AUCKLAND SPECIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 322, 24 January 1902, Page 2

AUCKLAND SPECIAL.

THE NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENTS. [Special to Times.) Auckland, last night. jtAccurdiiig to a telegram from Wellingiton the Mauris who obt ed places lit the eight.'! contingent 1 . t-ten m--1 formed that they cannot all:.wen to go to ,South Africa, a nete stems to be an impression ?' d here that the exclusion of half- .e Maoris is aiso contemplated. !’ may oc mentioned that suen is : c c, nsidered to be ttie case, the Imperial authorities not having any time during me selection of the New Zealand contingents taken exception to the inclusion of haii-easies. Already several half and quarter-caste Maoris have been sene to youth Africa with our contingents. More than one of them have claimed the distinction of mention in despatches. and have otherwise commended themselves as in every way suitable anti desirable troopers and good fighters. Among those who come readily to mind as despatched from Auckland district are Sergt.-Major Callaway, of Coromandel, and Sergt.Major Pitt, formerly of Gisborne, the former of whom is to receive a medal for distinguished service at the front, after serving with the two contingents. Why, il was only last week that Sergt.-Major Lockett, who lost an arm at the war, stated that a young Gisborne half-caste, under Col. Porter, in the Seventh Contingent, was the gainest bit of stuff that had landed in South Africa. It is most gratifying to hear of such good reports of your Gisborne boys at the fiont. The same returned hero spoke in the most glowing terms of the horsemanship ot two Gisborniies who left with the Rough Riders from Gisborne with Maori blood coursing in their veins.

Regarding the Ninth Contingent, one journal says—“ News will, on all hands, be received with a glo-.v of patriotic pride that we, of New Zealand, are deemed of such value to the Motherland, and the firm resolve to keep sending our sons to the front so long as they are wanted in the cause of liberty and Empire, there will be no difficulty at all in filling up the ranks of the Ninth Contingent. There is no reason why it should not be ready for despatch within a month after the Eighth has left our shores. The Government and members of the Legislature have already done their duty. It only remains for the people to do theirs and make the sacrifices necessary to uphold the unity ant the honor of the Empire to which they belong.” Another journal has the following : “ In order to strengthen its position lor negotiations, the Imperial Government is naturally anxious to prove to the Boers and the Continentals that the Empire is not exhausted, and that the Motherland and her colonies are still prepared to furnish the men required to bring the war to a finish and to reduce the enemy to unconditional surrender should negotiations he opened by the Boers. The British would then be able to treat without loss of prestige, while should no terms he agreed upon they would be be her prepared for carrying out final operations. As the Imperial Government will be bearing the cosL of the Ninth Contingent, the New Zealand taxpayer will not be making any direct sactmce, but indirectly the colony will be giving up for the sake of the Empire a large number of able-bodied workers. We have thrown in our lot with the Motherland in this struggle, and if need be we should be ready for a 10th ( ontingent. ” The date of the departure of the troopship Surrey from Wellington to Auckland, conveying the northern battalion of the Eighth Contingent, will not he definitely settled until the arrival of the Cornwall, which is to take away the South Island battalion. Tbe Premier desires that the two steamers shall leave New Zealand at the same time, and that they si.all steam together to South Africa. The Premier hopes to send the North Island battalion of the Eighth Contingent away next Wednesday. NATIVE AFFAIRS, 1 learn from Wellington that the Hon. Mr Carroll, Native Minister, speaks in grateful terms of the satisfactory working of' the Maori Councils Act and Maori Lands Adminisr,ration Act. One promise of their success is the eagerness with which ihey are received by the Maoris. Mr Carroll will shortly make a tour of ail the Native districts for the purpose of superintending the introduction of the new legislation. NATIVE INDIGNATION.

The Natives here are indignant at the refusal of their countrymen for the Eighth Contingent after the insults of the German press to their Ring and country. A large Ngaetarangi meeting is to be held at Hori Ngatai’s settlement this week to protest against the German insults offered to our King, and to the New Zealand Contingents. Tho Natives wish to uphold the position of the Hon. James Carroll, Native Minister, and intend submitting through that gentleman to the Governor an offer of trained armed Natives from this and other districts to be at the King’s immediate command.