Notes from Te Awamutu.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 3083, 8 March 1880, Page 3

Notes from Te Awamutu.

CAVALRY INSPECTION,

March sth, 1880. The Te Awamutu Cavalry were inspected here this day by Colonel Lockie. The Troop which mustered 51, including officers and baud, paraded at 11 a.m. fully equipped and proceeded to " White Paddock Drill Ground," under command of Major Jackson Lieutenants Rutherford and Weatherill. At 11.30 Col. Leckie came on to the parade ground accompauied by Col. Lyon and stall". The troop then marched past at the "walk," and afterwards at the "galop;" forming open sections, went through the " pursuing sword practice," with and without the word of conmiaud. They then formed haif-sec-tions and marched from White's to Mr Rutherford's paddock where "chopping heads" and " ring tilting" practice was very creditably performed. They reformed troops, then half-sections and inarched to the butts. Here the order was jumping ott hurdles and rapidity firing at the target by half-sections ; some very excellent scoring was made—time allowed three minutes ; two hurdles. Best scores : Sergeant-Mnjor Higgioson and Sergeant K. Bruce, hits 19 (several centres and bulls-eyes) misses 4. At the conclusion of the drill the troop was marched up the rise and wheeled up so aa form two sides of an open square, facing inwards. Col. Leckio then addressing them said : "lam much pleased with what I have seen of you to-day. You seem to be a hardy body of men. When I was iv India, which I have but recently left, I was accustomed to see iv the Peshawar district (Punjab) the Native Cavalry. These men have swords which descend from father to son. They were wonderfully proficient in their horsemanship. In their leisure hours they practised "tent pegging." This is done by driving a slab of wood, of four inches wide, into the ground, leaving about a foot projecting. They rode as hard as they could go and endeavoured to run the point of their lances into the wood. If they succeeded the force of the blow raised the slab out of the ground and waved it over their heads ; if they missed the lance struck the earth, and rebounding, hit the trooper ou the back. Another of their exhibitions of skill was that of slicing lemons with their swords whilst ou horseback, tho lemons being fixed on posts at intervals of twenty yards. These men were now serving under Gough and Palliser." Col. Leckie continued: "The evolutions you have gone through were performed very creditably. I consider that you are very fortunate in obtaining the services of so able an instructor as Sergeant-Major Cailey. Under his tuition I have no doubt you will become very efficient." Col. Leckie then concluded his address and rode oft the ground. Among the spectators we noticed His Grace Archbishop Steins, Father Walter McDonald, and Father Golden, who were passing through Te Awamutu en route for Alexandra.

A concert in aid of the building fund of the Koman Catholic Church at Kihi Kihi will be held in the Public Hall here on Thursday next.—(Own Correspondent),