiers aro fated to die in defence of their Queen and country. The groat heart of thr English-speaking rjco is sorrowing with Her Majesty ; but it is boatmg as fearlessly as ever, with the old doteimination "to do or dio," rather than submit to injustice and insult at the hands of an alien foe. Britain's arms may be slow in gaining tho victory, but they are sure to do so in the long ruu. In the rceuntimo, her sons and their descendants in the Britain of. the South arc ready and anxious to go to her assistance, and to prove to tho rest of the nations that {ho fedciation of the race lias practically been accomplished, and that they aro united and strong to defend their birthright, both on lund and sea.