Auckland, February 24. Mr H. D. Bennetts office in Palnaerston Buildings, was beseiged by applicants this morning, desiring their names to be placed on the roll of his proposed Free Naval Contingent, among them were several ex Naval Officers, with moßt excellent dis charges from the Royal Navy, and one with special certificates on torpedo and big gunnery, and marine mine work. Mr G. Hazell, late Rough Riding Ser geant-Major in Her Majesty's service, and now of the Riding School, on New North Road, has written to the Hon. the Minister, of Defence, offering, if required, his own services, and the use of his riding school, for the instruction of a cavalry troop in mounted and dismounted drill, sword, carbine, and lance exercise, free of all charge, if it is determined to send such a force to the Soudan. Thames, February 24. A number of Thames Volunteers have ex pressed their willingness to join a New Zealand contingent for the Soudan if such should be organised, Christchurch, February 21. Captain Hammersley, of the C Battery, and Captain Martin, of the E Battery, offer to proceed to the Soudan, the former with 50 men from the South, the latter with 30 men of his Battery. The offer has been forwarded to the Government by Colonel McLean. Dunedin, February 21. Mr F. Fulton, who recently forwarded to His Excellency the Governor an offer to raise and equip, with the assistance of friends in Dunedin, a corps for despatch to the seat of war in tho Soudan, has received the following reply from His Excellency :— "Christchurch, February 20, 1885, 11.50 a.m. — Received your telegram yesterday afternoon. Appeciate highly the loyalty of yourself ar.d all concerned. I cannot reply, however, till I have obtained the opinion of my Ministers. — W. F. D. Jervois." In the meantime, Mr Fulton is busily engaged in enlisting recruits, and has met with great success. Port Chalmers, Sunday. The Port Chalmers Naval Artillery have offered to proceed to the goudan. The men are principally seamen, and if the offer is accepted would be found very useful.
