VOLUNTEER FIELD DAY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9735, 25 May 1897, Page 3

VOLUNTEER FIELD DAY.

SHAM FIGHT.

THE BATTLE"OF CHANEY'S CORNER.

The Volunteers composing the Christchurch, Lyttelton and Northern corps held a field day yesterday in honour of the Queen's Birthday, and were engaged in * sham fight, which took place at Chaney's Comer, a suitable locality on the .North road, about eight miles from Christchurch. The Lyttelton corps proceeded to Christchurch by the 6.45 a.m. train, and thence with the town infantry companies to Chaney's by thei 7.55 a,m. train. The E Battery with two guns and the Mounted. Rifles went by road at 6 a.m. The Rangiora Rifles and Kaiapoi Rifles marched from Kaiapoi at 7.15 a.m. to White's bridge, where they were joined by the Engineers. The parade state was as under: — Mouuted Rifles—Capt. Snow ... 45 Navals—Lieut.-Commanding Joyce ... 40 E Battery—Capt. Donald ... ... 28 N Battery—Capt. Mclntyre ... .- 35 Engineers—Lieut. Anderson ... .« 22 City Rifles—Lieut. Fairbnrn.., ... 46 College Rifles—Lieut. Smith... 31 City Guards —Capt. Cress well ... 50 Kaiapoi Rifles—Capt. Miller... ... 25 Rangiora Rifles—Lieut. D'Auvergne ... 35 Total ... 353 Garrison Band - Bandmaster Searell .. 14 District Staff—Lieut.-Colonel Gordon, Major Slater, Sergeants-Major Barrett and Purvis. Battalion Staff—Lieut.-Colonel Francis, Captain Day (Acting-Major)/ Captain Hobday (Acting-Adjutant), Captain Helmore, Sergeant.- Major Foster, QuartermasterSergeant Miller, Drs. Irving and Parsons, and the Rev. E. E. Chambers (Chaplain). The idea to be cai-ried out was that of an enemy having landed somewhere north of the YVftirnakariri, and having advanced towards Christchurch as far as White's bridge on the Main North road and the railway bridge at Stewart's gully ; and the neighbourhood of Chaney's Corner was selected by the officer commanding the Christchurch district as the most suitable place to check, if possible, any further advance. The position was an excellent onefromthedefenders'pointof view,provided they were first in position. It afforded plenty of good cover for outpost and skirmishing work, and when necessary a retreat could be made to the artillery and reserves posted in a position commanding at least three roads of approach and practically the only means of access for the enemy from their position. The locality was equally favourable for the operations of the enemy should they successfully occupy the plantations along the railway line and to their left, and those ou the Waimakariri bank to their right.