THE EASTER ENCAMPMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7920, 12 April 1887, Page 5

THE EASTER ENCAMPMENT.

There was little to complain of as to the encampment on Sunday night. Of course, os might be expected, there were the usual ebullitions of exuberant spirits during the evening; but the conduct of the volunteers, With" very few exceptions indeed, was very good, and the guard officers had little actual auty to perform. There was, however, one airty piece of business. We cannot say Whether it was the outcome of a pure spirit »f mischief or whether it was a matter of fieliberate theft, but taken in either sense It was a grave blot on the encampment and on the characters of the men. It appeared that while Mr. Harry Bennett, the canteen man, was talking to Colonel Mahon, Major Isaaos, and Major Tonks, in reference to the supposed loss of a barrel of beer, and after he had been almost pereuaded that in the faco of the line of sentries the loss was impossible, a barrel was rolled out from the base of the tent in the presence of all of them, and other men were outside, apparently for the purpose of taking charge of it. No sooner were they perceived than Major Isaacs, the officer of the night, gave orders to have the men arrested. The "lobster" who rolled out the cask, however, dodged between the bluejackets who were outside. The names of all around were taken, but "as nobody knows nothing" the guilty parties are liable to escape punishment. This, and this only, was the mean event of the encampment, the Volunteers in every other instance conducting themselves in a respectable and soldier-like manner ; the only other offences calling for the attention of the commanding officers being minor breaches of military law. A MOONLIGHT ADDRESS. The Hon. Mr. Waldegravo met the troops on Sunday night after eight o'clook. There was good moonlight, aud no lamps were necessary, and Mr. Waldegrave delivered an earnest and touching address. EASTER MONDAY'S PROCEEDINGS. Bright and early the bugle call mustered the corps on their parades, all falling in at jaeren o'clook, and they were put through an tour's useful company drill by their own officers. The Cavalry were dismounted and had special drill, and the Artillery had some Bquare gun drill in dismounting batteries, etc. The programme arranged on the pre- ( rious day's orders had been materially jJtered. The camp was to be struck at nine Vclock, and the troops were to maroh to Takapuna racecourse for revisw, but the changes made were material and buexpeefced. The Cavalry expected to get away early from the racecourse to , reach Auckland, and a great amount of un- ; certainty prevailed as to their movements, j The Infantry tents, as well as those of the i Artillery and Engineers, fell promptly on the sound of the bugle at eleven o'clock, having been left standing, in order that the bright aud warm sun might 'dry the dew off them. The Cavalry lines of tente were left standing, and at the same time the men were left in doubt as to their ulterior movements, and anxious indeed were their inquiries as to how they were to got their horses to Auckland, and a great deal of uncertainty prevailed. WAIUKU CAVALRY.—ELECTION OF OFFICERS. ,r About the first actual business transacted after breakfast was a meeting of the Waiuku Cavalry for the election of officers. Major Eamlin took the chair, and, irrespective of officers, there was a muster of 57. The roll Was called, and then Major Hamlin explained the business of the meeting, reading the advertisement from that morning's jELerald. Their duty was first to elect a captain in the place of Captain Brown, who bad been compelled to resign on the advice of hie medical attendant. Trooper John Spargo then proposed that Lieutenant S. Barriball be elected captain of the troop. The motion Waa seconded by Trooper A. Coburn, and no Other candidate being proposed, the motion was put to the meeting and carried unanimously, each member of the troop holding Sup his hand in favour of the proposition. Major Hamlin then resigned the chajrmanehip to Captain Barriball, who returned 'thinks for the honour the troop had conferred en him. He would do his best in their interests, and he hoped they for their parts would pay attention to the instruction of the officers. The nexj business waa tha election of a junior lieutenant. Corporal King was proposed, and so wss Ssrgeant-Major Mansing, and the latter was elected by & majority of 31 against 10. He waa therefore declared elected. It was then .agreed that the promotions for non-commis-■fiioned officers should be in the order oi seniority, and » corporal having been elected to fill the last vacancy, the troop was dismissed. •'. 4 OAMP SPORTS AND AMENITIES. v The interval between breakfast and dinner was devoted mostly to amusement, and woe [to the unfortunate trooper then who had a quiet horse. He was sure' to be made the victim of some blue jacket anxious for a ride, and sometimes more than one claimed a mount on the same horse, and then the irate owner borrowing a neighbour's charger gave chase through the camp, and the hotter the pursuit the greater was the laughter, and all enjoyed the frolic. It was, however, in regard to the «menitiee of camp life, and the fraternising of the different branches of the service, that a prominent feature was made by the Puke.pohe Mounted Infantry, under Major Harris. Of course the whole camp could not be Invited into their lines, bat the " A " Battery, the Engineers, the Devonport Navals, and other guests assembled at their invitation, and the usual courtesies were exchanged, each of the officers acknowledging the civility with which they had been treated, and the hospitality of their hosts. THE REVIEW. •;' Soon after dinner the bugle sounded the assembly, calling many of the officers hurriedly from the mess table, and as the jparades fell in Monsignor Walter McDonald, the oldest Catholic chaplain of the New Zealand forces, appeared oil the ground, and wan warmly welcomed by the officers and his Numerous friends, and he remained until the finale of the celebration. The review, according to the arrangements of the previous day, Was to be held at the Takapuna racecourse tad domain, but for some reason or another Colonel Lyon decided to hold it on the '■encampment. This was a great disappointment to thousands of people who had Assembled on Mount Victoria and surrounding heights, and later on in the evening they conld be found spread in large numbers along the side of the roadway waiting to observe the troops as they passed. The parade ground was limited in extent for large bodies of cavalry and infantry, but the success of the movements is, perhaps, the best argument in favour of the muchmaligned battalion drill. In every moveinent the corps—cavalry, artillery, and infantry— marked improvement, steadiness ; and order marking all their movements ; and as for the cavalry and mounted infantry, their movements were so excellent Bβ to evoke the applause of the bystanders. %t is needless to enter into details ■of the march past, further than to state that the troops and corps acted admirably. The Navals were especially noticeable for their steadiness and admirable line. Distances were well observed, and although the ground was rough and slippery, and there was a steep incline, very good .order was preserved. A hollow square was •formed, and Colonel Lyon, the commanding iofficer, addressed the companies. Owing to |the wide space, and the noise created by the ; oatßido public, some of his remarks were Inaudible. He said that on the sound of the :elarm on Friday morning, the Volunteere had ,all been prompt in their attendance on their ;parade grounde, and by seven o'clock they had ■got embarked, and that was very quick ( 'work indeed. The steamers, thanks to the ) knanagement, were all ready waiting for them. Next morning the "defending and attacking forcee, as ordered by. Majorgeneral Whitmore, took up their positions. \ He regretted that the attacking force had to wait while the earthworks were being com- ! pleted, but when instructed they came on ' and did what they had to do in a creditable ! manner. Their skirmishers might have . taken more cover. He had heard it said ■ .hat they should not have crossed the swamp ' it the Narrow Neck, but considering the larrownosa of the position they could ' lot have done otherwise. They came in to the attacking distance, and he \ was glad to see that when ordered to do so, they retired without a murmur. Colonel '. •Lyon then proceeded to refer generally in terms of approbation to the conduct of the different corps eugaged in the sham fight, especially comas.'-I<tintr on the part taken by ( the Mounts! tp.wsiiry regarding the capture of the £i).-p.:; : i;u:;, s , but he stated to the .battery il-d- r.niiy had been captured , jluriny cUs Fftii'ug- Prussian War uad.er taaob, }

less favourable circumstance*. Ho also referred to the success of the " 0" Battery at the mine, and thankfully referred to the serj vices rendered by Major Boddam and Lieutenant Falconer. Aβ to the conduct of the ' men in camp, nothing of a gross nature had been brought before him. There were a few 9 things, howovor, which he need not mention, , but which no doubt they were acquainted j with. These acts of a few tended to bring j disgrace on the whole body of volunteers, and by their thoughtless conduct they deutr6yed 3 the esprit de corps of the companies, and t make things unpleasant for all. Hβ had b nothing more to say to them, except with f regard to the Ambulance Corps, under Dr. 3 Dawson. They did their duty well. In • time of actual war, this corps would have to , be increased, but the corps on service here , had shown that they were efficient, and had 1 given all requisite attention to the oases i under their charge. He had to congraf tnlate Major Hauilin on the men and horses comprising the Cavalry, and also i the Mounted Infantry on their fine I musters. In conclusion, ha said it was ! understood that they were to have met at the , North Shore, but so far aa he knew there s was no place there on whioh they could 1 maroeuvre the men, and if the people of the North Shore were disappointed he regretted it. He would not detain them longer, but he , hoped at another Easter encampment, if he i lived long enough, to see his friends of tho ! lufautry make a stronger muster. The parade was then dismissed for a brief ! interval, and when re-formed marched along i the main road to the Victoria Wharf. Hero ■ the Infantry and Artillery embarked for • Auckland. The Cavalry remain behind until s this morning, the Waiuku troop returning to • camp, and the To Awamutu t.roop taking np i quarters at tho North Shore. THE MUSTER. The total muster of Volunteers and staff 5 officers in camp, including tho "0" Battery 3 at Fort Cautley, was, in accordance with the 3 official returns made yesterday, 533. 1 THE CAMP. The camp is now left in charge of the ■ quartermasters,- who will lose no time in ! transporting the tents and baggage to their ; destination.