NEW ZEALAND THIRD CONTINGENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 35, 13 February 1900, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND THIRD CONTINGENT.

"Wellington, February 12, Lieutenant Pringle has besn recommended for a commission in the Roughriders Contingent by the local eommittee. Horses are being offered in numbers, but of a poor quality and few are suitable. Fewer animals have come forward than were originally offered. It is believed here that the departure of the Third Contingent from Christchurch will be on the 20th instead of the 17th instant. The final selection of the Rough- t riders was expected to be made tonight, but the 77 men remaining in . presented so much of an equality that j a determination could not be arrived at. Thirty-three of the men's own horses were passed by the vet., but owing to the poor quality of those offered for purchase the committee intend to send one of their number into the country to procure suitable mounts. Auckland, February 12. A collection at the church parade in the Domain realised .£lB5 for the Patriotic Fund. , Forty-eight men are in the camp at , Potter's Paddock, and 50 horses are on , the ground and will be examined by ] the Government vet. Wanoahdi, February 12. Sufficient funds are now in hand and i promised to pay all the expenses in ( connection with the sending away of , the 50 men last Saturday. The Committee decided to make no charge for the keep of the men and horses cf the . Feilding and Taranaki sections while in camp here. Several others are to be , tent from here for the Fourth , Contingent.

Chmstchuech, February 12. The amounts received and promised for the War Fund to date amount to £10,334. This is independent of the patriotic and other smaller funds. Every effort is befog made to ensure the sailing of the Knight Templar with the contingent on Saturday next, but in camp it is thought she will not get away till the 20th. The Mayor of Christchurch has received intimation that the Presbyterian Churches of the city desire to present each member of the Third Contingent with a copy of the New Testament. specially bound and inscribed. Testaments to the number of 250 will be delivered at the camp on Friday morning tor distribution to members of the contingent. The camp has now altered its character, and from being merely a residence and training ground for the Canterbury troop it is fast becoming the rallyingpoint for the whole of the Third Contingent, and a few more days will see the whole force concentrated under the command of Major Jowsey. The eleven Wanganui men who arrived last night are in charge of Sergeant Russell. They stato that theii horses were considerably knocked about during the passage down the coast. The men are a hardy-looking lot, and are evidently horsemen, but have done , no foot drill before landing at the camp. They found their own horses, and are uniformed, armed and equipped. Napier, Febiuary 12.

Mr. A. J. Allom to-day interviewed the Hoc. J. Carroll with reference to the refusal of the Government to allow the Maori Hohepa to go with the .Third Contingent. Hohepa is welleducated, well-drilled, a first-class horseman, and a capital shot, and Col. Penton, after putting him through his tests, expressed personal regret at the necessity for excluding him. Mr. Cjarroll promised that Hohepa should fee* sent. He is now on duty, having gone with the first squad of horses. One of the features of to-day's functions was the number of Maoris present, who expressed sorrow at not being allowed to raise a native contingent. They could put 500 men and horsea in the field in a week and 2000 if needed in a month. Many would provide their own equipment.

OOVEBNMENT WILL NOT ACCEPT COLONEL FOX. * Wellixctox, February 12. £ Further correspondence has passed ' over the appointment-of Colonel Fox. J The Mayor of Christchurch wired the '. Premier that as the Government had appointed Major Jowsey to the command of the Contingent, Colonel Fox, at the Committee's earnest request, had agreed to command the Canterbury ' Contingent. He suggested ante-dating ' Major Jowsey's commission and asked for the wrvices of a drill instructor. The Premier replied that after careful consideration the Government had decided that the Committee's proposals were not possible. Colonel Fox's ccni-1 mission as colonel dates from May, 1892, and as major of the Imperial Reserve from July, 1893. Major Jowsey's commission as major dates from June, 1897, and Major Eobin's from September, 1899, and the Government could not interfere with Colonel Fox's Imperial commission, nor' ante-date Major Jowsoy's by ssven year:without injustice to other officers. Ifis Imperial rank would make him senior to other captains already appointed and perhaps result in cor; .ligations vih Major Robin's sonioiiry. The Commander of the Forces cuvvdy opposed sending a drill instiuc 01, as he is already short-handed and the volunteers are to ba increased by 2000. Finally, the Government fed that to appoint u « eubwdiaate position one wl>3 held J

the rank of. Commander of (be .Purees ; might cause an awkward feeling with officers who had previously served under him. Mr. Seddon regrets the Government cannot see its way to give effect to the Committee's request. LORD ROBERTS AND NEW ZEALAND'S ' SEbOND CONTINGENT. Wellington, February 12. After the Second Contingent had left Albany the Premier informed Lord Roberts of the fact, giving the number of officers and men, and informing him that they should arrive at Durban about February 20th to await orders. He has now rceeived the following reply from Lord Roberts: — "Modder River, 11th. Many thanks for your telegram. I look forward with great pleasure to arrival of Second Contingent from New Zealand. They will be a valuable and welcome addition to our forces. —Roberts." POSTAL REGULATIONS WITH THE CAPE. Wellington, February 12. A parcel post exchange between New Zealand and the Cape Colony has been successfully negotiated, and parcels mails are now being made up for and from this colony. The postage is Is per pound for the Cape Colony and Is 3d for Natal. Parcels addressed to the Orange Free State or the Transvaal will be accepted, but at the senders' risk only, their presentation for transmission being considered to imply that the senders wish the parcels forwarded to Capetown. Pending the re-opening of transactions, it is understood that the Cape Colony and Natal Governments have consented to waive the Customs duty on parcels addressed'to troops now operating there. FOURTH CONTINGENT.

Auckland, February 12. A number of men of the Waihi Volunteers are coming to join the Fourth Contingent, The Evening Star has the following anent the Ofcago and Southland section of the Fourth Contingent:—The plan of campaign, as regards the securing of horses, bids fair to be espscially effective. We praised the plan when it was first unfolded by Mr. Park, and it has evidently hit the public fancy, or (which is far more important) fitted the public convenience. It is an excellent example of the utility of co-operation, and the promoters of the movement are to be congratulated on their happy idea of enlisting the professional, industrial, and athletic sentiment in the service of a good cause. The giving of specially significant names to the horses is also a taking notion, and the fortunes of these representative animals will be watched with an interest second only to that bestowed upon their gallant riders. No lawyer (so far as we know) is going to the field of battle: indeed, it may be questioned whether we could spare one; but " The, Devil's Own" will be there for all that, representing his Dunedin masters

with characteristic cannincss and boldnegp. Nay, theie are to be two limbs of the law among the Otago horses, and :t is a foregone conclusion that "Costs" give him bui a start) will never stop ■ntil the foe shall cry " Enough!" The iood charger "Ciickst" will doubtless core heavily and make some einart •uiis, while "Scrum's" hardy zeal will uiow no rest until he his ciriid his Owgo "rep." to thn goal of victory. Among other likely starters are ' ; Squills," " Cap ;u.d Gown," " Priotoi's Devii," "Th!ee Bills," " Insurance," •' XXX," " Prohibitionist," " Oassoc k," '• Mayor," " M.H.R." (s<wen or sight of this name, we believe—distinguished as [., 11., etc.) ; but perhaps these details ■re more in the line of our sporting i ontributor.

His Worship the Mayor (Mr. E. Dockrill), who has been for some days at Wanganui in connection with the despatch of the New Plymouth section of the Rough-riders' Contingent, returned to New Plymouth on Monday. He states that the seven men from here who were selected were jubilant on receiving news of their selection, while the four who were not selected were very downcast. The latter, however, may congratu'ate themselves on the fact that the selection officers informed the Mayor that every man of the eleven sent from here was fit to go with the contingent, the only obstacle, of course, being that funds would not allow of all being sent. Mr. Dockrill states that the treatment meted out to our men by the Wanganui people was handsome. They were guests during the time they were in camp, payment for either men or horses during the stay being declined. The send-off was enthusiastic, and the men departed in great spirit.