In reply to Captain Russell, the PRE MIER said that he had cabled to Lord Roberts with respect to the filling up of the vacancies for commissions in the Imperial Army, offered to New Zealand Contingents, pointing out the danger of delay. Mr Seddon went on to say that he thought he would have to go back upon his previous statement, and make ten appointments him self. There were ninety applications, and his difficult was how to" make the selection of ten out of this number. The be-st way, he thought, would: bs to select by lot. He had intimated tihat he objected to the mem bers of the Contingents joining the police force in South Africa, and to that objection Lord Roberts had replied that the police duties were as important as any others. The New Zealanders had already done excellent work, and he hoped they would be allowed to remain. In the face of that request, he withdrew his opposition. Still, he would insist when the war was over, that the men should come home. It would then be at their option to return to South Africa. THE ESTIMATES. The House resumed in Committee on the General Estimates. Class 10, Mine 3 Department, £19,714. At the item, £600, petrological examina tions in London, Mr NAPIER contended that there were plenty of qualified men who had been instructed in the colony, who were competent to fulfil the duties. Mr McGOWAN said that the colony did not possess proper appliances for properly classifying the geological specimens of the colony.
Mr W. FRASER raised the question of the School of Mines, contending that the sum voted was not sufficient for the Dunedin School, which for years has been partly supported out of University funds.
