WAIKATO EASTER REVIEW

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6064, 25 April 1881, Page 3

WAIKATO EASTER REVIEW

fur TKI.EOr.ArII.—OWN CORTIKSI'ONDENT.) Hamilton, April IS. Tuk day broke clear and fine after a wet Sunday and Sunday niglit, aud tho volunteers mustered in good spirits and trim array on the review ground. Shortly after 10 a.m. tho special train arrived from Ngaruawahia, Hamilton, and intermediate station with fully 1000 passengers, and when the parade inspection commenced at 11 a.m., there wore fully 3000 spectators 011 the ground. At this hour Colonel Lyon and staff rode 011 to the ground, and the officers of the various companies got their corps :into position. 871 men had arrived from the Thames and Auckland, and to these must be added the Waikato aud Waiuku Cavalry, which would bring the full number on the field to nearly eleven hundred. The troops formed line, and saluted as the stall rode by, and were then put through a variety of manoeuvres, and marched in battalions. The infantry then retired in line, halted, fronted, and broke into columns to the right, then formed quarter column 011 the leading companies of battalions. Afterwards the columns advanced and changed direction to the left, wheeling into line of quarter column. The column then deployed 011 to the 1 ading companies. At tiiis point, the sham fight commenced. At 12.30 p.m. No. 1 battalion covering the movements. The infantry occupied the north end of the paddock, while the cavalry were posted at the south end, about 500 yards distant. The cavalry menacing an attack. The skirmishers were thrown out, the main body of infantry being formed in line in the rear. As the cavalry advanced, the skirmishers fell back 011 the main body, and preparations were made to receive cavalry. The infantry formed into squares of battalions from the right in echelon. When the infantry were within 100 yards of the front squares the)' opened a hot fire, causing the cavalry in an attempt to retire by squadrons, to break right aud left, and retire in confusion. The cavalry have, now re-formed, made a flank movement by the left of tho infantry, and halted under cov«r of broken ground in the rear, turning the infantry's position. The artillery posted at the angles did considerable execution. The cavalry suddenly emerged from the cover of the slope, and charged in skirmishing order, cutting an imayiiw.ry luuivcn ii.r.uiny oattallon, nut a scathing lire being again opened from the infantry, the cavalry were compelled to retire to their former position. The infantry then broke into line, retiring a short distance. The cavalry meanwhile were advancing and taking ground with the right. The infantry took ground right and left, allowing their cavalry to charge through the centre of the the lines upon the enemy, who by this time were completely defeated. This finished the engagements. Tho infantry changed front to the right in close column of battalion. The brigade then wheeled to the right, and preparations were made for marching past in tho following order: -Cavalry by squadrons in open order, infantry in quarter distance column, Victoria Company leading, Coromaiulel Volunteers, Hobson Company, Auckland Engineers, Artillery, Fukekohe Volunteers, Auckland Xavals, Hauraki Engineers, Nos. 1 and "2 Scottish, Thames Navals, Native Corps ; the.rear being brought up by a detachment of Thames Navals with two 21pouuders. The marching past concluded, the battalions were formed in quarter-dis-timce columns right and front. The cavalrymarched past in open squadrons at gallop in excellent stylo. Tho Brigade then closed 011 the centre battalions, aud the '.'tlicers called to the front.

Colonel Lvon then addressed tho Brigade in favourable terms, and afterwards tiie cavalry, after which medals for good riding and shooting were presented to Lieutenant Barriball, and Troopers Currie, Lucas, and Uarriball. Three cheers were then given for the visitors, and Major Withers called for three cheers for the \Vaikato and Colonel Lyon, which were lustily given, and one more for Colonel Lyon.

011 tho invitation of Captain Runciman, commanding the Cambridge Cavalry, three cheers wore given for the Waiuku Cavalry. At 2.30 p.m. the review was over, and the volunteers repaired to the township, where a great deal of merriment -was kept, but not a single case of drunkenness was to be seen. A t 3 o'clock the officers sat down to dinner together.

The following is the official list of forces that were in the field at Te Awamutu 011 Monday : —Staff : 1 lieutenant - colonel, 1 'captain volunteers, ft majors, 16 captains, 27 lieutenants, 17 sub-lieutenants, 1 surgeon, 1 veterinary surgeon, 5 staff-scrgcauts, 7'i crgeantH, S drummers and trumpeters, 123 oandsmeu, 7-13 rank and file : total, 102 S.

Tiie Thames and Auckland Volunteers left To Awamutu ou April IS, one division at 10 p.m., and the other at midnight, arriving in Auckland on Tuesday morning, when the greater portion of the Thames men at oncc embarked in the s.s. Rotomahnnn, at the railway wharf, for the Thames. She returned at 4 p.m., and sailed again for the Thames at G p.m., witli those volunteers who had remained behind to see their Auckland friends, as well as a large number of other passengers. As tho steamer moved from the wharf, the band struck up " Auld Lang Syne," followed by "The Girl I left behind me." Petty Officer Potts, who carried the colours of the Thames Naval Brigade, missed his passage by half-a-minute, lie might possibly have got 011 board, but the strains of the music drowned his calls, until the steamer cleared the pier. Shortly after, the s.s. Coromandcl left with the Coromaiulel Volunteer corps, under command of Captain (Jutland.

On April 19 Tc Awamutu returned to its state of priniieval solitude and quiet, none the less welcome that we have lived in an uproar for some days. The uorse-play of tho volunteers, especially tho Navals, was very amusing at times, but too much of it would become monotonous. One of their lively sallies was matching any well-known person and wheeling him round the town in a barrow till lie shouted. Host Lewis, oi the Central Hotel, was the first operated upon, and stood it good-humouredly enough ; then the captain of the Hamilton Cavalry troop was carried shoulder-high and deposited in Lowis' hotel, when he called for ft case o£ brandy. Tho fun began to got furious, when Mr. James Mack.ay, jun., riding up at tho time, was considered an eligible subject for capture. Mr. Mack ay got his temper up, and rode ■half-a-dozen times at hi 3 would-bo captors, but in the last charge a trooper skilfully seized his reins, tho Navals got a fair grip of his leg, and down came horse and rider. He was then put in the barrow, and goodhumouredly trundled round till his thirsty captors took shelter in Lewis' and drank at his expense. Though there was a great deal of rough sport, there was at any rate no show ot mischief, and tho picket and police 1 had very little to do