The Eighth Contingent.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 145, 24 December 1901, Page 3

The Eighth Contingent.

Wellington, December 20. The Wellington Trades Council carried last night, by twelve votes to ten voies, a resolution repudiating and condemning the action of the Government in undertaking to send further troops to South Africa to give assistance in waging a hideous and unholy war of extermination which they believe'was begun aud is now carried on entirely in the interests of capitalists. The sister steamers, Cornwall and Surrey, have been selected for the conveyance of the Contingent to South Africa. The vessels are being chartered from Messrs Burt and Co. One vessel will leave Wellington, ami the otherLytteltoo. The steamer which leaves Wellington will probably, got away about the 20th January, and will call at Auckland to pick up tho horses and not them section of the Contingent. The question whether memoes of the Contingent can remain in South Africa after their term of engagement has expired has been settled. They must come back. An exception will be made in the cases of men who obtain appointments and are recommended to be allowed to remain -by 'the officer commanding the -Contingent. December 21.

It is now certain that Colonel Da vies will be offered, and it is considered probabie that he will accept, command of the Eighth Contingent. Captain Rosa, of the Scottish Horse, had an interview with the j Premier yesterday on the. question , of raising recruits in Mr Seddon told him -.h% ; wa.B prepared to send as many men as were wanted, but they must go as a New Zealand Contingent. Mr Ross therefore decided to discontinue his recruiting mission. ... Tho Premier has received • the following memorandum from His Excellency the Governuut :—" I have received a telegram 'from the Secretary of State for tha Colofties,; dated 20th December, statiog, With reference to a,telegram sent to him that over 1100 men have volunteered in twenty-four hours for the Eighth New Zealand Contingent for South Africa, that'His Majesty's Government warmly congratulates your Ministers On the splendid "spirit shown by the 'colony, and thoroughly appreciates it.'" Oyer 40 applications -have bean received for the six "places allotted to Waimate in the Eighth Contingent. The riding test takes' place this afternoon -in the drilL "shed paddock.