OUR SOLDIERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 368, 19 March 1902, Page 3

OUR SOLDIERS.

[By Telegraph—Press Association.) Wellington, last night. Instructions have been issued to the iffieers of the Agricultural Department to purchase one thousand horses for the Tenth Contingent. The minimum stanlard has, on the advice of the Ccimmanlant, been raised from 14.2 to 14.8, with ‘he same maximum as previously, viz., 15.3

The impression is that the place of mobilisation for the Northern section will ie at Trenthrim, and for the Southern 'hrintichnreh or the Bluff, but nothing has been definitely announced.

FAREWELL TO THE NINTH.

By Telegraph—Press Asßeciation. Auckland, last night.

The North Island Battalion of the Ninth Contingent will leave Auckland for South Africa to-morrow afternoon, and the rrangements for the send-off demonstraion indicato that the farewell will be very ffective from a spectacular point of view. Vs the troopship which is to carry the orco arrived in good timo to-day, there is io reason why the departure should not >e punctual to the time fixed, so as to nsuJo that no detail of the send-off will bo spoiled. Tho indications are that to-morrow ifternoon will be generally observed as a loliday. The Mayor invites the citizens o close their places of business. During he afternoon the Government offices will all bo cjosod. In all, 577 horses will go in the troophip. The officers and men, numbering upvards of 600 in all, will have quarters very imilar to those on other troopships. The nen will sleep in hammocks slung on looks to the deck beams above them.

Tho battalion rode into town by squadons to-day, and the horses were promptly mbarked. The work was carried out ixpeditiously under Captain Boseawen’s upervision. Major-General Babington arrived to day from Wellington by the Ngapuhi, with Mr ■ieddon and party, and after inspecting :he camp at To Papapa, came on into sown.