THE VOLUNTEER ENCAMPMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 75, 30 March 1899, Page 2

THE VOLUNTEER ENCAMPMENT.

To-night the volunteer forces of the Auckland district go into camp at Potter's Paddock, Epsom, for their annual course of instruction under canvas. A fatigue party from the Premanent Force, under SergeantMajor Bush, commenced the work of tent pitching yesterday, and put up about a hundred and fifty tents and marquees. The remainder of the tents were pitched to-day. Most of them are located in the paddock on the Newmarket side of the football ground, while some are in Potter's Paddock itself. The baggage belonging to the garrison companies was taken to camp this morning, and unpacked in readiness for the arrival of the volunteers in camp to - night. The No. 1 Battalion of Infantry, with the Garrison Band and the Bearer Company, parade at the Drill Hall this evening at 7.30, and march thence to camp, while the A Battery parade with their guns half-an-hour earlier. The Waikato Mounted Rifle Companies arrived by train this afternoon, .and de-training at Remuera proceeded to Potter's Paddock. The Companies from Onehunga, Thames, Coromandel, Te Aroha, and Ohinemuri all go into camp this evening, the Thames Rifles and Hauraki Rifles going across to Devonport to join the Ponsonby Navals and . Devonport Coastguards. The ' Easter •• Encampment this year will be on a larger scale than last year, owing to the large number of companies that have come into existence since the last encampment.' Whereas last year there were some TOO or 800 men in camp, it is expected that over 1,000 men will be under canvas at Potter's Paddock, and over 200 at Devonport. • The Devonport Coastguard Artillery Volunteers go into camp to-night at Fort Takapuna, and the Hauraki Rifles and Thames Rifles will also encamp at the same place. The whole force at Takapuna, numbering 250, will be under the command of BatteryCommander Captain Napier. A. programme of, drilling and manning the forts for action and other interesting work has been prepared and will be carried out. The Naval Corps will encamp at Fort Cautley. The whole force at the North Shore is expected to. reach 500. The chief command over all arms will be exercised by FireCommander Captain MacKenzie, R.A. Captain Coyle, R.E., will manipulate the electric light and superintend the submarine mines. On Monday, the Coastguards will proceed by boat to defend the Bastion Fort, which'will be attacked in rear by the. Infantry Battalion from Epsom, under Major Murray. The whole- four days' arrangements have been mapped out by Captain MacKenzie so as to afford the maximum amount of' instruction to the troops engaged. In addition to the camp appointments already announced, others have been made as follows:—Capt. Baume to be orderly officer to Lieut.-Colonel Sheppard; Lieut. Robb to be Quartermaster to the No. 2 Infantry Battalion; Quartermaster-Sergeant Kearsley to be camp Quartermaster-Sergeant. Mr J. S. Kidd, manager of the Tramways, announces elsewhere that a special bus service will be run to the Volunteer Encampment to-morrow (Good Friday) and on Sunday next. On Saturday and Easter Monday there .will be a fast tram-car service to the encampment.