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held till the guns were well up "the rise behind us, and ong enough to enable stragglers from the gunners, Burmah Mounted Infantry, and convoy to get away. This, lam glad to report, we were able to do. When the above-named parties had got well away, we retired in succession, covered by mounted infantry further up the rise, and so on till the whole brigade were gathered on the side of Bosh Kop, and losses ascertained and a rest obtained. This was 12 a.m., and all had been six hours in action, and all engaged and under fire. All members of the Contingent worked splendidly, and the officers handled them well. (Copy of brigade orders attached.) Many very narrow escapes occurred. Three horses were killed and seven wounded. Several cases of men assisting each other—l mean assisting wounded but being the rule, not an exception, between the forces, and no particular risk was at this stage run, more need not be said. .' In the fighting line of the New-Zealanders none were injured ; but I regret to have to report that, on account of worn horses, minor sick, and baggage-guard, the men (list attached) on the convoy were taken prisoners. Pour escaped to us, and at this date and hour, from reports received, we have every reason to believe that none of the men with convoy were killed or badly wounded, otherwise they would have been found on the field, as it was well searched by the medical forces. It is generally supposed that from two hundred and fifty to three hundred prisoners were marched away, our men among the rest. I will not try to describe the various scenes, but it was at times rather awful; the galloping of loose horses, and at two separate stages the almost hopeless appearance of getting out in any sort of order, and the amount of rifle-fire, cannon, and the " dub-dub " of one of the Mounted Infantry Maxims, made a scene not easily forgotten. By the time you get this you will doubtless have read more graphic accounts, but I have endeavoured to place only the leading points before you. Captain Ward was present, being one of the staff of Colonel Alderson, and had plenty to do. Colonel Alderson's dispositions certainly prevented the affair from being a complete disaster, as a good six miles had to be retired over; this was intersected with drifts and nullahs. I have made a rough memory sketcli to try and make the morning's proceedings clearer. I must state that all ranks in this engagement lost their valises, and only now possess what they stand up in ; but the department are refitting us, and to-morrow we are to get all the necessary refit. Of course, all the others in the brigade—about eight hundred—have also lost everything. Bxteact from Brigade Orders by Colonel E. A. H. Alderson, Commanding. Bloemfontein, 3rd Maroh, 1900. No. I.—The Brigadier has very great pleasure in publishing the remarks which were made to him by BrigadierGeneral Broadwood after yesterday's engagement at Samas Post. General Broadwood said words to the following efieot: " Will you please let all under your command know how very much 1 appreciate the work done by your brigade to-day. It was splendid." The Brigadier wishes to congratulate all ranks of the brigade on, and also to thank them for, having gained this very high praise. Springfield, near Bloemfontein, 9th April, 1900. I have the honour to amend my report of a few days ago. These men are from hospitals returned fit, and reported here this morning. lam pleased at this, as we wanted a few more men. Please take them off last, list—Farrier Cromie, Private Parkes, Private W. Johnston, Private J. O'Shea, Private A. T. Batchelor, Private T. J. H. Gaudin, Private J. Walker, Private A. Hawkins, Private Arnold, Private H. Forsyth, Private T. Maunder, Private W. Muir, Private E. McDonald, Private J. H. Barty, Private Glasgow, Private Ensor, Private H. Eoss, Private M. McCallum, Private P. E. Hubbard, Private J. McCabe, Private C. G. Edwards. Horses sold in addition to those of report before last: N.Z. No. 52, chestnut gelding (very bad sore back, and poor), £14; N.Z. No. 76, brown gelding (lame, and sore back), £8 ; N.Z. No. 125, mare (debility), £8; N.Z. No. 42, bay mare (lame front and hind), £10 : total, £40. One remount pony died. The above horses were pronounced as unlikely to recover in time for service during the campaign, and the Army Veterinary advised getting rid of same. If sent to remount hospital, one man has to remain with every three horses, so it was best for all concerned to sell. I feel sure, however, Sir, that the men will go on as steadily as ever, but a great number of them are tired of it. To-day the helmets reached us, and were issued to the men by order. None of the parcels, &c, sent from New Zealand have yet come to hand, and the mails of Second Contingent have come to us; I suppose they have ours. The Queensland Second Contingent have not one of the horses they brought now fit for service, though they have not been two months in the country. The Third Mounted Infantry, alongside us, have 350 men and horses, and yet can only turn out ninety-three fit. We are 161 here, and turn •out 120, so, you see, the horses, although really wanting rest and replacing, have done wonders, and remounts are expected. The post-orderly waiting, and this is the last chance to catch New Zealand outgoing mail.

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