OUR SECOND CONTINSENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 16, 20 January 1900, Page 3

OUR SECOND CONTINSENT.

"CROWDS IN WELLINGTON FOR TO-' , DAY'S FAREWELL. "Wellington, January 19. All the s'c imcrs arriving aro crowded with excuibicn ists to witness the contingent's send-eff. Accomrcoiatioa in tte city is severely t.ixsc', and further mo-vds aro expected to arrive by tomorrow's stcamerp, anl the tiains will pour visitors into tha c ty during tha forenoon, The weather promises to be , fine.

The cnmp.at Newtown will not be disturbed after the departure of the contingent. It will be available for the accommodation of visiting volunteers, and the Wellington batteries will then occupy it for their usual training. . After they have finished it will begin to receive the men of the third contingent. 1 Co'onel Sommerville, who has put in i an enormous amount of work over this | contingent, leaves for Wanganui about J Tuesday, and will probably select the I men to represent that district in the scouts' contingent. > Later, Tho work c f em! arkiog the horseß on baitd the '.Vuitveia occupied all the afternoon and prrt of tho evening. Less trouble was experienced than on iln first ccoafcion, and most of tho animals went aboaid. -very quietly. Throe hundred horses will ba takon, and there are twelve oxtra stall-. j Tho contingent, including 38 men j for the Hotchkiss battery, numbers 252 j officers and men. Eich compatiy is j slightly above the strength. It is! understood there is some doubt about! one of the lieutenants, and that tho I ultimate choice will rest between him • and Lieutenant Todd, who goes as I supernumerary. The fiaal decision will be ijir.de at the LV.pe. The alterations' in the cllicei'si of No, 1 Company men--t'oneu ycstoidfiy as likely have beenl ccr.iir'.Tit !, snd Captain 'H.utsou takes' command, Lieutenant Montgouierie; suecc. -di'ig him. Captain Keid is i grc.-!':y dis-rath-ficd with. hi« troatment,! and ins Csiilod upoa the Defence Dr-paitinoaS for an ocquiry. The cereinouy to-morrow will be on the same lines as in October. The contingent will march from the camp; and at the Basin Deserve meet the volunteers, who will escort them to Jervcis Quay, where the newly-erected baud rotunda will be utilised as a platform for the speakers, who will be limited to three—tho Governor, the Premier, and the Mayor. Bishop Wulli.s will again oiler a special pray or. The men will then erribai k, tuvl precautions are to betaken this tiij-.b to prevail; any of the ■ riotous scene.-) v. the eutnuice to the : v.haii' wh:.''. o 'ouiriwl 0)t ths L-usfc oeca- ■ siou. A jji'i.j.v d.. .i oi utiw was lost ] in < i)(.' ,i oij j.-:!-.one bv : one a; ■.v.-.-t'o.: b.ar.l. Ti.is will : n,-t HV'.L- ;,.jMiii, .■ ml tiie Wni-A'u'.n is ; to ;.v,'ay by -.! p a;, Tlu-. ..i (■ l:v-u \vilL Iju ow even a ! !;'.v" ;i.J i:i ij ;ru. L, n.-, (jightei-n [ > 1L.i,.-;. T-auiunga, t i,J tin- croop.s.iip ' \-> /ii ; -i.' h;i:-')')i\r, | h. ; t .q'vy-;'; th.it a ripra- ! • of tlu Chris'.i-xu BjSJ.er.-j' } .WKh'iV'i :•>« illowod to aDooiaf [twy •. c-j-tviv hj:% tiie iV;.iui»-v r> '• .' : . : . . .. . ' • j'o i.ii.j ' i ■ .'i i -iii-i

ties will provide for their spiritual welfaro when in the field.

A few days ago the railway men at Ashburton suggested that a contingent of skilled railway employees should bo sent to South Africa. The Hon. J. G. Ward communicated with the Cape authorities respecting the proposal, and a reply has been received that it was probable the men would be required. The New Zealand Kailway Department then issued a circular asking for names of those willing to go. A large number of applications for service have beeu received, but nothing further can be done until later information is received from the Gape. The weather promises to be fine for to-morrow's celebration. Captain Reid's case was under consideration of Ministers to-day. In reply to his request for a statement of the reasons leading to his dismissal, he was informed that Major Cradock had reported adversely upon him, and, as commander of tbe contingent, his report was final. The Government, however, intend to offer Captain Eeid one of the positions in the Colonial Defence Department at present vacant. Palmerston North, January 19. Fully 1000 people left hero to-night for Wellington to see the contingent off. The volunteers leave by the morning train, when a large number of civilians will also go. THE PROPOSED THIRD CONTINGENT. Chbistohukch, January 19. Over 100 applications for enrolment in tho Canterbury contingent have been received, and the determination to send a Canterbury contingent is being taken up with enthnsiaßm,