326
Enclosure 6 in No. 40.
From LORD TENNYSON, Governor of South Australia, Adelaide, to the HIGH
COMMISSIONER, Cape Town.
TELEGRAM.
1st December, 1899. Ministers request me to telegraph thanks of this Govern- ment for your kind telegram re South Australian contingent, and assurances of their cordial sympathy, in which I most heartily concur.-TENNYSON.
35969
SIR,
No. 41.
NEW ZEALAND.
AGENT-GENERAL to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received December 27, 1899.)
[Answered by No. 42].
1
Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W.,
December 27, 1899.
I HAVE the honour to inform you that the Government of New Zealand has re- ecived an offer from the Armstrong Elswick Company of a battery of four machine guns, rifle calibre, Hotchkiss pattern, with pack saddles and equipment complete for use during the South African war. This offer has been accepted by the New Zealand Government subject to the approval of Her Majesty's War Department and to the settlement with the Elswick Company of certain details which, I have no doubt, will be satisfactorily arranged in the course of a few days.
The New Zealand Government is therefore anxious to learn from the War De- partment whether the Imperial authorities will be pleased to approve of their accepting the Elswick Company's offer, and whether they will favourably entertain the proposal of the New Zealand Government to send to South Africa the men and horses necessary to the efficient working of the said guus. The number of men required is forty, and of horses forty also, and these, it is hoped, would arrive at Cape Town about the middle of February. The New Zealand Government would ask the Imperial authorities, for their part, to forward the battery, with a competent officer in charge, to meet the men at Cape Town. That an officer competent to instruct the men in the use of the guns should be sent out is, in my Government's opinion, absolutely necessary, as the employ- ment of Hotchkiss guns is to a certain extent experimental, though it is understood that two similar weapons are at present being used by the Natal forces. The ammunition being the small arm ammunition in use in the British Army, no difficulties are likely to arise in respect of
As time is of great importance in the matter, I should be very much obliged if the decision of the War Office could be communicated to me as soon as may be conveniently possible, in order that I may inform my Government by cable, and so enable them to make definite arrangements for the despatch of the men and horses.
35969
SIR,
No. 42.
I have, &c.,
W. P. REEVES,
Agent-General. -
NEW ZEALAND.
COLONIAL OFFICE to AGENT-GENERAL.
Downing Street, December 27, 1899.
1 Aw directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of to-day's date, on the subject of the offer of the Government of New Zealand to`, und eut to South Africa the men and horses necessary for the working of four Ilotchkiss inchine guns, which have been place l at the disposal of the Government by the Armstrong Elswick Company.
15
I am to enclose a copy of a telegram* sant to the Governor of New Zealand on the 24th instant, from which you will observe that the offer made through you to the War Office has already been gratefully accepted, and that Her Majesty's Government will forward the guns, and, if so desired, a competent officer in charge, to South Africa.
In the offer of a second contingent for South African service received from New Zealand by a telegram of the 20th instant (of which a copy is enclosed, together with copy of the reply returned on the same day) mention is made of four Hotchkiss guns, and Mr. Chamberlain understands that the guns are the same as those which have since been offered through yourself.
I am, &c.,
36072
No. 43.
NEW ZEALAND.
C. P. LUCAS.
Governor the EARL OF RANFURLY to MR. CHAMBERLAIN,
(Received 10.8 a.m., December 28, 1899. TELEGRAM.
Your telegram of 24th December.§ NewZealand contingent consists of two com- panies of mounted infantry, one major, two captains, six lieutenants, 204 non-com- inissioned officers and men, 250 horses; no regimental or other transport. Captain Montagu Cradock, late 6th Dragoon Guards, sails as Major in charge. Contingent, which is taking 500 rounds of ammunition per man, sail about 15th January, arrive South Africa 16th February. Machine gun detachment, two officers, thirty non- commissioned officers and men, fifty horses; no ammunition or transport with this detachment. Will telegraph as soon as possible further details.
36107
No. 44.
NEW ZEALAND.
}
GOVERNOR THE EARL OF RANFURLY to MR. CHAMBERLAIN. (Received 6 à.m., December 29, 1899.)
TELEGRAM.
[Auswered by No. 51.]
Referring to my telegram of 28th December, following will go with contingent :- Farriers, saddlers, personal and regimental equipments (including camp equipment), saddlery, stable and picketing gear, nose-bags, grooming kits, horse-shoes, farriers' tools. Owing to want of information here, Agent-General is requested to arrange details with War Office, regarding Hotchkiss detachment. At what port shall contin- gent disembark?
36107
SIR,
No. 45.
NEW ZEALAND.
COLONIAL OFFICE to AGENT-GENERAL.
Downing Street, December 29, 1899. I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to transmit to you, with reference to the letter from this Office of the 27th instant, copy of a telegram** from the Governor of New Zealand, respecting the second Colonial contingent for service in South Africa.
Mr. Chamberlain presumes that you will place yourself in communication with the War Office as to the arrangements for the despatch of the Hotchkiss battery offered by the Armstrong Elswick Company.
I am, &c.,
R. L. ANTROBUS.
* No. 11.
• No. 38.
↑ No. 17.
No. 42.
‡ No. 22.
** No. 1f No. 38.
No. 43.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference:-
TL
ICO885
7
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE. LONDON
36295
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