The Eighth Contingent.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 149, 7 January 1902, Page 3

The Eighth Contingent.

New Plymouth, January 3. Twenty oue men of the Auckland section of the Eighth Contingent came by the Ngapuhi in place of thoae \vh 0 missed the Kotoiti on New Year's Day, and go on to Wellington by to-morrow's mail train. Palmeeston North, January 3. The Palmerßton section, numbering twenty men, of the Eighth Contingent, left for Wellington to-day. They were accorded a publio send-off, a farewell speech being made by the Mayor. Nelson, January 3. The Nelson and West Coast members of the Eighth Contingent left port this afternoon. The Garrison Band and Volunteers marched with them from town, and a very large number of citizeas assembled on the wharves and quay, and cheered them as they Wi.. The Mayor delivered a brief address, and offered the troopers the best wishoa vt all. The vessels in port were deoked >vith bunting, and as the steamer mo\ fed off guns were fired. j Dunei >nsr, January 8-. The Southland sectiorji of the Eighth Contingent arrived to-iiight, and were taken out to camp. '.They leave for Christchurch in the morning with the 1 Otago company. \ January S. I The Southland section fpf the Eighth Gantingeafc left for the north to-day. They were accorded a pub] k send-off, ab , which addresses were by Sir J. G.

'opposed to the sending of an Eighth Contingent were enemies of the Empire. l Of the forty-four officers required for the two battalions, forty have been selected. There is a rumour abroad to the effect that it is intended to appoint fifty-six officer*, and that the remainder of the commissions to make up that total will not be issued for another week. The officers so far selected will have to piss their medical and other tests before receiving definite appointments. They have to report themselves at one or othe r of the camps on Friday or Saturday next, Wzllikgton, January 4.

Lord Kitchener cabled to the Premier as follows : "I, together with the offioers and the men of the Army in South Africa, deeply appreciate the kindness and uptiring assistance we receive from the Government and people of New Zealand. We shall be delighted to welcome the Eighth Contingent, which I feel sure will aid to the reputation of its predecessors." Christchurch, January 5.

Matters are now settling down at the Eighth Contingent's camp at Adhngton. Yesterday, although heavy rain fell, the men were comfortable under canvas, and useful drill was put in. Last night the Otago and Southland contingents came into camp to the number of £O3 officers and men, Tnis afternoon the West Coast, Blenheim, and Nelson quota arrived unexpectedly in charge of Sergt.-Major Healey; Although the men had been met by a stiff officer at Wellington, no advice had been sent to the camp, consequently they were not met, and no special arrangements had been made for transport of luggage, etc. The officer in chu-ge, however, soon arranged for their accommodation, and they were soon provided for. There are now about 470 men in camp. As showing the completeness of the arrangements, the bugle sounded for breakfast at 8 a.m., and by2o minutes past allh*d breakfasted and the mess room was again clear. Thia afternoon the c;imp was thrown open to the public, and {there was a large number of visitors. So far there are only 65 horses in camp, and until the rest arr:ve from the North Island mounted parades cannot ba held. Dunedin, January 4.

The Otago and Southland section left for the Addington camp by the 10.20 express : 180 men paraded at Tahuna Psak carnp. Lieuteuaut-Colonel Robin mude a short and spirited speech, in

which he impressed upon the men the

absolute necessity of watchfulness on active service, and the need for implicitly trusting their officers instead of indulging in what he termed "committee bu3inasa," arguiug about this, that and the otherThere was an immense crowd at the station, who gave hearty cheers, and especially for Captain Jackson. As the men had to be entrained at once to keep them together, the Mayor got no chance to work off his prepared speech.

THE COMMANDER. colonel DAVIES NOT TO GO. The Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Times telegraphed on Friday night: — Colonel Daries is, I hear from an Auckland source (perfectly reliable), not going with the Eighth Contingent as its commander. It was well known somq time ago thatfahen he accepted the command he wished to make it a condition that the appointment of the offiners should bo left in his hands. When the officers were announced with the promptitude to which I referred yesterday, it was thought that Colonel D.ivies woald take umbrage at the implied refusal to accept b. 13 condition, but it was a condition which could not be granted to any man unless he possessed a phenomenal record as a leader, which this colonel of course does not, the idea was that he had accepted the position. It turns out now , that he ha 3 not. On the contrary, be has made it clear that he will not go with the Eighth. The best man in the field is of course, Major Owen, the acting commandant, but he is the artillery instructor and the musketry expert of the forces. Whether he has applied and whether this is a bar againr.t him I cannot say. All I can say is that if the Mayor ib appointed he will be the most popular contingent commander who ever left their shores, and the most capable f He is a son cf Judge Owen, Chief Judge in Equity in Sydney. The success of the great review in Christchurch on June 24th was largely due to Major Owen's arrangements. A later message from the same source read: Regarding Colonel Daviea' suocessor : in the command of the Eighth, there is much discussion, because there does not seem a great choice, the fe.ct being that there are not many candidates. In military circles Major Owen is unanimously regarded as a fit man, but it is held at the same time that as he cannot ba replaced as efficiently in his position as musketry (not artillery) instructor, his appointment is out of-the question. The name of Major Smithy mentioned as the only possible alternative, and the mention evokes diverse comment. There are many who believe in the Major, admire his steady rise from the ranks of the Christ's College Rifles to his present position, and would like to gee him go away at the head of the contingent. Others declare that the day after his appointment the camp would ba empty as the Desert of Sahara after a simoon. Times on the whole promise to be lively.