EIGHTH CONTINGENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 298, 24 December 1901, Page 2

EIGHTH CONTINGENT.

[By Telegraph—Press Association.] Wellington, last night. The testing of candidates for enrolment in the Eighth Contingent began this morning. There were 516 applicants, of whom 55 were returned troopers, and 20 members of mounted corps. A majority of the remainder wore from the blackblocks districts. The supply of would-be recruits was so much in excess of the number required that all the conditions of enrolment will be rigidly adhered to. Napier, last night. There are about 150 applications for enrolment in the Eighth Contingent. The list includes fourteen returned troopers, fifteen mounted volunteers, twenty-nine infantry volunteers, and over ninety volunteers. It is thought that the number required will probably be obtained from the ranks of the returned troopers and mounted volunteers. New Plymouth, last night. A total of 107 have offered for the Eighth Contingent, 83 of them being Volunteers. Twenty-eight of the latter were examined, and of the total ten were finally chosen, including one returned trooper who had been to South Africa in both the Third and Fifth Contingents. The men are a good sturdy lot, and should compare favorably with those from the rest of the colony. Wanganui, last night. So far 131 applications have been received by the local recruiting officers for the 20 vacancies in the Eighth Contingent, including 18 returned troopers and 15 mounted men. Palmerston North, last night. Some 222 applications have been received hero for inclusion in the Eighth Contingent. Christchurch, last night. After the first purging of the roll, the number of local applicants for the Eighth Contingent is about 515.