N.Z. CONTINGENT.

Waikato Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 546, 12 January 1900, Page 2

N.Z. CONTINGENT.

(BY TELKORATH —I’RESS ASSOCIATION.) Wellington, Last Night,

In defeience to the wishes of those who desired to present horses to the Imperial Government, the Premier recently cabled Home to ascertain the feeling of the authorities, and has received the following r p'y “ The Secretary of State for War expresses high appreciation of the offer of horses, the following being most acceptable : Broken to ride and trained (saddle) j 'age, 0 to 10 years; height,

14.2 to 15.3 ; colour, any other than white or grey ; passed by veterinary surgeon as practically sound ; unbroken of no use.” The Christchurch Press has closed its “ More Men Fund." Some 10,500 shillings are already acknowledged, and the total will reach about twelve thousand names and occupy over fifteen closelyprinted columns, forming a record in its way.

Between £SOO and £6OO has thus been raised for the Patriotic Fund and for the purchase of supplies and comforts for the third contingent, The Defence Department has received from Mrs Bodle, of Ponsonby, Auckland, a gift of bandages and sleeping suits for the contingent. The staff of the Loan and Mercantile Company give a fixed contribution from their salaries to the Patriotic Fund till the war is over.

Auckland, Last Night. The total amount eolleoted for the Patriotic Fund is £4386 up to date. Wellington, This Day. Trooper Chapman is almost convalescent from his recent accident. Mr E. J. Riddiford has donated £SO to the patriotic fund, and has offered 500 frozen sheep between now and March next for the soldiers and refugees, providing the Government arrange for the carriage.

The Governor visited the camp to day.

Captain Smith, formerly of the Christchurch College Rifles and latterly StaffOfficer to Colonel Penton, has been appointed to command the Hotchkiss gun battery. N The contingent and the local Volunteers will have a sham fight to-morrow at Miramar or on the hills surrounding the camp. PATRIOTIC FUND. Contributions to the Patriotic Fund now being raised for the relief of sufferers by the war in South Africa Previously acknowledged ... £46 15 8 A. J. Storey 10 0 0 L. Cusson 110 The following is the scale of pay of the officers and men of the contingents Major, £1 Is per day ; captain, 15s ; lieutenants, 1 Is; surgeons, 18s; staff-ser-geauts, 8s ; sergeants, 6s; corporals, 5s ; buglers and privates, 4s. War is very terrible (writes Clement Scott), but does it not bring out the noble qualities of a nation ; docs it not arouse again what we have lost in a long, sensuous dream—the quality of chivalry ? Does not a war, with its hideous privations and its sublime unselfishness, clear the tainted air of overcivilisation ? We have been enjoying a period of complete rest and of absolute indifference. Look at our deplorable plays, our unworthy novels, our tainted literature, our sublimated selfishness ! Does not a war, with its courage of brave men, its devotion of good women, its self-denial, its herotism on the part of those who mourn and those who pray, sometimes clear the of a miasmic poison bred of mere idleness ? The courage of Englishmen can never die ; the splendid Qualities of Englishwomen are eternal. But both have fallen into drownsincss or sleep. There is a healthy excitement in the air, and it forebodes nothing but good.

Captain Reid, of Hamilton, who is to command Iso, 1 Company of the contingent, left by train on Wednesday at noon, to catch the Gairlock at Onehunga. Trooper Garland, v. ho is to join the contingent, went out to Onehunga by road, in charge of the horses. A number of Captain Ried’a friends assembled at the station to bid h'rn farewell, and also the following volunteer officers Lieutenant Colonel Banks, Captain Grant, Lieu-tenant-Colonel Parker, Captain Robertson, Captain Major, Sergeant Walker. Each of those assembled bade Captain Reid a hearty good-bye, with all good wishes for himself and the New Zealanders in the fi.ld. Then, as Captain Reid stood on the carriage platform, just before the starting of the train, someone called for three cheers for Captain Reid and the contingent, which were heartily given. One voice called out, “ And God bless yon all !” It is said that while Captain Reid has all along been anxious to see active service in South Africa, his wife, who is in delicate health, has been unwilling that be should go. But one day, after reading iu the papers of the disasters to our forces she said (she is a Scotchwoman), “ Gang avva’, and do what one man can.”—N.Z, Herald. All the officers and men of the contingent who could be spared from the camp at Newtown marched into town on Wednesday evening to attend, by invitation of Mr Pollard, a performance of the “ Geisha ” at the Opera House. They were played to the theatre by the garrison band. The theatre and adjacent buildings were gaily decorated with flags, and thousands of people lined the footpaths and crowded on to the street, so that traffic was for a time impeded. The arrival ol the contingent was the signal for an outburst of cheering, which was renewed when the men made their appearance inside the building, Only the officers wore their khaki uniform, the men not having received theirs appeared in trousers and blue jerseys. The theatre was packed, many people standing. The Premier and the Governor received an ovation, as did also Major Cradock and his officers. Towards the close of the first act, the leading baritone song “tLldiers of the Queen,” iu which the large audience joined, standing for each verse of the chorus. At the close of the performance there was a rousing patriotic outburst, *' Rule Britannia” and other national songs being sung. Then the vast audience, the Governor and the

Premier joining iu, rose en masse and sang the National Anthem with a fervour and volume of sound s'-ldom heard in New Zealand. Bath players and audi* cnee seemed loth to leave, and and cheered again. Outside the theatre the demonstration was repeated, and we went home with the war-cry of the contingent ringing ia onr ears. It was a scene not soon to he forgotten.