PUBLIC EXCITEMENT. CALLED TO THE FRONT. iS O I ton currants or raisins. For the 220 horses, 90 days' daily rations: 12 lb. hay, 10 lb. oats, and 33 lb. bran. While on transport, 40 days, 10 tons hay, 5 tons oats, and 5 tons bran. Total quantities: 146 tons hay, 242,000 bushels oats, equal to no tons, and 103,400 bushels bran, equal to 46 tons."

It would be quite impossible to describe the sustained enthusiasm and excitement which was manifested throughout the colony. The following account written at the time appeared in a colonial journal, and commencing by recording the reception of the telegrams from England already mentioned, said: " Late on that Sunday night a grizzled old soldier, holding the rank of sergeant-major, lay quietly in bed, oblivious of the news that had arrived. Rat-a-tat-tat came a knock to the door.

Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he slowly turned out of bed and went to answer the call. A ' full private,' in his scarlet jumper, stood there stiff and straight as a post. ' Ordered to the front. Sergeant-major,' was the curt message. The sleep left the old veteran's eyes. He straightened himself, and, with every nerve thrilhng through his body, answered, 'Ready!'

When next morning the announcement of the acceptance of our troops was published in official form, and the government called for volunteers, there was but one cry from north to south, from east to west— ' Ready!' From little country villages hid away in the forest, from dusty towns out upon the parched plains, came pouring in telegrams in reply. ' We will send our five men,' cried a tiny settlement.

' We will send our twenty,' cried another.

' Here, take our hundred, and God bless the old land!'

cried still another; and so the answers came. Old men whose legs were stiff found them grow lissome, as, their eyes brightening at the news, they cried, 'Hurrah for old England!' and offered to carry a gun in the regiment and spill their blood for mother land. Women, not only in our midst but from far-off colonies, said, ' Send us to nurse the wounded; let us play our part;' and young girls, as Elaine for Launcelot, sat down to work the standards to be carried in the war. And far and near, from the squatter in the back blocks to the merchant in the city, came rich gifts of money.