CAMP TE AWAMUTU.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 244, 24 August 1864, Page 5

CAMP TE AWAMUTU.

[FROM OUlt OWN CORRESPONDENT.J August 16. At last a decisive step has been taken with regard to tho settlement of tho Waikato Militia upon their lands. On Friday last, No. o Company of the 2nd Regt. Waikato Militia wero called together for tho purpose of having their town acre allotments nominated to them ; as a matter of course, there aroso a difficulty as to tho selection of land, as, by an inspection of tho surveyor's plan, the superior position and other advantages of certain allotments wero apparent to all; however, to avoid any dispute, or feeling of jealousy, it was arranged that the men should take their chance by a dip in a " lucky bug" provided for the occasion. " The whole of the town reserve litis not yet been surveyed, so that it was found necessary to have in the bag a number of blank tickets, corresponding with the number of allotments yet unsurvoyed ; as regards tho rest, each ticket bore a number corresponding to one of tho figures on the surveyor's map, so that whatever number was drawn by any militiaman, the corresponding number of section or allotment wouldfall to his share. To ensure order in the drawing, a roll was called, and as each man answered his name ho iuserted his hand in tho bag, and drew forth the insignificant piece of cardboard which determined his position as a " city land holder." Great interest in tho proceedings was evinced by all the men, and as this land rafllo proceeded it was amusing (and to thoso interested, no doubt, exciting) to behold tho strange freaks of fortune, as, in some instances, the most choice portions of the township fell to tho lot of thoso " votaries of Bacchus" who would, in all probability, bo the most unlikely'to turn then- laud to any profitable account, and, on tho other hand, individuals of a really settling disposition would Utrn away with a " visage rueful" on finding that the ficklo goddess had sent them a " blank." Many good odors were mado for somo of the allotments during the afternoon, I believe that so high a sum as £50 was offered for one. The sceno was well calculated to arouse the cachinnatory propensities of the most stolid of tho spectators, as on a stroke of good luck some favourite of fortune would bo surrounded by crowds of congratulating comrades, clamorous "in urging their respective bids for tho newly acquired ground, these oilers ranging from a couple of bottles of grog to £20. One of tho blank extractors offered to tho happy possessor of a " city section" as high a sum as £25, in addition to

whatever allotment should, fall to his share on the completion of th© survey. The land at Kiln Kihi is uneclipsed, in this district, for nchncss, and the 2nd Waikatos aro indeed fortunate in having their "hopes long deferred" brought to such a pleasing termination. From what I have seen of the men who will settle on this choice picce of ground, X have, every reason to export that, in the futm , e annals of this Province, Kihi Kihi will take a good standing amongst the inland Waikato towns. As regards tho position of the township, it is unquestionably the most advantageous that could have been selected. r^ 10 remaining Companies of tho 2nd Regimont that will bo locntod on this favourite spot are Nos. 4, 10, 11 (Forest Rangers). QUEEN'S REDOUBT. [ntOM OUII OWN COKKESI'ONDENT.] • ... . 22nd August, 1864. Alter a succession of wet days extending noarly to a fortnight, we aro at length blessed with a fine sunny day, and every sympton of a. continuanco of fino weather for sonio days to come. X ho soldiers here take advantage of it to inamnirato somo sports, and although thero was no settled programme, thero was quite as much amusement ;is if thero had been the usual list of stewards, committees, and so forth. r l he iirst item was a race between two soldiers of tlio oUtii, at two hundred yards, whose namos aro Burke and Ives. Tho former gavo the latter ton yards' start, but Ives won by about nine yards. After this was over a rather novel raco took place between two men of the same Regiment, whose names respectively aro Spencer and Duncan, Spencer agreeing to run 100 yards while Duncan, carrying a man on his hack about twelve stone weight, ran 90 yards. This was rather great odds, notwithstanding tho weight tho latter had to carry, and from tlie first it was evident that Duncan would -win ; he won by about fifteen yards. When the races wero concluded several matches of quoits took place. Lieut.-Colonel Hamley, who commands this station and who takes a great interest in tho welfare of his men, and who it distinguished for his great attachment to manly sports, all the time was present.