WITH THE ENGINEERS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9278, 2 December 1895, Page 5

WITH THE ENGINEERS.

(BY OCR SPECIAL REPORTER.)

Military displays of any kind have an irresistible attraction for tbe ladies, and that oa Saturday of the Engineers, with the added inducement of a " blow-up," in which art—-if soma malicious detractors aro to be believed—the fair sex are no mean proficients, gathered together a very large number. The trysting place was New Brighton, where the Engineers have been camping for a week, and tbe midday trams were crowded to overflowing not only with returning residents but also citizens out for an afternoon's pleasure, which woe to include the military display. The spot chosen was some little distance down the river to the eastward of the Sailing Club shed. Here a detachment of Sappers and Miners in fatigue uniform were to be seen busily engaged lashins casks together very deftly in order to bridge the Avon. The work was very expeditioualy performed, and though lashing casks together is not by any means an exciting sight for lookers-on, the population of New Brighton, particularly the fairer portion, which had mustered in great force, looked on with much interest. Whether it was tnought that there was a j dark and dire conspiracy on the part of the New Brighton people to blow up the bridge and capture the detachment ib is hard to I say, but the working party were elaborately protected by a cordon of sentries, who were quite as energetic at " moving en" anyone who stopped within the magic circle as our policemen are in the streets of the city. Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon was tbe inspectiug officer, Captain McGee and Lieutenants Auderaou and Bridgman being in charge of the corps. Rev. W. S. Bean, chaplain to the corps, was also present. Staff Sergeant-Major Purvis acted as instructor. The bridging party were in charge of Lieutenant Anderson and Sergeant Watts. The bridge was a five-pier infantry bridge, 76ft long from bank to bank. In order to diversify the proceedings and to vary the monotony of watching the bridge building, a small party under Captain McGee crossed the river and exploded a land mine, containing 501b of powder. Some little excitement and amusement—to those not immediately concerned —was caused by the rout of a small army of photographic fiends, who had taken up their position on the river bank. A regular shower of earth clods falling amongst them induced a brilliantly executed strategic movement to the rear in double quick time. But this wae not the event of tbe day, nor that which we went out for to see. This came somewhat unexpectedly as far as mining was concerned. In addition to the land mine two submarine explosions had been planned—-one containing 1001b of powder tightly packed in an iron drum. The mine was sunk about 12fb deep and the wires connected with a battery situated about 200 yards off. The exploder was pressed by Mrs Bean, wife of the chaplain. The explosion went off pretty tamely, and those who did not know that this was only the overture to the performance thought they had wasted their afternoon. Presently, however, there was a rush and a roar, the earth trembled, and skyward shot a dense column of water up to a great height. Everyone was charmed, and every eye was turned towards the sight with intense satisfaction. But, alas, this satisfaction was bub shortlived. The strong east wind blowing caught the ascending column of water, and sent it with the force of a jet from a powerful steam fire engine right into the centre of the crowd. For a second or two there was hesitation, but as the downpour became stronger every one, ladies, children and men, turned and fled. Some record performances for a couple of hundred yards -were made, but as all were too busily engaged in dodging the falling shower no watches were able to be consulted, which. is to be regretted. The mine on this occasion was only laid some sft, hence the more satisfactory explosion—the Water being thrown some 300 feet in the air. Mre McGee, the wife of the captain of the corps, fired the mine, and the explosion, which was the highest yet seen here, and probably also the wettest ever' experienced, was a complete success from a sight seeing point of view, though perhaps some of the ladies whose brilliant toilettes suffered may nave a different opinion. Two signalling parties, under L. M. Sergeant Hean and Corporal Hawley, were transmitting measages during the day &t 2000 yards distance very successfully, and the Engineers' Band, under Bandmaster Pooley, played several selections very nicely. ,