THE ENCAMPMENT.

Otago Witness, Volume 11, Issue 2280, 11 November 1897, Page 21

THE ENCAMPMENT.

The D aned iu Engineers, Dunedin - CitjK Guard/-, North Duuedin Rifles, and the Dunedin Highland Rifles went into camp at the Forbury racecourse on Wednesday, the 3rd. On arrival at tho grounds guards were mounted, and tbe men made themselves comfortable. Reveille sounded at 5 o'clock next morning, and the companies were engaged in drill' from 530t0 630 a.m. They then breakfasted, and afterwards proceeded to tlieir various employments iv town, and at the conclusion of the day returned to camp again. The following is the parade state :)— S'aff. — 1 lieutenant-colonel, 1 adjutant, 1 quartermaster, and v 2 staff -sergeants ;— total, 5. Dunedin Engineers. — 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 1 petty officer, 5 sergeants, 4 corporals, 2 buglers, and 44 privates ; -total, 58. Duuedin City Guards. — 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 1 putty ollicer, i sergeants, 3 corporals, 1 bugler, and 40 pi ivates;— total, 52. - North Dunedin Rifles.— l captain, 2 lieutenants, 1 pstty officer, 4 sergeant* , 4 corporals, 1 bugler, and 57 privates ;— total, 50. Dunedin Highland -Rifles.— l- captain, lMieu* tenant, 1 petty, officer, 4'sprgeaiits, 4 corporate, I bugler,- and' 3l privates j-zxotal, 43. Graud total. 208. . ' ' / . : - The B Battery New Zealand Artillery have a very good muster' prestnt in camp. Their msrehing-ia st&te was : — Captain. Ghalmter, Lieutenants Morris- and Baron, 1 sergeant* , msjor, 4- Be.rgejants, 3 corporals, 4- bornbarrfk-ra, 1 trumpeted and- 37 gunners—a total of 's3 out of 58, th'fiir full enroled strength. The. men march &d- out to.carop in good .'style aod arrived at Waverley at 9.10 p m. on' the 3rd, and speedily fettled in their quarters. On Thu slay morning they were exercis?d at gun drill under the various sergeant?, Lieutenant B»rou and Captain Chalmer instructing a squad in range finding with the field telemeter. In the evening Sergeant-major Bur bury, of the Permanent Artillery, arrived from Chrisfcchuroh to *Cj as instructor, and given good weather a de&l of utseful work should be put in during the time tbe battery is in camp. The programme for last night was gun drill under the icsttucfor, followed by a lecture on ammunition and fuses. The commissariat arrangements are under the charge of Battery Quartetmsster - sergeant Stewnrh, who has carried out his work well.

On Friday eveniog tbe rifles practised' attack formation with blank carttidge.'

The lime of the volunteers at tbe Forbury Park encampment ia being fully utilised, and there is every reason to believe that the men will derive valuable practical knowledge from their week's training. On Saturday »f t*rnoou I the Engineers were evgaged in bridge canstrnci tion. .The remainder of the force were thrown out along the sandhills between Lawyers Head and the Anderson's Bay road, taking up a position on the one side under Captain Smith and en the other tide nnder Captain Milne. The drill resolved itself into an.affair of outposts. M»ny mistakes were committed, as the men have had little practice in tnis sort of work on rough couni.tijy, but, on the. whole, useful work was done.'Colonel Webb, wljo acted as, umpire, pointed ; out, on the return of the- tnen-to-tbp camp, the mistakes .bhnt bad been made, ana no 'dntibb these will not be repeated* on a similar future occasion. . ■ • ' ' ,T .' ■"' ' '- •' .'- - • On Sunday morning the company put In tfwo solid hours- at battalion 'drill nnder Colonel '* Webb. The work performed was of an eminently satisfactory ' charcctec. The. Garrison Band was in attendance in the afternoon (as was also the case on the previous afternoon), and played appropriate music for the delectation of the men and of * Urge number of visitors. The ladies were entertained at afternoon tea, and in this reapect the officers wish to thank Mersrs R. Hudson- snd Co. for thoughtful kindness in sending ont a quantity of confectionery, biscuits, Sec. It might be also added .here that the whole of the men at the encampment are .highly pleased at the manner in which the contract for tho food supply is being undertaken. 'This important matter was entrusted to.. Me George Owld, of King street, and.. the officers have expressed a wish that their appreciation of the manner in which be is fulfilling his duties should be publicly notified. -

The following police officers will shortly be transferred -—Constable O'Holloran, Dunedin to Ash burton ; Constable Poolej KiviUogat* to Soutb.brid.ge (Canterbury) ; Constable Ferguson. Gore to Saitangata ; Constable Lawrence, Port Chalmers to , Gore.; .Constable ${iewart)i North Dunedin to Port Chalmers ; Constable HMfcioge, Waitati to Lawrence; Countable # pruxj-, 4ah« burton to Waitati. _ i __ ' , Influenza and* Bad' Coldr.-— Q. BoiwiNaatoN, of Chriftchaxeb.-wishei-to call, public attention to the fact that his* well-known article,; Oabbageen Irish Moss, is.being freely but tosebabl* imitated in the district of Otkgo, and would guard purchasers against beiDg misled hv sack . WQBXHXESS RBEPABATIOBV