OUR SOLDIERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 340, 14 February 1902, Page 2

OUR SOLDIERS.

AN OFFER DECLINED. [By Telegraph—Press Association.] Auckland, last night. Captain Napier, M.H.R., received a reply from the Defence Office to his company’s offer to send two Maxim gun detachments to South Africa. General Babington, while thanking the company for the spirited offer, regrets he cannot see his way to recommend acceptance. Wellington, last night. Mr P. R. W. B. Chambers, chief clerk in the Commandant’s office, and late of the Third (Prince of Wales) Dragoon Guards, has been appointed Quartermaster of the Ninth Contingent.

THE CAMP AT TE PAPAPA.

ACCIDENT TO A RECRUIT,

By Telegraph.—Press Association,

Auckland, last night. Drilling is actively proceeding at the Ninth Contingent camp at Te Papapa. Some of the squads are going out between the times of ordinary drills in their anxiety to make themselves efficient, The instructors are particularly careful to make the men thoroughly conversant with the use of the rifle, and instead of merely putting a rifle into a man’s hands on the range and telling him to shoot, they give each a systematic preliminary instruction.

One of the recruits in camp met with a serious accident yesterday afternoon. He was playing football, when he came into collision with one of the other players, and sustained concussion of the brain. He has now completely recovered, and has resumed his duties.

Sergt.-Majors Redmond and Burr have joined the, staff of instructors, having arrived from Wellington yesterday. The large number of horses recently purchased for the contingent are now in camp, and appear to be of a good stamp.