TROOPERS’ LETTERS,

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 49, 27 February 1901, Page 2

TROOPERS’ LETTERS,

Mr Dave Morrissey, one of the Gisborne troopers in South Africa, has written an, interesting letter to a friend, from Pretoria, dated January 18th. Speaking of an engagement on November 29th, in which some of the local boys took part, he refers to their experiences as being of a nature calculated to “ make your hair stand on end.” He continues : “We have done practically no fighting since then (November 29th), only marching day and night, doing nothing so far as I could see, but knocking up both horses and men. We are with Generals Paget’s and Plumer’s Brigade. The climate Ts beginning to tell on us out-hero, and every day half-a-dozen are sent to the hospital with enteric fever' or something else.” Mr Morrissey has great faith in Lord Kitchener as a commander, and considers he will not be long in bringing the war to a close. Later on he says : “ I believe there is going to be a general advance made on Petersburg as soon as the fever season is over, and I expect we shall take part in it.”

Referring to local matters, he continues: “ How is the railway pushing along ? I suppose by this time you can take a ticket from Gisborne to Karaka. I was in hopes of being back in Gisborne in time to fill the shovel up to the maker’s name, but probably by the time I return the line will have been completed. Young Rees is publishing a paper in " camp called the Veldt-Liar, and he intends having it republished when he returns to New Zealand. If you get a chance of reading it, do so, as it is thoroughly up-to-date.”