PARTICULARS OF NEW SOUTH WALES' OFFER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 73, 27 February 1885, Page 2

PARTICULARS OF NEW SOUTH WALES' OFFER.

An extraordinary 'Cabinet Council meeting was held at Sydney on February 12. . The Acting-Colonial Secretary before the meeting, had a long interview with Col. Richardson (Colonel Commandant), and Colonel Roberts (of the Artillery), with a view, of ascertaining what assistance .could be rendered to the Imperial Government by that colony m the way of military .assistance m operations m" Egypt." ' Having ascertained that two batteries of Permanent Artillery Force, with ten 16-j)ounder guns,, properly horsed, are available for aotive service a short period, and that a battalion of efficient and well-disciplined i infantry could be obtained from the volunteer force of the colony within < a .reasonable I period, and having also; seen the manager of the Orient Company, and discussed with him the means of transporting such force to Suakim, the ActingColonial Secretary embodied m a minute his views upon the subject. In this minute the Cabinet was invited to ten* der to her Majesty's Imperial Govern* ment an offer on the part of the Government of the colony to land at Suakim within thirty days of receipt of -> order of embarkation, two batteries of field artillery, with ten 16-pounder guns?-properly horsed, and 500 men. The artillery to be under the command of Colonel Roberts, formerly of the Royal Artillery, and the whole force to be under the command of Colonel Richardson, lormerly of the Imperial army — Colonel Richardson having at once solicited the Government to avail ■ themselves of his services. This minute having been submitted to the Cabinet, it was at once approved of, and shortly after noon that day the following cablegram was sent to the Agent-General : — " This. Government offer her Majesty's: lmperial Go* vernment two batteries of permanent field artillery, with ten 16-pounder guns, properly horsed, and also an effectively disciplined' battalion off infantry, 500 strong. The artillery will Be under the command of Colonel Roberts, R.A., and whole force under Colonel Richardson. We can undertake,- to . lanjj this force at Suakim within thirty days from embarkation. Reply at once. — W. B. D alley, Acting Colonel Secretary."