THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, JAN. 18, 1900.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume II, Issue 97, 18 January 1900, Page 2

THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, JAN. 18, 1900.

IN various,. papers -for the past days have appeared advertisements and telegrarhs regarding the proposal to allow volunteers free railway passes to enable them to see their comrades-in-arms depart from Wellington to assist in fighting the battle of the Empire. The steamship companies offered a redaction in passage money and thus it was a comparatively easy matter for volunteers (not always blessed with superfluous cash) to take the opportunity of seeing an event which will be recorded in history. The stipulation was that half the strength-of the company mnst'travel. This, we understand, was altered to give the concession provided 100 men travelled from Canterbury, This was, in Waimate, thought very satisfactory and abouc 16 men were ready to go. Lasi night we learned tha^ the 100 men have to be raised in S. Canterbury. Ther»* might be no trouble in this, but all the same it is very dibcouraging to volunteers to be bandied about in this fashion. They give their time and service gratis, and when a valuable object lesson might be shown them the Government will not make even trivial concessions without their being hedged all round with 5 ' conditions. It is almost too late to do anything now, but letus trust our men will be able to get away without unnecessary .trouble. If they are not able to see the second they certainly should be allowed to see the third contingent away. It is practically decided that thi» will be sent, but it will hardly take the form of a New Zealand volunteer contingent. The need beems to be for men who are thoroughly good- riders, who understand horses,- and^are fair shots., There ate numbers of men fulfilling these, conditions who are not attached to any, volunteer corps. \'li; is with the object of meeting Ibis demand that Mr Gr. Gr. Stead, of Ohristchurch, wired to the Premier :~" I have consulted the Mayor 'suggesting that Canterbury should provide and equip 50 mounted men and pay the passages of horses and men to South Africa, provided you mil accept them. Yon were

good enough in your telegram o' December 22nd to Bay you vfoxxV accept a contingent raised by olr Canterbury families. As this i not forthcoming I trust you will accept a contingent raised by the public of Canterbury. My proposal would be to provide hardy rough -riders, something similar to the bushmen now being raised in Australia. Such men would be invaluable for scouting purposes. I trust you will give a favourable answer at once, otherwise the enthusiasm will die out. T presume the colony and the Imperial Government would pay men either from the date of shipment or after landing in South Africa. We have the mone^ promised and only await you consent to proceed in selecting « the men and purchasing th horses." To this the Premie has replied :—": — " If Canterbury provides and equips 50 mounted men and pays the passages of men and horses to South Africa the Government will accept, and through His Excellency the Governor offer their services to the Imperial Government. The colony would jointly with the Imperial Government pay men from the day they go on board the transport. The men and horses are to be subject to the authority of the Commander of Fores, and be hardy rough riders and fair shots, not iinder 20 years of age or over 40. The Government have further decided that this offer to accept a contingent from Canterbury applies to all parts of the colony, and any contingent or parts thereof will be similarly treated and accepted provided the total number does not exceed 250." We anticipate no difficulty in the formation of this corps and probably a fortnight will see it enrolled. A good deal of rubbish is talked in some quarters about the lack of any necessity to send a third contingent. These people say New Zealand needs her own men, and Britain has enough and to spare. So she has, but the need is, for mounted men and these can be more easily and quickly" supplied from the colonies. Hence the need for prompt Action. There is no need for us ! to weary readers with impressing ion them the duty all are under of assisting the Mother Country, jnd indirectly out twelves by every means in their power. There is another anpect of the case, however, that must not be lost sight of. We are not likely to b° at peace for very loner now that the spell is broken. Strong nation 3 have their eyes fixed longingly on Britain's rich possessions and they are preparing for any chance which may offer itself of a combination strcng enough to transfer some of those possessions to themselves. If we have amongst us men who have been through the reality of battle, shall we not be better able to take our next turn at assisting the Empire. Theory is very excellent, but it is to the men who " have been and seen " that we will naturally turn when the noise of battle reaches us from afar. '" '