STANLEY IN AFRICA. A NEW ZEALAND COLONIST WITH THE EXPEDITION.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 285, 28 July 1888, Page 4

STANLEY IN AFRICA. A NEW ZEALAND COLONIST WITH THE EXPEDITION.

Now that the attention of fche whole c ivilised woild is centred on the progress of Stanley in Africa, ib may interest New Zcalandeis to know that a colonist of three years' standing is with the great explorer. When the expedition was being formed, the British Government allowed Stanley to select two officers to accompany him. The recent cables have brought the name of Major Barttclott — tl-.o senior ofticer — before the public, as he had returned to the coast cndeavouiing to obtain supplies for his leadei . For the position of junior officer thece were over 250 applicants, the gentleman selected being Lieut. W. E. Htairs, U.E., as he had the ptacticul expeiience oi three yoars in the Now Zealand bush. Being ot fine physique and ot o, most genial disposition, there is no doubt he has been exceedingly usetul to hi"- brave commander. Lieut. Staii ■> was boi u in Malif,i\ Xova Scotia, about 26 ye.ii. 1 > a<;o. He finis!, xl hi-* education at the Canadian JVlilitaiy College, Kingston, Ontario, whoie lie p.i- d hi-, examination with suca honour a- ,o on title him to a commission in the hij^hu-t '.n i O^ ot th< j British service While waiting for a y to o uui, he came r,o this colony, lcin.uuiug in A iUJa-n<i a how months. With the ic'en oi pi-, uc ing himself in the vaiiou;- inaii' lies im in- piofession he piocccdod t'> ita\ i ko^ Bay. wlicro he atLachcd lum.^cii to Mi Walter Hal'ctt's smveying j.i.ut\ lor about three year?. He subsequently went lo Wellington to pass af> a civil engineci in this colony. While in the Empne City lie lecoivod a cable to proceed to join ins corps at the Chatham Barracks, Chatham, England, and was much disappointed at loa\ingthe colony ho abrupt ly. His friends in Hawke's Hay and this city will watch with, peih.ips, moie than oidmaiy intcic-t the news ot Stanley and his now tiisfc ofluci.