THE COLONIAL CONTINGENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 192, 23 August 1900, Page 3

THE COLONIAL CONTINGENTS.

EECEPTION OF RETURNED INVALIDS. Wellington, August 22. The Gothic, from London, via Capetown, arrived in the harbour this morning. She has twelve invalided soldiers aboard. Despite the fact that it was raining in torrents, there was a fairly large crowd of representative citlzeas and the general public present to take part in the reception of the invalids. The Hen. J. G. Ward and Colonel Pole-Pen ton had previously gone out to the steamer in a launch. Mr. Ward, addressing the party, called for hearty cheers on behalf of the people cf New Zealand, Captain Tanner replied. Later. AH invalids who returned by the Gothic are victims of enteric fever and Some of them seemed to have suffered severely. Several of them say the soldiers had a very hard time in the field hospitals, but matters were much improved in the base hospitals. Vet.Surgeon Treneary and Lieut. Ross, of Oamaru, also returned by the Gothic. The latter is stated to have resigned his commission. A large number of members of both branches of the Legislature assembled in Bellamy's this afternoon to meet the invalided members of the Now Zealand Contingent who returned by the Gothic. The proceedings, which were under the direction of the Hon. J, G. Ward, were of a very sociable character, In the course of a few remarks Mr. Ward repeated the words of welcome which he had extended to the men on the wharf earlier in the day. He said the peoplo of the colony had followed with the liveliest interest and deepest concern the well-baing of the New Zealanders in South Africa, and it was universally recognised that they had done all men could do to show the solidarity of the Empire. Everybody hoped those who had returned invalided would soon be restored to permanent good health. Captain Russell welcomed the men as soldiers of the Empire, and said he had noted the enthusiastic manner in which the regular soldiers of the British Army had referred to the qualifications of the colonials with whom they fought shoulder to shoulder. The health of the party was then drank to the accompaniment of hearty cheere. Captain Tanner, in replying for the party, referred to the enthusiasm with which they had been received'in New Zealand, and said he did not know what more the people could have done if they had brought Kruger back with them. As for himself, ho felt like an impostor, for he had been invalided at Beira, while others of the par'y had been in the fighting rank. Colonel Pole-Penton, in proposing the toas's cf "Our Comrades in South Africa," said the whole -of New Zealand was proud or-what its representatives had done in South Africa. This toart, wi>i':h was enthusiastically responded to, brought, the proceedings to a closj.

A TROOPER'S LETTER, | Wellington, August 22. A private letter from a member of one of the contingents says that when the First Contingent left Bloemfontein ■ they were told they would be back in two or three days, consequently they left behind all those men and horses not perfectly fit, and only started about 70 strong. The men were ill-equipped, and none of the horses were really fit for long marches and hard work, their numbers, through sickness and loss of horses, were soon reduced. The two or three days proved a myth, as they went right on to Pretoria, and never again, till actually there, saw those they had left behind, and then only very few of them, as the corps had few men and a large proportion of officers, Captain Maddocks was ordered to go as galloper to General lan Hamilton and remained with him intending to rejoin as soon as the numbers of the Contin- ; gents were increased. However, this i they never did, and at the date of the letter (July 9).. it was only 15 strong. Captain Maddocks was, therefore, retained by General Hamilton as an A.D.C. and is probably with him in the advance towards the east. The writer adds: If every New Zealander were to write his own account of his own particular participation in the war it would, I believe, form a most complete history. We are scattered from Capetown to Pretoria without mentioning Beira, and I believe have had men in every column and every battle, excepting, of course, in Natal, As showing the difficulty of getting news he states that he had just received a small batch of letters for the first time since April 23rd, He believed most of his letters had been captured,

THE PREMIER INTERVIEWED. Ohbistohueoh, August 22. The Premier was interviewed tonight by a representative of the lyltelton Times, with respect to the position of commands of the .New Zealand Contingents in South Africa, He said that he had received a communication, to the eueofc that Major Davis who had been appointed to command the Fifth Contingent, had reached Buluwayo and, so far as he knew, was now with his men, The Government had received official information as to some | unpleasantness having arisen owing to Major Jowsey having claimed seniority, There had, however, boon a, distinct understanding with him as with Majors Oradock and Francis that none of them ware to take ssniority over Major Robin. General Oarrington had communicated with the Government to the effect that he had decided to amalgamate the Fourth and Fifth Contingents and pnmote Major Francis to the rank of liieut.-Oolonel. The only trouble the Government had so far, had been in connection with Major Jowssy, and as he had left his Contingent and joined the artillery there was no necessity for his remaining in South Africa and he had therefore been asked to> return.