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Please thank His Excellency the Governor for his kind cable, and say that Captain Ward is well and of great value, always cheery and happy, and in his position gets items of news for us. Kleinfontein, 27th January, 1900. I have the honour to report to you that since last writing matters have been more or less at a standstill, waiting for some developments, we know not what. The No. 1 Company, with the Eimington Guides, and one squadron Life Guards, still hang on to this advanced post—in the air, so to speak—and No. 2 Company are still at Slingersfontein, some eleven miles away. Since my last letter I am sorry to have to state that on the 25th, during a reconnaissance when a portion of the N.Z.M.E. were on escort to four guns, two orderlies (Troopers H. Booth and Cullen) were detailed for the General. While on this duty a shell burst among the horses of the staff, held by above orderlies, with the result that No. 116, Harold Booth, Oamaru (next-of-kin, C. W. Cooke, Agent, Tyne Street, Oamaru), was killed, a ball from the shell passing through his head. I have written the details to his relations. Two horses were also killed. I have also to report that No. 35, Trooper A. Taylor, has had to be invalided, through chronic rheumatism and physical unfitness for work, and will probably be sent back to New Zealand. Since coming to the front four men have been killed in action (viz., Sergeant Gourlay, Privates Bradford, Connell, and Booth), and six men (Privates Hunt, Young, Hurford, Eyan, Wallace, and Taylor) have been invalided from accident and physical ailments. Details have been furnished you from time to time. The equipment, clothing, and boots are now in a bad state, but am drawing further supplies from Ordnance Department at Naauwpoort, and hope to be able to keep my men as well clothed as any other of the Cavalry Ist Brigade. Following so close on my last report, there is no more to write, only again to let you know that all the work done by the Contingent is meeting with great approval, and the General Officer is still perfectly satisfied. I can assure you, each man has an interest, and when on patrol or picket all use their eyes, ears, and intelligence, and, being most steady under fire, can be depended on. It is acknowledged that their outpost work is of the best, and reliance is generally placed on any reports made or brought in by them. Bensbukg, 6th Februaby, 1900. I have the honour to again furnish a short report of the doings of our New Zealand Contingent in South Africa. Since last writing, when I reported the death of Private H. Booth, killed by a shell, no further casualty has occurred, except one horse shot in the head, but since recovered, and two horses wounded on 25th January by shell, and which had to be destroyed. Both companies are at Slingersfontein, and, with No. 1 Company at Kleinfontein, have been ordered in to form part of a flying column. lam at present at Eensburg, having sent No. Iby train yesterday to Orange Eiver. No. 2 Company is with me, and have just (9.30 p.m.) completed all transport and settling up for entraining No. 2 Company for the same destination, leaving at 6 a.m., 7th February. This column is being formed of tried men, and it is looked on as an honour to get ordered on to it. No one knows really what or where it has to do or go. I regret to state that so many men are being invalided. By last post I gave you particulars of Privates Hunt, Young, Hurford, Eyan, E. Wallace, and A. E. Taylor, and since then No. 53 J. Jenks, No. 31 J. Paterson, No. 6 Sergeant Bond, No. 85 T. Gaudin, and No. 103 Sergeant Gwatkins are in hospital. Sergeant Bond, from a kick from horse on shin, has gone bad again, and a slight operation is necessary. A fortnight, or at most a month, will likely put him right. With Sergeant Gwatkins it will take some time to tell what is the matter; the others will in all probability be sent to New Zealand ; for the most part their ailment is chronic—l mean they should not have left on an expedition of this sort, but should have told the medical examiners in New Zealand about their past. I will by next mail be able to send you complete medical reports on all these men mentioned in both letters. The horses are rapidly being reduced. As before reported, your Contingent was put to constant hard and important work immediately after arrival. General French again yesterday, when looking over No. 1 Company horses, told me that we had worked more than our share. I am drawing nine remounts to-morrow, leaving eighteen in horse depot at Naauwpoort. I hope the Second Contingent can spare some horses ; they will have a better chance of breaking them in to change of food and climate, there being now plenty of troops in the country. They will not be so urgently required as your No. 1 Contingent, who had at once to take its share to prevent the further advance of the enemy into Cape Colony. My officers continue in health and work in a hearty manner. Among the non-commissioned officers Sergeants-Major Cardale and Burr are for some time past well up to their duties. Having written you only last week there is little to report, but from the time we take our place in the flying column we are en route to join there should be something to report, and it will be my endeavour to always send you a fair and correct report. KIMBEBLEY, 21ST FeBEUARY, 1900. Since posting my last from Kleinfontein the N.Z.M.E. were ordered to march to Eensberg; thence to entrain to De Aar ; and thence by same train to Orange Eiver, which station we reached on the Bth February, detrained, and camped on north side of the river with Kitchener's and Nisbet's Horse and a company of Imperial Mounted Infantry. I was placed in command for outpost purposes. Lieutenants Wall andi Pilkington, of the New Zealand Permanent Artillery, joined us at 7.30 p.m. from the Cape. The Cape authorities had no knowledge of what they were sent out for, and considered that they must be intended for the Artillery portion of the 2nd Contingent,