NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENTS FOR SOUTH AFRICA: CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED FOR THE NEW ZEALAND MOUNTED BUSHMEN FUND AT THE OFFICE OF THE AGENT-GENERAL, LONDON.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1900 Session I, H-06o

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1900.. NEW ZEALAND.

NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENTS FOR SOUTH AFRICA: CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED FOR THE NEW ZEALAND MOUNTED BUSHMEN FUND AT THE OFFICE OF THE AGENT-GENERAL, LONDON.

Laid before both Houses of the General Assembly by Leave. — ■ —-*

Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sib,— Bth August, 1900. In January last, at a meeting held at the Bank of New South Wales, it was decided to establish a fund in England for the purpose of supporting the Australasian Governments in their efforts to recruit an Australasian Bushmen Contingent for service in South Africa, and, after corresponding with you on the subject, by cable, you expressed your opinion that New-Zealanders should contribute to a separate fund, as New Zealand was raising a separate corps and was not working with Australia. The committee of the Australasian Bushmen Contingent Fund was informed accordingly; but they continued to name their fund as Australasian, and to retain the names of those specially interested in New Zealand on the list of gentlemen forming the committee. On the 22nd February last a letter was addressed by the committee to this office proposing that I should pool the New Zealand fund with the general fund, and then participate pro rata with the other colonies in the amount of the joint fund. In reply I stated that it was not within my power to adopt the proposal, and I took the opportunity of urging that New Zealand had claims on the Australasian fund, notwithstanding that a separate fund was being raised on behalf of that colony. After some further correspondence the committee decided to pay out of the Australasian fund the sum of £200 towards the expenses of the New Zealand Contingent, and this amount has'been received and paid into the Public Account, bringing up the amount raised through this office for the New Zealand Bushmen Contingent to £2,442 10s. 6d. I attach a copy of the correspondence. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Premier, Wellington. W. P. Beeves.

Deab Sib, — 17, Tokenhouse Yard, London, E.C., 22nd February, 1900. At a meeting of the general committee of this fund held on Monday last it was decided to at once remit to the Governor of New South Wales a first instalment of £10,000, to be apportioned against the Australian Colonies that have enlisted bushmen for service in South Africa pro rata to the number of men despatched from each colony. » Some discussion arose as to the position of New Zealand in relation to the fund, and much regret was expressed at the withdrawal of that colony from participating in the general undertaking. It was pointed out that, immediately on the withdrawal, it was arranged and publicly announced that subscribers might if they so wished allocate their contributions towards the expenses of the contingent raised in any particular colony, and that had any sums received been so allocated in favour of New Zealand the money would of course have been held at the disposal of the AgentGeneral for that colony. Up to the time of the meeting, however, none of the subscriptions received had been designated as on behalf of any particular colony. Eventually the accompanying resolution was passed, which I was directed to forward for the information of the Agent-General, and I shall therefore feel obliged if you will kindly take an early opportunity of bringing it under his notice. I am, &c, Walter Kennaway, Esq., C.M.G. E. C. Hitchings, Hon. Secretary.

Copy of a Resolution passed at a General Committee Meeting of the above held on Monday, 19th February, 1900. " That a letter be written to the Agent-General for New Zealand referring to the withdrawal of New Zealand from the Australasian Bushmen Contingent Fund, and suggesting that if he will pool his fund with the general fund, New Zealand will participate pro raid with the other colonies in proportion to the number of men in the Bushmen's Contingent despatched from that colony."

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Deab Sib,— 26th February, 1900. I am directed by the Agent-General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd instant, enclosing copy of a resolution which has been passed by your committee, making a suggestion with reference to the mode in which New Zealand should participate in the fund which is being raised for the purpose of supporting the Australasian Governments in providing bushmen contingents for service in South Africa. The Agent-General begs that you will convey his thanks to your committee for the consideration which they have given to the matter. He, however, ventures to point out that the fact of inviting, as stated in my letter of the 25th ultimo, New Zealand colonists who are now in this country, and others specially interested in that colony, to contribute to a special New Zealand fund did not amount to any withdrawal of that colony from participating in the fund being raised for the purpose of assisting the Australasian Colonies, of which, it is hardly necessary to point out, New Zealand is one. The Agent-(General has every reason to believe that contributions have been made to the Australasian fund under the very natural belief that it was applicable to New Zealand as well as to the other colonies of the Australasian group. In fact, if it was not so applicable, the name of " Australasian " was a misnomer, and should not have been maintained. The Agent-General regrets that it is not within his power to adopt a suggestion made in the resolution, copy of which you have been so good as to furnish. The subscribers to the New Zealand fund have—taking the words of your circular—allocated their subscriptions to the bushmen contingents which are being despatched from New Zealand, and the Agent-General cannot therefore divert them from that special object. The Agent-General would therefore submit, for the consideration of your committee, that it would meet the exigencies of the case, and be in consonance with the intentions of the subscribers to the Australasian fund, if a lump sum of a reasonable amount was contributed thereout to the special New Zealand fund, the object of which entirely corresponds with that of the first-named fund—namely, to assist in the equipment and despatch to South Africa of contingents of mounted bushmen. The Agent-General directs me to add that New Zealand has already despatched to South Africa a Mounted Bushmen Contingent consisting of 261 officers and men and 280 horses, and also another similar contingent consisting probably of 300 men and horses will follow. These two contingents, I am to state, are in addition to the two New Zealand contingents which have already arrived in South Africa. I am, &c, Waltee Kennaway. E. C. Hitchings, Esq., Hon. Secretary, the Australasian Bushmen Contingent Fund.

Deab Sib,— 12th March, 1900. I have received five guineas for the New Zealand fund from Dr. Crosbie Hamilton, of Plymouth. This will be sent to you after our next committee meeting (as the amount is included with some other contributions), when your letter of the 26th February will also be brought up for consideration. Yours, &c, Walter Kennaway, Esq., C.M.G. E. C. Hitchings, Hon. Secretary.

Deab Sib,— 13th March, 1900. I am directed by the Agent-General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th instant, informing him that you have received from Dr. Crosbie Hamilton the sum of five guineas, being contributions collected (with others for the general fund) by that gentleman, and specially allocated to the Bushmen Contingent which is being sent to South Africa by New Zealand. The Agent-General desires me to enclose herewith an extract from the Times newspaper, giving some particulars as regards the contingents which New Zealand has raised and is raising for service in South Africa, and he will be obliged by your bringing the same under notice of your committee when the subject of my letter of the 26th ultimo comes before them for consideration, as the particulars given therein will no doubt promote a friendly arrangement as regards the amount to be allocated to New Zealand out of the Australasian fund. I am further to state, in confirmation of the particulars given in the Times, that the AgentGeneral has this day received a cablegram from his Government stating that, in addition to the 260 men and horses which formed the first body of bushmen, and which left New Zealand for the Cape on the 17th ultimo, 440 men and horses will leave for the same destination on Saturday next, making a total of 700 men and horses forming the two contingents of bushmen which are being sent from New Zealand, and the expenses of which will be met by funds raised by the settlers themselves, aided by contributions collected in this country. I am, &c, E. C. Hitchings, Esq. Walteb Kennaway.

Deab Sib,— 16th March, 1900. I have now the pleasure to enclose cheque for five guineas, the amount of the contributions received from Dr. Hamilton specially allocated to New Zealand. I brought your letters of the 26th February and 13th March before the executive committee at their meeting yesterday. They felt that the question raised therein was not one with which they could deal, and its further consideration must therefore stand over until there is a meeting of the general committee. . I am, &c, Walter Kennaway, Esq., C.M.G. E. C. Hitchings.

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Deab Sib,— 7th May, 1900. Eeferring to my letters to you of the 26th February and the 13th March, and to your reply of the 16th March, I am directed by the Agent-General to inquire whether the general committee of the Australasian Bushmen's Fund has come to any decision in the matter. Yours, &c, E. C. Hitchings, Esq. Waltee Kennaway.

Deae Sib,— 31st July, 1900. In further reply to your letter of the 13th March last, as to the participation of the colony of New Zealand in the above fund, I am directed to say that the committee at their recent meeting carefully examined the list of subscriptions and could not find anything to justify a contention that any part of the money thus subscribed was given on a supposition that New Zealand would participate in the distribution —that colony having established a separate fund of its own. The committee, however, heartily recognise the splendid work done by New Zealand in raising and equipping bushmen for service in South Africa, and in recognition of this fact, and not of any claim on the fund, have had pleasure in voting a sum of £200 towards the expenses of the New Zealand Contingent, and they hope that their action in this matter will prove satisfactory to the Agent-General. A cheque for £200 is accordingly enclosed, the receipt of which be so good as to acknowledge. 1 am, &c, Walter Kennaway, Esq., C.M.G. E. C. Hitchings.

Deae Sic, — Ist August, 1900. I am directed by the Agent-General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 31st ultimo, stating that the committee, in distributing the fund which has been raised in aid of the Australasian Bushmen Contingent for service in South Africa, have voted the sum of £200 as a contribution towards the expenses of the New Zealand contingent, and enclosing a cheque for that amount (£200), and, in reference thereto, to thank you for the same. I enclose you herewith a formal receipt. I am, &c, E. C. Hitchings, Esq. Walteb Kennaway.

THE AUSTRALASIAN BUSHMEN CONTINGENT FOR SERVICE IN SOUTH AFRICA. Office, 17, Tokenhouse Yard, London, E.C. Pbovisionalj Committee (with power to add to their number). The Earl of Carrington, the Earl of Glasgow, the Earl of Hopetoun, the Earl of Jersey, the Earl of Kintore, Visoount Hampden, Lord Battersea, Lord Locb, Sir T. F. Buxton, General Sir H. Norman, the Right Hon. Sir •Tames Ferguson, L. Aatons, Sir J. Bramston, G. Beetham, H. Brooks, L. J. Browne, G. W. Bruce, H. Bull, A. Campbell, W. E. Carbery, N. Cork, A. A. Danger, F. H. Danger, W. K. D'Arcy, Sir E. S. Dawes, Sir W. Dcs Vceax, J. Dowling, F. Dutton, P. M. Dutton, W. G. Elder, D. Finlayson, G. Flower-Stewart, A. C. Garriok, D. George, R. J. Gray, W. C. Hamilton, G. W. Hawkes, Esq., W. Hemmant, Sir A. Hodgson, P. A. Horn, S. Hoffnung, W. A. Horn, R. W. Jeans, H. Joslin, B. Kelly, J. C. Lanyon, B. W. Levy, Hon. H. S. Littleton, W. Lund, W. A. McArthur, S. Macleay, Sir E. M. Nelson, J. S. O'Halloran, J. Pafcerson, G. Salting, W. S. Salting, J. Sanderson, C. Sidey, G. Slade, Hon. Sir E. W. Stafford, Hon. S. A. Stephen, H. L. Taylor, G. Wills, H. C. A. Young. Deae Sic,— At a meeting of Australasians held at the Bank of New South Wales on the 15th January it was unanimously resolved : (1.) To support the Australasian Governments in their efforts to recruit such a corps. (2.) To establish a fund in England to which Australasians here should be invited to contribute. The splendid services of the colonial contingents already in South Africa have shown the usefulness of such a corps. Good horsemen, accustomed to almost live in the saddle, expert rifleshots, possessed of great powers of endurance and self-reliance, able to traverse difficult country and recognise localities, with sight trained for long distances, they have all the qualifications needed for the work in which they would be engaged. In the colonies the movement has been taken up most enthusiastically, and it is believed that all Australasians in this country, and others interested in Australasia, will welcome an opportunity of showing their sympathy with and giving their support to it. Subscribers may, if they think fit, allocate their subscriptions to the contingents which are being raised in any particular colony. In the absence of such special allocation, the Committee will apply the fund in such manner as they think most conducive to the rapid equipment and .despatch of men to the seat of war. Subscriptions amounting to over £13,000 have been received, and a sum of £10,000 on account has been remitted to the colonies for distribution pro ratd to the number of bushmen forwarded from each. Contributions may be forwarded to either of the honorary treasurers —B. W. Levy, Esq., 17, Tokenhouse Yard, E.C.; David George, Esq., Bank of New South Wales, Old Bond Street; or will be received by any of the Australasian banks in London, the Boyal Colonial Institute, Northumberland Avenue, W.C., or Yours faithfully, E. C. Hitchings, Hon. Secretary.

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