PREPARATIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. I 75 the subject. In this minute it was stated that Mr. Dalley had already conferred with Colonel Richardson, the colonel-commandant of the forces in New South Wales, and with Colonel Roberts, the officer commanding the N. S. W. artillery, commonly known as the Permanent Force. From Colonel Richardson he ascertained that there would be no difficulty in raising a large body of trained and efficient infantry for the proposed service from among the volunteers of the country; and from Colonel Roberts he learned that two or three batteries of permanent artillery were available for active service. Mr. Dalley also saw Mr. Yuill, the local manager of the Orient steamship company, and ascertained from him that the means of transport could be obtained. This was a prompt movement, and as promptly the proposal was unanimously approved of by the cabinet, and the following cablegram was, at noon, despatched to Sir Saul Samuel, the agent-general of the colony in London: " The government offer to her Majesty's government two batteries of its Permanent Field Artillery, with ten i6-lb. guns, properly horsed: also an effective and disciplined battalion of infantry 500 strong; the artillery will be under the command ot Colonel Roberts, R.A. ; the whole force under the command of Colonel Richardson, the commandant; and undertaking to land the force at Suakim within thirty days from embarkation. Reply at once.—W. B. Dalley. 12th February, 1885." The object of the government in making this offer was explained by Mr. Dalley, as to testify the readiness of the Australian colonies to give instant and practical help to the empire in its emergency, conceiving that such a course could not be without a beneficial effect upon those who, in dealing adversely with the imperial interests, fail to recognize the esteem, the sympathy, and the adherence of the colonies. Pending the receipt of an answer from the imperial government, all the necessary arrangements were put in train, so that in the event of the offer being accepted active preparations might commence at once.

It may be said that promises of large money subscriptions began to be made directly the notion of an Australian contingent