NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA (DESPATCH WITH REFERENCE TO NON-DELIVERY OF MAILS TO).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1900 Session I, H-06j

H.—6j.

1900. NEW ZEALAND.

NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA (DESPATCH WITH REFERENCE TO NON-DELIVERY OF MAILS TO).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of H%s Excellency.

My Lobd, — Government House, Capetown, 18th August, 1900. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch (No. 267/1900) of the 26th April last, regarding the non-delivery of letters and papers to men serving with the New Zealand contingents in South Africa. A copy of your Lordship's despatch was forwarded to Army Headquarters, Pretoria, and I enclose a copy of the reply received from the Deputy Adjutant-General, South African Field Force. I have, &c, A. Milneb, His Excellency the Governor of New Zealand. Governor and High Commissioner.

The Deputy Adjutant-Genebal, South African Field Force, to the Militaey Seceetaey to His Excellency the High Commissioner, Cape Colony. Sik, — Army Headquarters, Pretoria, Bth August, 1900. With reference to your letter (No. 719/1900) dated 10th July, I am directed by the FieldMarshal, Commandmg-in-Chief, to inform you that a careful investigation has been made of the complaints referred to by the Governor of New Zealand. It appears that no special arrangements were made in New Zealand for the distribution of the correspondence in this country to the contingents concerned. All mails were addressed to the Officer Commanding the respective contingent, and marked " To be landed at the nearest port of call." The mails were consequently sometimes landed at Durban, and on other occasions at East London and Port Elizabeth. Delay was thereby caused. After the arrival of the Third Contingent, on 26th March, arrangements were made by which certain non-commissioned officers of the Australasian troops were attached to the Army Postoffice Corps for the purpose of sorting the Australasian correspondence, and since that time no complaints have reached the Director of Army Postal Services from the New Zealand troops. The Field-Marshal trusts, and has every reason to believe, that the troops now receive their correspondence in due course. I have, &c, M. Kelly, Major-General, Deputy Adjutant-General, S.A.F.F. The Military Secretary, Government House, Capetown. [D. 1900/4175.] Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given; printing (1,375 copies), 18s. 6d.

By Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9oo. Price, 3d.]