AN EXCITING INCIDENT.

Motueka Star, Volume I, Issue 21, 22 October 1901, Page 4

AN EXCITING INCIDENT.

With*referenee to the appointment of Major-General Babingtoii to the command of the New Zealand Forces, it may be stated (says the Lyttelton Times), on the authority of a returned trooper, that he was in command of the Fcurth Contingent when they had a fight with the Fifth near Hartebeesterfentein. General Babington's force on the one side ana General Dixon's on the other, with the Fifth New Zealanders as outriders, were closing in on a Boer convoy with the expectation of making a large capture, when a portion of each colonial regiment unexpectedly met on the veldt. Each party mistook the other for the enemy, and promptly got to work. The Fifth had the abvantage cf position, though fewer in numbers, and assisted by a pom-pern, they compelled their opponents to retire and seek shelter seme distance back. Certain that something was wrong, one of four officers rode out anol came straight up the slope where the fifth were ensconced. Before he could come near- enough to be recogniired, however, one of the men raised his rifle and fired, narrowly missing his mark. The officer rode fearlessly on, and after explanations had been made, judge at. his surprise when he found that it was one of his own relations who had aimed the bullet at him. The engagement though short, was heavy on the horses, and a good many animals were shot or wounded. One Australian, who was with the Fourth, got a pom—pom shell through his tunic, tearir g the pocket clean out: