Volunteer Display.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 265, 9 November 1888, Page 4

Volunteer Display.

SHAM FIGHT AND REVIEW AT

MANGERE

M.AXGERE was the scene of the mimic warfare by which our citizen soldiery loyally celebrated the anniversary of the Prince of Wales' birth. Ib is now pome considerable time since a volunteer display of any magnitude has been held in Auckland, arid during the intervening period the force has p'is3ed through many vicissitudes. Somocompanies .have been disbanded, others are weakened by resignations and transfers, and the strength of the garrison is no longer a matter of boast. In the face of these facts ; the muster and display to-day were creditable in the extreme. There were nearly 600 men of all ranks on the ground, and though some of the companies were noticeably weak, the average on the whole was food whea the various counter-attrac-tions are taken into consideration.! The plan of operations was a sham | 1 fight on Mangere Common, and sub- j i sequent review and march pnM. The morning opened clear and bright, and there was no indication up till 1U o'clock of the steady rain which set in subsequently and which marred the pleasure of the day's proceedings. THE ASSEMBLAGE. Seven o'clock was the time iixed for the j general muster, and both before and after j that hour the streets were alive with | fully ■ equipped volunteers on their j way to" the Drill-shed. The bati talions were formed in quarter column facing up Rutland-street, and shortly before eight o'clock the order to move was given. "The Navals, attired in their striking costume of white caps and jumpers, and blue trousers.iormod the rirsb battalion, and they were followed by the .Engineers, and rifle companies. The Artillery and Garrison Bands played appropriate nirs | on the march down Queen-street, and | early . though the hour was, tlrero were many spectators on the footpaths. The general"opinion was .favourable to the troops, who presented a steady, creditable and soldierly appearance. THE EMBARKATION. The Hamilton Light Infantry were drawn up on the railway platform, and saluted each company as'it passed. It was, however, noticeable that very few companies saluted in return. There was no unnecessary bustle or confusion at tho station. A train consisting of covered j waggons with a first class carriage for the officers was brought up to the siding, and each company was told off and seated itself in the compartment aiotted to it without delay or confusion. The carriage accommodation provided vvaa ' ample for tho whole force, and indeed there was plenty of room to spare. The trip to Onehunga was a pleasant and lively one, the bands playing merrily and the men joining enthusiastically in the songs and choruses, and enjoying themselves in every way in which enjoyment was possible. AT ONEHUNGA. Onehunga was reached about ten o'clock. Quite a number of the residents had assembled to witness the disembarkation of the troops, and the scene at tho station was a very animated and brilliant one. The Onehunga Rifles were already under anna in the stati-n reserve, and here the assembly was 1 sounded. The companies were again formed in two battalions, with the Artillery Band and Navals leading, and the Garrison Band at tho end of the rifle corps. Some little time was occupied in the distribution of blank ammunition, and the order was then given "Fours right, quick march." The distance to the scene of the day's operations was about two miles, and the volunteers were accompanied on their march thither by a number of vehicles, and many people of both sexes on foot. A halt was called soon after ten o'clock, by which time the troops were at a pretty spot at the base of the mountain on its south side. Colonel Shepherd was in command, with Major Pirie as Statf-Mftjor. The following is the correct parade state, showing the strength of each company on arrival at Mangere: — ARTILLERY BAND, Under Bandmaster Hunter. This band was assisted by several Navals and others, to whom instruments were lent by the Onehungans. Total strength 15. NO 1 BATTALION. Captain - Comuiandent Leßoy, Captain Gerrard, adjutant; acting bugler Keesing. Auckland N avals.— Captain Parker, Lieuts. Smith and Moore ; Rev. Father Walter McDonald, chaplain ; 7 non-com-missioned officeis and 1 bugler; 34 rank and file. Total, 46. Ponsonby Navals. — Captam Millor, Lieuts. Whitcly and MacKay, 3 f petty officers, 1 bugler and 50 rank and tile. Total, 37. Waitemata Navals.—Captain Hitchens, Lieut. Keesing, 3 petty officers, 1 bugler, 31 rank and file. Total, 37. Onehunga Navals. — Captain Hulse, Lieutenant Cullen, 3 potty officers, 34 rank and lile. Total, 39. Devoxpobt Navals.—Captain Dacre, 6 petty officers, and 17 rank and file. Total, 21 , „. Engineers.— This corps was under the connnmand of Major Anderson and Lieutenant Elmes. There were four sergeants and a bugler, and 25 rank and file while two men "were absent on pick and shovel duty. Total 32 NO. 2 BATTALION. Lieutenant-Colonel Dignan, Majors Isaacs and iiirnie, stafl" - sergeants Grant and Campbell. ■ ■»* Gareison Band—Bandmaster Morns; I Drum Major O'Brien, and 14 lnstnunental'ists; total, 17. .'■■•■

Hamilton Light Infantry Band, under Bandma^'ter Mettam, 13 instrumentalists ; total 14. Victoria Rifles.—Lieuts. Somers and, Eagleton, 4 officers, and. 15 rank and fiile. Total, 21. City Guards;-— Captain Kohn, Leiutenants Dormer and White, 6 non-eornmis-' sioned officers, and 21 rank and file. Total., 30. Hobson Hn'LTBS.--Captain Little, Lieutenants Dignan and .Nightingale^non-com-missioned officers aud 13 rank and file.,

Total, 20. Okehukga Rifles.— <■ aptain Waeteneys, Lieutenant Lundon and .Leahy, 5 non-com-missioned officers, and £6 rank and file. Total, 34. _ , , . Newton Rifles.—Captain ,R°bertson> y non-commissionod officers, 2 buglers, 21 rank and file. Total, 28. Royal Irish Rifles.—Captain Leahy* Lieutenant Tobin, 5 non - commissioned officers, 2 buglers, and 21 rank and file, . Father Hackett (chaplain). Total, ,31. Hamilton Light Istantkv. — Captain Reid, Lieutenant Edgecombe, 4 noncommissioned officers, ! bugler, and 40 rank and file. Total, 47. i AMBULANCE CORPS. I r*. Ambulance Corps followed No. 2 j R ; t ?.|i fln with the red cross flag flying j, i Ti i Ub 'la»<->e W(Won in- the rear, f and tue tuiiDw . «^ ■, y\, a \ t» t> «,«nn <W ol' Surgeon, .md Dr.*. Sight'S WalkeV ™« the offices present, and the W ™WtaL? 2Navals, 4 City Guardsmei., 1 Eugineei, and 1 A Battery Artilleryman. ARTILLERY. A BATTERY.-Thia corps followod at some distance behind the genial body c* , the troop?, and on reaching Mangeie bivouacZl in alfleld to the left of the road. , Lieutena.it - Colonel Payne was in com- ■ nittn d, and there were also preaont Captain Oeddes, Lieutenant Anse D sergeants, 1 bugler, and 40 Arbil cry men : Total, 50. They were armed . with four 9 pounder field p«cos;. Ihue was some dissatisfaction am^R™ »« «*"»' corns because of the absenceof b.wO Battu > who had remained in town t/> n» ™a salute. The grievance appeared to ™™™ the 0 Battery were differently tre^ 0" «| the other corps, and were not compel^" w turn out and take part in field duty. CAVALRY. The only troop of cavalry present was"1 the South Frnnklyn Mounted Infantry, under Major Harris, Lieutenants VVobafcer and Bilkey, and 40 non-commissioned officer.-, and rank and tile. Total, 43. i It will thus be seen that tho strength of , the first battalion, including engineers and • bandsmen, was 227, and of the second battalion 242, while with 93 cavalrymen . and artillery men. the grand total of all , ranks on parade was 562. , THE BATTLE FIELD. Man gore Common, the scene of operations, is a Government reserve of 395 acres. Almost iv the centre stands the Mangcre Mountain, the loftiest point of which is 333 foot above the sea level. Tho reserve is situated about two miles beyond Onchunga, j from which point it is reached by the Mangere Bridge and main rpud. The Mangore reserve was confiscated by the Government at the time of the Mnori War, and it has been held by the Crown over since. A better spot could not have been chosen | for tho mimic battle of to-day, both i from a spectator's point of view, and so far ats its configuration it suited, for military manoeuvres. The mountain itself muke.-> a ! splendid grand-stand, from which the whole of the proceedings can bo viewed, and its \ numerous coigns of vantage were thickly studded wib'i eager on-loo'^era fit an early hour. From an early hour in tho morning people flocked hitherirom all quarters. Tlie j country residents are especially well represented, while there aro also a lurge number of natives on theppot eagerly watching the | progress of events. i ! The country surrounding the Mangere j ' mountainchosenasthescencoftoday'smiiiuo; ! battle in of a hilly character, butnotso broken | as to interfere with tho spectators' view of j the proceedings. So far as its strategic position is concerned, it is pretty well agreed that it would prove practically impregnable in the eveut of actual attack by an" enemy. This, however, has been counter-balanced by concessions made in favour of the besieging party. DISPOSITION OF THE FORCES. After arrival on tho ground the volunteers wore divided into two bodies, as follows :— Attackino Force. — Two guns of the A Battery, South Franklin Mounted Infantry, Nos.2and 3 Battalions (including tho Hamilton Light Infantry). This party was placed under command of LieutenantColonel Dignan. Dkkknok i'oKCi..— Two guns of_ the A Battery, the Naval Artillery Battalion, and the Engineers, under command of Captain Commandant Leßoy. The attacking force marched to the country side of the mountain in the direc- , tion of Papatoitoi, and presented a very pretty bight, tho redcoats being particularly conspicuous. The defending force took up a position on the southern slopo of the mountain, forming a picturesque group in which the. Navals ; with their white jumpers wore tnotn conspicuous. The approaching forces now adopted the ! tactics of actual warfare, and pickets were ' told off to watch the movements of the enemy, and keep the officers in command fully posted up. The time was occupied by these prclimin- » ary arrangements up till about one o'clock, ■ when the arrival of the dinner-hour was an- ■ nouueod. i Each Company has its own canteen, and i everything so far has passed oft' in an i orderly and highly satisfactory manner. Tho weather unfortunately has proved | anything but propitious, and from 11 o'clock onwards, a heavy drizzling rain has been ■ falling on friend and foe alike. The spectators who assembled oarly in the day have taken temporary shelter or dispersed from the acene of strife, and no doubt many others have been prevented from comingout from town. THE SHAM FIGHT. The sham tight will commence at 2 p.m. and is expected to last till sor 6 o'clock, so bhat I cannot send you the result in time for this evening's issue. Both parties were eager for the fray this morning, but their ardour has no "doubt boon considerably i damped by the inconsiderate bohavour of Jupiter Pluvious. Tho scone of the struggle is a small • bridge across a creek about a mile distant • from the mountain, which the attacking : p.i.Tty will endeavour to take. When they discover that is defended by a strong force under Captain - Commandant Leßoy they will try a flank attaok on their left, with the Mounted Infantry ; then the Engineers are expected to throw up a breastwork and repulse the enemy. The attacking party having made this feint will endeavour to force the bridge and cross over, but they will be driven back by the guns of the defenders, while the mam force will repulse them all along the line. Matters of detail are of course left to the discretion and skill of the officers commandin"- the opposing forces, and Lieut.-Col. Shepherd, Lieut.-Col. Payne, and Major Pirie, will give the decision subsequently on the merits of tho tactics adopted.