OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue IV, 27 January 1900, Page 176

OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.

We give herewith the photos of the two young New Zealanders who fell in the gallant charge near Rendsburg. According to the cable accounts the Boers tried to storm a hill held by a company of the Yorkshire Regiment and some ten New Zealanders under Captain Maddocks. The Boers, under the protection of a heavy- fire, crept towards a low wall which sheltered the defenders. When the enemy’s final rush was imminent, the British did not wait for it, but leaping the wall charged d'own the hill with bayonets. The Boers fled, tumbling over one another in their frantic efforts to escape the bayonets. Twenty-one were killed and 50 wounded. Six of the Yorkshires were killed and five wounded. Private Connell was killed and Sergeant Gourley died of wounds received at Rendsburg on Monday. Later details show that when the captain of the Yorkshires was wounded, Captain Maddocks ordered the charge. Major-General French subsequently complimented the New Zealanders, telling them that on all occasions their conduct merited the highest praise. Sergeant Samuel Gourley was the son of the Hon. Hugh Gourley, of Dunedin, and was aged 29 years. On leaving school he joined the reporting staff of the “Globe,” an evening paper then in existence in Dunedin. He afterwards held a position in the office of the National Mutual Life Association. About four years ago he was selected from a number of others for a clerkship with the Otago Harbour Board. He had been a member of the Otago Hussars for three years, and rose to the rank of corporal. He was always looked upon as one of the coming men of the Hussars, and was exceedingly popular, both in his office, among the Hussars and his friends. Mr Pilcher, manager of the South British Insurance Company at the Cape, is a relative by marriage of the Gourley family. ® ® ® THE AUCKLAND YACHTING DISPLAY. Many hundreds of Aucklanders patronised the steamer excursions on Saturday afternoon to view the yachting display at the entranee to the Waitemata, and the result was a handsome addition to the patriotic war funds now being- raised in Auckland. The ferry steamers Eagle and Osprey and the s.s. Kapanui were crowded with excursionists, and the handsome American schooner-yacht Noma, which was the flagship for the afternoon, also had a large crowd on board. The Norna was a very pretty sight with her splendid display of bunting. A strong westerly breeze blew during the day, and made the sailing- races very interesting contests. During the afternoon the yacht Flirt, when coming down from Ponsonby to the flagship, carried away her mast; and the small yacht Ofa, just after starting in the secondclass race, was run into by the cutter Gannet and sank to the bottom. The crew managed to get on board the Gannet, and were afterwards brought up to town in the fishing boat Caprera. ® ® ® OSMAN DIGNA’S CAPTURE. Osman Ali—or Osman Digna—the bearded one, as he is usually called, has given no endless trouble in the Soudan. The news of his capture in the Tokah Hills will be received with gratitude by all Britons.