AUCKLAND SPECIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 359, 8 March 1902, Page 2

AUCKLAND SPECIAL.

| Special to Times. | Auckland, last night. Tho many Gisborne friends of Jim Buchanan will bo pleased to learn of his engagement with the Canterbury sportsman, Mr H. Friedlander. Buchanan severs his connection with tho Nathan’s stable after his engagement at the Wanganui meeting is concluded to-day. Friodlander’s main stable is in Auckland. Ero long Friedlander will be tho loading racing man in Now Zealand.

To-day Mrs Caulton, of St. Holler's Bay, wife of Lieut. S. C. Caulton, who was seriously wounded in tho Seventh Contingent’s rocent big fight with the Boers, received tho following cable message from her husband through tho Premier : “ Hospital, Harrismith.—Doing splendidly, considering nature of wounds. Think nothing of wounds, considering splendid results from engagement.— Caulton.” Mr Seddon, interviewed at Christchurch, according to a special wiro to-day, as Defeneo Minister said that tho statements which were current as to commissions not being granted in tho Ninth Contingent wero fallacious. Tho roll of officers had been complete for some days. Owing to promotions two vacancies had been made in the rank and file. Several troopers had fallen out for various reasons. Their places had now been filled. It is now understood that Colonel Portor will be in charge of tho Ninth Contingent in South Africa with the rank of Brigadier. The Seventh and Ninth Contingonts will be kept as one column. Major Albott, late of tho Fifth Contingent, will now take command of tho North Island Battalion of tho Ninth Contingent, and Major Bauehop, late of tho Fourth Contingent, and now with the Seventh, will command the South Island Battalion. The confirmation of these arrangements is now in the hands of Lord Kitchener.

Mr W. L. Rees, the lawyer politician of restless energy, says a local paper, was in town last week. He has a now undertaking in hand, and a pretty comprehensive one too. It is nothing more nor less than the compilation of a new Biblo. Most people consider there is nothing wrong with the old Biblo, but Mr Rees evidently thinks otherwise. Honce his embarkation upon the task of a new version. We don’t know how long Mr Rees intends to live, but even if his whole timo is devoted to the work it will .keep him occupied for many years to come. Meanwhile we suppose he will give tho lost ’ ton tribes a rest.