LEAVING THE CAMP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 54, 5 March 1900, Page 5

LEAVING THE CAMP.

THE LAST DAY,

' The sharp notes of the reveille early I this morning in the "tented field" at I Potter's Paddock, Epsom, roused the ' Rough Riders to their last day in camp in Auckland —for some of them, I perhaps, the. last day they would ever spend in their native district. The ordinary drills were dispensed with, for every man had quite enough to do in packing his kit, seeing to his horse, and making the necessary preparations for departure. The "boys" emerged from their tents sleepily rubbing their eyes, for most of them had i a "late night" last night." The horses watered and fed, the next trouble was (breakfast. This over, the packing-up Ibegan. Long kit-bags of white.canvas, 'each labelled with "A.C." and . the j regimental number corresponding to each mah and horse, had been served out to the men, and into these they j crammed the multitudinous array of articles which go to make up the soldier's equipment for himself and horse. The kits pa„eked and laced up, were placed on carts and conveyed into town to the troop-steamer, with such, .of the camp equippage as was necesjsary to be taken with the volunteers. I During the morning the Rough Riders fell in, and Capt. Major presented the prizes won by the men on Saturday afternoon at the gymkhana. Mr j 11. T. Gorrie, one of the treasurers of J'the Rough Riders' Fund, was present, and, after the presentation was over, the men heartily cheered him. The next duty was the cleaning and I saddling of the horses, which had by this time finished their last feed on Auckland ground. Sacks for placing the saddles in on shipboard were strapped on in front of the saddles, and the other gear all seen to.' j- "Dress for parade," was the next ■ bugle call, and the Rongh; Riders,

some in singlets and riding-breeches, some in their workmanlike blue jerseys, left their horses and dived into their tents, where tunics were buttoned on, leggings buckled, and waterbottles and valises put on. "Here, Tommy," an excited voice could be heard, "come and show me which side you wear the water-bottle." "How do you get into this horse-collar," another would say, as he contemplated his rolled blanket. Many of the men started out with their blankets and their valises and water-bottles over ttfe wrong shoulders, but all was soon put; right and uniformity of appearance obtained. The "Assemble" was sounded at a quarter to eleven by the contingent bugler, and 'in a few minutes the whole company. was mounted and drawn up in column of sections, on the parade ground. The men and horses looked exceedingly well—the Rough Riders hardy, active and strong looking, and the horses Sturdy serviceable animals, quite gay in their bran-new saddles and bridles, and other gear. The men were all (with tho exception of eight) uniformed in. comfortable looking tunics of khaki cloth, with cord riding breeches and slouch felt hats looped up on one side. Each man wore round his neck a white lanyard, sailor fashion, attached to a strong clasp knife in his tunic pocket. "It'll come in, handy for scraping- gum, if w.o come across any in the Transvaal, eh, Bill?" said a big- fellow from Opitonui, and the section laughed at Phair's little joke. Each man carried his carbine, and many of them handled it as if it were a pet plaything. The. MartiniEnficld carbines are fine handy little weapon, light and well balanced. The.carbine is sighted up to 2000 yards and makes very accurate shooting. It was just eleven when the con-tingent—eighty-four officers and men in all —marched off from the camp for Auckland and the troopship. The fifth contingent men, some seventy in number had already gone on to the Railway Wharf to look after the shipping of the horses. The Rough Riders (in heavy marching order) looked very soldier-like with their carbines and bayonets and their load of blanket, worn horse-collarwise over the left shoulder, their felt-covered water bottles and their white valises. Capt. Abbott and Lieuts. Walker and Thomson took 'their placets, 'the parade wheeled into line, and then wheeled about, facing the camp. The camp nag. the Union Jack, was hauled I down amidst cheers, and was taken I possession of by the contingent, and I it is rumoured that when it is next j , hoisted in will bo in Pretoria. !

Two sections (eight men) of the Rough Riders wore blue jerseys, not having yet received their uniforms. These men, several of whom are from the Kaipara district, only reached the camp a couple of days ago. THE MARCH INTO . TOWN. "Sections about"Was the next order, and the long line of men and horses , faced the main road. Then, "Sections left wheel," "Company, walk, march," came the commands. The sections, each of four men) broke into halfsections, and. riding two by two, the line of armed horsemen moved off into the road, Lieutenant Walker taking the command.

Just outside the gate of the camp ground, on Manukau Road, the boys and girls attending the Epsom School were drawn up, under the teachers, and loudly cheered the Rough Riders as they passed. The route was taken at the walk for some time, then the order was given to "Trot," and thick clouds of dust rose from the road, I which marked. the. progress of the cavalcade. All along- the line of route, through Newmarket, up Kyber Pass and d<3wn Symonds-street to the Drill Hall, the passing of the body of horsemen was the signal for cheering- and shouts of cordial farewell greeting from the bystanders. The Contingent, which was accompanied by Captain Major, arrived at the Drill Hall shortly before noon. At the Hail paradeground the horses were unsaddled, and the. gear packed up in bags and sent down to the steamer Rotokino at the Railway Wharf. The horses, which ail had their head-ropes on ready, were then led down to the steamer, where the work of shipping them commenced. THE OFFICERS AND MEN. An inspection of the men in camp this morning fully bore out all that ] has been said as to their physique and fitness, taken as a whole. Drafted from country and town, from all parts of the Auckland district, they are the pick of the province, and should they have any fighting to do when they reach South Africa, our soldiers should do well. In their officers, too, a good choice has been made. Captain Fred W. Abbott, who goes in command of the Auckland company to Welington, and who it is expected may command one of the companies in South Africa, is a good volunteer infantry officer, though he has not had any experience ot mounted drill prior to' going into camp at Epsom. He is not the strongest of men to look at, but is nevertheless tough and wiry, and has been used to "roug-hing it." His profession is that of a mining engineer, and he has had some experience in the desert country of Central Australia. Captain Abbott is 34 years of age, and for some time past has been officer commanding the No. 2 Victoria. Rifles. He provided nis own horse and contributed £50 towards the Rough Riders' Fupd. Lieut. George H. Walker is a fine sturdy stamp.oi young Maorilander. He is 20 years of age, stands sft Sin and has a. chest measurement of 3Sin. He is just the sort of man for rough work in the country, and hundreds of similar hardy young fellows are to be found on the plain., of Taranaki and !in the Waikato. Mr Walker was in j charge of the New Zealand Dairy I Association's creamery at Kihikihi, j Waikato, when the call to arms came. Previoush' to coining here he resided lin Taranaki. His volunteering exI perienee was gained in the No. 3 Company of Waikato Mounted Rifles, be- | longing to Kihikihi and Cambridge, I and for upwards of two years he was ;in charge of the company. His prac--1 tical instruction in mounted infantry , was due to Captain J. Reid, of Hamilj ton, who is now adjutant of the Aucki land volunteer district. Mr Walker is a good rider and rifle shot, and has ! given the Fourth Contingent all their instruction in mounted infantry work j while in camp at Potter's Paddock. He ! provides his own horse, and the New T j Zealand Dairy Association have generously donated £50 to the funds of the ' Rough Riders contingent on his acI count. Mr Walker does not procec-d iin the Rotokino to Wellington, but J goes in the Government s.s. Hinemoa j from Onehung-a to-night to New Plyj mouth, where he bids good-bye to his j friends before going to Wellington.

Lieut. Wm. Thomson, of Bemuera, who is second lieutenant of the Auckland company, is a tall, actiA-e young man of 27 years of age. He has had

no previous experience in mounted work, but possesses a good knowledge of infantry work, and is a first-class shot. For two years he served as a gunner in the Permanent Artillery Force, and he has been two years as lieutenant in the No. 3 N.Z. Native Rifle volunteers. He provides his own horse. The non-commissioned officers and men, taken all. round, are a really good, serviceable body. As may be imagined, the. country-bred men are the pick of the lot. Such men as George Steele, of Rotorua. John Swan, of Raglan, Walter Hickson, of: Ellerslie, j Wilson Withers and Kennedy Ross, of | Opotiki, Alfred Holmes, of Waiuku, I and Burnett and Munro, of Wairoa South, ore fine specimens of the sturdy young- colonial, accustomed to horses and to life in the open. Although no full-blooded Maoris are accepted by the Government, there are several halfcastes in the Auckland company, including William Thompson, a youngfellow from Kihikihi; Wilson Withers, from Opotiki; and Grey Holden, from Rangiaohia, Waikato. Wither (whose Maori name is Puke) is a tall, handsome young fellow, of great personal strength—splendid specimen of the half-caste Maori. One oT the sergeants, Joe Long-, of Rangiaohia, Waikato, is a nephew of the late Major- William Jackson, of Kihikihi. Long is 23 years of age, and was for upwards .of two years in the No. 3 Waikato Mounted Rifles, under Lieut. Walker. Sergeant'Hickson, 2S years of age, is a well set-up, smart fellow, who served four years in the N.S.W. Volunteer Artillery ("A" Battery). Quarter-mnster-Sergt. T. H. Dawson is 22 years of age, but has had a good training as a volunteer, and was lately ColourSergeant in the College Rifles. He is a son of Lieut.-Col. Brigade-Surgeon Dawson. Serg-eant Shera is a Very capable young- non-com., whose volunteer experience was gained in the College Rifles.

Several of the Rough Riders have had their horses and equipments provided by the patriotic residents of their districts. The Whangarei, Wairoa South and Opotiki men have in this way been provided for by their friends and well-wishers. One of the men, "Mick" Canavan, a smart and lively "boy," who is well known as a carter in Auckland, has had his horse and full equipment given by his late employers, Messrs Andrew Bros.

Comparatively few of the Rough Riders have had previous experience in mounted volunteer work. Amongst those who have are John Swan, a stalwart young Raglan settler, who was four years in the mounted troop at Te* Awamutu, formerly the Awamu.u Cavalry, and afterwards converted into mounted infantry; Alfred J. Holmes, of Waiuku, aged 24, was for two years in the Waiuku Cavalry, now disbanded, which was formerly one of the crack cavalry troops of the colony. George Wilkinson, of Ellerslie, who goes with the contingent as farriersergeant, is a son of Mr George Wilkinson, blacksmith,, who was formerly a non-commissioned officer in the old Te Awamutu Cavalry, under Major Jackson.

There are two buglers in the contingent, Salmon and Mclndoe. but the former being a good marksman and volunteer, will, it is expected, do ordinary duty as a trooper.

Amongst the troopers who lately joined is Frank W. Wylie, who gained his out-of-door experience in the desolate country around old Fort Galatea, fifty miles beyond Rotorua. Trooper Wylie's father is the teacher of the native school at Galatea, which is on the Rangita.iki River, just on the borders of the Urewera Country. THE RATES OF FAY. The following is the scale of rates of pay for the members of the Fourth New Zealand Contingent:—Major, 21/ per diem (seven days); captain, 15/ per diem; lieutenant, 11/ per day; surgeon, 18/ per day; staff, sergeants, S/ per day; farrier sergeants, 7/ a day; sergeants, 0/ per day; corporals, 5/ per day; buglers, 4/ per day; privates, 4/ per day, farriers, 7/ per day; saddlers, 7/ per day. THE ROUGH RIDERS' EQUIPMENT. The personal equipment for officers and men when on active service is as follows:—Two khaki tunics, one slouch hat, one field service cap, one pair leggings,' two pair .ridingbreeches, two pairs, boots, three pairs shoes, three pairs socks, two undershirts, three grey shirts, three pair drawers, three cholera belts, one pair braces, one pair spurs, one great coat, one hold-all (complete with knife, fork and spoon, brush and comb and housewife), one clasp knife and lanyard, two blankets, one waterproof sheet, three towels, one blue jersey, one kit bag, one set shoe brushes, one blacking tin, one woollen cap, one pair serge trousers. HORSE EQUIPMENT. The horse equipment, one set per h»rse, is as under:—Saddle (complete with wallets), shoe pockets, breastplates, girths, surcingles, stirrupleathers and irons, bridles, surcing-les with pads, head-stalls (for ship use), head-ropes, heel-ropes, picketingropes and pegs, forage nets and cords, nosebags, horse-blankets, hoofpickers, currycombs, horse brushes, sponge and rubber. TIIE CONTINGENT. The Auckland detachment numbers 83 men all told. The following is a list of the names: — THE COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. Captain F. W. Abbott, Auckland, age 24. Officer commanding Victoria Rifles. Lieutenant Geo. 11. Walker, Kihikihi, age 2G. Officer commanding No. 3 Waikato Mounted Rifles. Lieutenant Wm. Thomson, Remuera, age 27. Lieutenant, commanding No. 3 Native Rifles. NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. Sergeant-Major Charles Browne, Onehunga, age 24. Quartermaster-Sergeant T. H. Dawson, Symonds-street, age 22. Sergeant Joseph Long, Kihikihi, age 23. Sergeant Walter Hickson, Ellerslie, age 2S. Sergeant G. Steele, Rotorua, age 29. Sergeant J. D. G. Shera, Remuera, age. 20. Farrier-Sergeant Geo. Wilkinson, Ellerslie, age 22. Saddler-Sergeant W. A. Craig, Sj'-monds-street, age 29. Corporal Cofledge, Auckland, age 20. Corporal John E. Alexander, Auckland, age 21. Corporal W. Newdick, Waihi, age 24. Corporal Charles Phair, Opitonui, age 27. BUGLERS. Chas. Mclndoe, Devonport, 13. ' Harry Salmon, Te Aroha, 22.

TROOPERS. ! ~" W. Topp, Dargaville, 27. Francis Miller, Jervois Road, Poa« sonby, 26. J. F. Moonlight, Te Kuiti, 32. .j Frank Barclay, Auckland, 34. J. Tanner, Te Puke, Tauranga, 32. *! J. CPa Hon, Dargaville, 24. . 4 | 11. Patton, Da.rgaville, 28. :"i Louis Sjoberg, Dargaville, 39. . A Alfred Aldred, Archhill, 25. >.; Alfred Jackson, Onehunga, 21. '■: Herbert Swainsou Atkinson, Parnell, 23. Chas. Wheeler, Clevedon, 23. Percy Firth, Remuera, 20. Morris Davis, Waikino, 25. • Richard Pearce, Auckland, 22. Edwin Sutherland, Napier-street, Edward Clark, Carlton Gore Road, 25. Walter Hubbard, Paeroa, 25. Herbert Robinson, Mano-ere, 22. .1 Wm. Olive, Newmarket. 22.' Wm. J. O'Dowd, Symonds-street, 24. John Sorenson, Mangere, 20. .Michael Cnnavan, Lome-street, 27. Wm. 11. Warburton, Eden-street* P. John F. Jackson, Northcote, 2S. i Peter Keith, Queen-street, 23. Edward Davis, Ellerslie, 22. J If. N. Taylor, Whangarei, 30. '■ ; John Swarm, Raglan, 32. j Alex. Suttie, Onehunga, 31. John J. Cunningham, King Country, 2S. . Arthur Paynter, Ngaruawahia, 23. Henry G. Cameron, Kihikihi, 23. Chas. Power, Morrinsville, 32. / W. Thomson, Kihikihi, 20. i Percy Mandeno, Te Awamutu, 21. j Grey Holden, Te Awamutu, 23. ' Barton Bollond, Cambridge, 25. * Jas. Condon, Wairoa South, 25. ' Geo. McEwin, Papakura, 21. : Richard E. Burnett, Wairoa South. 21. ' Chas. Monro, Clevedon, 24. ; Walter Gibson, Opitonui, 26. Geo. Henderson, Mauiigakaramea, 29. Justley Hill, Kaipara, 32. j Christopher Berry, Pirongia, 21. [ E. Bailey, Ngaruawahia, 21. j H. Corlett, Rotorua, 29. 11 W. S. Harris, Tuakau, 21. j Gerald McHardy, Whangarei, 25. j William Millar, Te Awamutu, 28. ! G. B. Peacocke, Devonport, 20. \ Wilson Wither, Opotiki, 31. "-. W. J. Wigmore, Remuera, 23. J. L. Eunciman, Mount-street, Auckland, 25. F. W. Wylie, Galatea, 25. I H. Draper, Remuera, 24. | K. Ross, Opotiki, 23. John Pile, Opotiki, 25. i W. Brad shaw, William Ruddle, Geo. Wilkins, J. S. Brown, J. H. Smith, — Hattaway, E. Goodwin, Frank M. Nightingale. THE ROTOKINO. The steamer Rotokino was brought down from Chelsea to the Railway Wharf on Saturday afternoon, where Mr C. Bailey at once put on a number of workmen to fit up the horse stalls. The work was gone on with all day, yesterday, and Avas completed at one p.m. to-day. Mr Bailey deserves every; credit for the prompt and able manner in which the work was carried out. Ninety stalls have been built, there being- 24 on.each side of the fore deck, and 22 on each side of the main deck. Each stall measures 9ft by 3ft, ample room being thus provided for each horse. The stalls are of strongly built kauri, and so well put together that they.would last for the voyage to the Cape. Canvas awnings are placed above the horses for protection from the weather. The decks have been covered with kauri, with cross pieces to prevent the horses slipping.

No alterations Avere necessary for the accommodation'of the men, there being ample room for them in the passengers' cabins. The saloon will accommodate about thirty, and the remainder AA'ill sleep in the steerage I, compartments. ' FABEWELL TO CAPT. ABBOTT. A farewell smoke concert was. tendered to Captain Abbott at the Odd- • fellows' Hall, Lower Cook-street, on Saturday evening by the officers and men of the _\o. 2 Victoria Bifles. Lieut. ShaAV presided; with Captain Abbott on his right and Lieut. Knight on his left. In proposing- the toast > of "Our Guest, Captain Abbott," the chairman gave expression to the ; pleasure it afforded the company to see their captain occupying the important post of. commander of the Auckland Bough Biders. That pleasure, he said, Avas tempered Avith regret at the fact that they were losing a popular officer and a staunch friend. On behalf of the company Lieut. ShaAV AA-ished their captain God-sjieed and a safe return. Captain Abbott in reply thanked the company for their good Avishes, and hoped that should occasion/ arise he would prove himself AA-orthy. of the trust place in him by the people of Auckland. Captain Baume and Sergt.-Major Carpenter also made eulogistic reference to the guest of the evening-, and Captain Abbott's health was drunk Avith enthusiasm, the company singing "Por He's a Jolly Good Fellow" with great heartiness, folloAving this up with cheers. An excellent musical programme was gone through during the evening, Mr Alf. Bartley acting as accompanist. Captain Baume recited a stirring- patriotic poem, "Old England Call," composed by himself. "' " , (Continued on Page 2.)