THE VOLUNTEERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CI, Issue 11885, 8 May 1899, Page 6

THE VOLUNTEERS.

OUTPOSr WORK AT HAGLEY PARE. On Saturday evening about two hundred volunteers were practised in outpost and attack work at Hagley Park, blank cartridge being used. The force was divided into two portions. The College Rifles, Imperial Rifles and Cyclists Corps, under Captain Charlewood, formed a line of outposts and threw out sentries across Hagley Park, the left of the line resting on Helmoro’s Bridge, and rho right on the footbridge leading from the North Park to the acclimatisation gardens. The main body was supposed to be in the vicinity of.-the Riccarton Hotel, hiving an attack upon Christchurch as its immediate object. The lines thus formed were to be attacked by the Christchurch defending force, consisting of the City Guards and City Rifles, under the command of Captain CreswelL. The umpire-in-chief was Colonel Gordon, with him Major Slater, and the umpires were Majors. Day and Wolfe, Captain and Adjutant Hobday, Captains Helmore, Snow, Dougalland Donald, and Surgeon-Captain Parsons. The night was fine but intensely dark. Shortly after 9 p.m. the cyclists were on the move taking up their positions, and their bright lamps could be seen flashing along, all the northern tracks in the Park. An hour later, Captain Charlewood’s men took up their positions, the main body being, concentrated on Helmore’s Road, and in the adjacent plantations. The College Rifles, whose main body was placed in the south plantation, established two lamp-signalling parties, one of which was placed near the turnstile leading from the Park to Helmore’s Road, while the other was to the west of Victoria water. The .defending force under Captain Greswell now entered the Park, and as their opponents held their ground, became the attacking party. At 10.20 p.m. the first shot was fired, and a few more were heard at 10.32 p.m. and 11.20 p.m., which, from their infrequency, were evidently “ pots ” exchanged between the sentries. Shortly before midnight two breathless sentries reported to Lieutenant Marciel, of the Imperial Rifles, that a large body of the enemy was moving on the turnstile at Helmore’s Road. Almost immediately afterwards a hot fire was opened from both sides of the Park Road, and in a semi-circle round the Imperial Rifles, who were stationed at the turnstile. After a few minutes the “cea.se fire” was sounded, and the umpires examined the disposition of the men, A decision was promptly given in favour of the attack under Captain Greswell, which had outflanked the enemy, and had opposed him at the critical point with a strongly concentrated force. The' men were then marched to Captain Charlewood’s residence on the River Road, where, after they had been dismissed, ample refreshment was provided by. their host. Tho only regrettable incident of the evening was the fact that after dismissal many of the men fired off their remaining blank cartridges not only in the park but in the suburbs on their way home. The Garrison Band, under Bandmaster Merton, of which Captain Charlewood was one of the principal promoters, played upon his lawn from 7 until 9 p.m.

A parade of the Kaiapoi Eifles was held on Friday evening, when 46 rank and file were present, under Captain Millar. Bombardier Coleman was the instructing officer. At the close of the parade it was decided to ask Mr J. G. E. Winsloe to accept the second lieutenancy of the corps. . A largely attended meeting was held at the Geraldine Drillhall on F,. iday night to reorganise the Eifle Corps. Colonel Bailey presided, and Colonel Moore and SergeantMajor Jones were also present. After a few opening, remarks by the Chairman, 47 'men were sworn in, and numerous other promises of membership were received. The following wore elected officers of the new corps:—Captain, Mr J*. M’Kenzie; first lieutenant, Mr J. E. Montgomery; and second lieutenant, Mr Guy M'Donald. The captain and lieutenant have both seen volunteer-service, the former as lieutenant of the old' Geraldine corps, and the latter as captain of the Dunedin High School Cadets/ ■ ’■