The Volunteers.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 996, 3 April 1891, Page 31

The Volunteers.

THE PALMERSTON ENCAMPMENT.

The majority of tbs Wellington Volunteers who took part in the lister T3S&.*t£? SSKJT&^K contingent left by special train in? The men paraded at the ' olunt e DrilUhed shortly after 7 p.m., and marched to the station, headed by the Bu P* e Which made its first appearance m public As far as conld be ascertained the numbers of the respective corps were as follows Wellington Navals, 56, under Captain Dun- , pifv ■R.iries 56. under Captain Collins ; Guards, 31, under Captain Mclntosh ; Wellington Rifles, 41, under Captain Hobday- D Battery, 23, under Captain Moorhouse ; Bugle Band. 22, under Captain Loveday ; total, 229. Ca P* al ® Quick was in charge of the parade. 1 h train should have left .“’L 7,3 ** until Volunteers did not reach the station until nearly a quarter to 8. The arrangements, however, were excellent, and Mr Gould, atatUmmaster, soon had the men comfortably seated, and the tram got away a few minutes before 8. The tram consisted of 1large carriages, four trucks, and two engines, The Government steamer Hinemoa, which arrived on Friday morning, brought 244 Volunteers from Nelson and 113 from Blenheim and Picton. The contmgenfc loft by train at 1.20 p.m. tts. OM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) ptr.vKßstoN North, March 26. There appears to be every probability that the Easter Encampment will be a great success. Captain Edwin’s prediction notwithstanding there is every indication of fine weather, and the barometer favours this hopeful view. Active preparations are being made to receive the large body of Volimteeis expected, and already upwards of 100 bell tents, besides marquees, have been Oredted on the ground. To-night a trains will bring men from all parts, and numbers will follow to morrow. Until the arrival of Colonel Pitt, Major Newell has command, and will direct operations. 1 observe that Lieutenant-Colonel Hume is here, as is also Captain Coleman (both of Wellington), Major Take, and other officers whose names I bave not yet ascertained. March 2,. Queen’s weather favours the opening day of the Easter Encampment, and the reading of the barometer (30.4) augurs well for its continuance. After despatch of my letter yesterday, Volunteers continued to ar F lve Lcb train, and »til 1.45 «... n.or?.°g Jh. was “ still they come. With the greatest order, and most perfect dioiplme, each company was immediately on S ' ing marched! off to its quarters on the camping ground, and no one unacquainted with the fact that so large a body of men waß expected could have imagined that our population had been increased by newly one-half. The several companies paraded at 10 o’clock this morning, and were drawn tip in line of quartet Column by the right. The two corps of cavalry and two of mounted infantry formed a linfi ih advance, the ground not admitting of the whole being -i one line. After the usual inspection the ’ jnohnted corps marched out for exercise Under their respective commanders, the whole being under the direction of. Captain Sofia tnerville. The battery of Artillery was exercised with Its guns, under battery officers. The remainder of trie trotSps were formed into a brigade of battalions. NO. - being composed of the Naval Artillery, nnder Captain Fitzherbert, assisted by Captain Duncan, No. 2 battalion, composed of the several corps in the Wellington district, was under Captain Quick. No. 3 was nnder Major Watt, and comprised the various corps in the Wanganui-Xaranakl district. No. 4 battalion, under Major Wood, was made up of the several corps in the Napier district. The battalions were drilled; by the staff officers in the manual, firing, and sword-bayonet exercises, which were gone through with great credit. The little battalion from Napier, which only arrived this morning after travelling all night, did not aßk for exemption from parade although the men must have been much fatigued. A few brigade movements were next done, when square was formed, from the centre of which Captain Fitzherbert read the camp orders issued by Major Newell, who, as senior officer, is in command until the arrival of Colonel Pitt with the Nelson contingent. The whole of the battalions paraded again this afternoon. It has been reported in the local papers that divine service will be held in the camp on Easter Sunday, at 11 o clock, but I understand that efforts are being made to have the time changed to 9.30 a.m., so as not to interfere with _ the regular church services of all denominations in the town. The Primate will conduct the Anglican service on the parade ground. Palmerston North, March 28. The Nelson volunteers arrived last night nnder Lieutenant-Colonel Pitt, who has now assumed the chief command of the assembled troops. At the first parade this day company drill took place at 6.30 a.m., and the combined forces were exercised in brigade movements daring the forenoon. The precision with which the various evolutions and exercises were gone through was much praised, every corps without exception coming in for its share of credit, but the Wellington Navals especially distinguished themselves. Just before the f irenoon parade a squad of about 30 of *ha Permanent Artillery, under Lieutenant Hume, practised marching, manual exercise, and physical drill, going through the whole to the ad. miration of the spectators, and receiving great applause. The weather to-day has again been all that conld be desired, and the scene on the ground has been animated and brilliant in the extreme. The total number of men now on the ground is a little over 1200, and is made up of the following comArtillery, under Lieutenant Hume, 54 strong; Heretaunga Mounted Infantry, 39 strong, under Captain Loveday tnd Lieutenants Prmgle and Wilford ,

Rangitikei Cavalry, 40 stroDg, under Captain R. B. MoKenzie and Lieutenants Taverner and R. Edwards ; Wairoa Mounted Infantry, 39 strong, under Captain Johnston, Lieutenants J. W. Thurston and Howie; Wellington Guards, 34 strong, under Captain Mclntosh and Lieutenant Porrett; Wellington Rifles, 46 strong, under Lieutenauts Ishervrood and Duthie ; Wellington City Rifles, 56 strong, under Captain Collins, Lieutenant Wilson, and Lieutenant Hall (attached) ; Wellington Navals, 65 strong, under Captain Duncan. Lieutenants Hislop, Campbell, and Bell ; Wanganui Navals, 40 strong, under Captain Russell and Lieutenant Neill; Napier Navals 47 strong, under Captain Smith and Lieutenant Hesiop; D Battery Artillery (Wellington), 31 strong, nnder Captain Moorehouse and Lieutenant C. Johnston; E Battery Artillery (Napier), 36 strong, under Captain McCartney, Lieutenants Kennedy and Cresswell; H Battery (Nelson) 45 strong, under Lieutenants Toplisa and Wimaett ; Alexandra Cavalry, 46 strong, under Captain Somerville, in commsmd of the cavalry, Lieutenant Higgie, Napier Rifles, Captain Chicken and Lieutenant Swan, 47 strong ; Palmerston Rifles, 33 strong, nnder Lieutenant J. Hall; Featborston and Masterton Rifles, 43 strong, and 6 school oadets, under Captain Porritt; Wanganui City Rifles, 50 strong, under Captain Willis and Lieutenant Turner; Rangitikei Rifles, 45 strong, under Lieutenants Sutcliffe and Man ; Napier High School Naval Cadets, 30 strong, under Lieutenants Stewart and Rodman ; F Battery, Nelson Artillery, 45 strong ; Nelson Navals, 48 strong, under Captain Simpson and Lieutenant Whlsh; Nelson City Rifles, 42 strong, under Captain Joynt and Lieutenant Gray ;; Stoke Rifles, 48 strong, under Captain Harkness, Lieutenant Cliing, and Barker ; Waimea Rifles, 36 stroug, under Captain Franklyn and Lieutenauts \/ratt and Bryant; Nelson Garrison Band, 19 strong under Bandmaster House; Blenhelm Rifles, 57 strong, under Captain

Rogers, Lieutenants Fowler and Salmon ; Blenheim City Rifles, 51 strong, under Captain Griffiths, Lieutenants Brown and O’Callaghan ; Blenheim Garrison Band, under Bandmaster Birch ; Hastings Rifles, 41 strong, under Captain Lewis, Lieutenants Holmes and Fraser ; Hawera Rifles, 8 strong; East Coast Husßars, .5 strong ; Napiet Garrison Band, 16 strong. Palmerston North, March 31. The Easter encampment, which is now at an end, has been one continued aucocss from the commenceuienb to the finish. Ihe weather has been magnificent, the assemblage of troops has been large, and the crowd of people who gathered yesterday to witness the proceedings was the greatest ever seen in Palmerston, the numbers being variously estimated at from 7000 to 8000. . On Sunday morning there was a good attendance, not only of Volunteers, but of civilians also, at the church parade on the encampment ground, when the Primate conducted the service of the Anglican church, preaching a short but impressive sermon, taking for his text Corinthians xv.. verse 20, “But now is Christ risen from the dead.” The large congregation listened with great attention, and joined heartily in the appropriate hymns chosen for the occasion. The collection, whioh realised the handsome sum of £lB, will be _ devoted to restoring the graves of soldiers killed during the Maori wars on this coaßt. The Government giving pound for pound m aid of this W After service the Heretaunga Mounted Infantry were exercised in lance practice, the newly formed band of bugler boys went through a number of the calls with capital effect, and a sword bayonet exercise by the Wellington City Rifleß, at the special request of Lieutenant-Colonel Pitt, was gone through in good form in all respects. a. be men wore complimented by the Brigadier on

their smart appearance and the precision of their movements. To conclude Sunday’s duties an alarm was sounded at midnight, when two guns (were fired. The Wellington Battalion were the first in position, the battalion being handed over by Captain Collins to Major Newall within 3J minutes from the firing of the guns. The two first companies, whioh fell in almost simultaneously, were the Wellington Rifles and City Rifles, closely followed by the Wellington Guards, the Permanent Force being next, about half a minute later. Ihe two first named were complimented by the Brigade Major on their alertness. I should have mentioned that after the Brigade parade in the afternoon and prior to the dismissal of the Wellington battalion. Captain Collins made a few remarks with reference to the success of the Wellington Garrison Band at the recent contest at Feilding, and called for three cheers iu their honour, which were heartily given. At this contest Mr Gray’s band took second place. The attendances at the various churoheo were very large, and the contributions liberal, the Easter offering at All Saints amounting to £l7 odd. At this (the Anglican) church numbers in the evening were unable to obtain even standing room. The following musical services were copducted by Mr A. Draw, organist and choirmaster, tha choir numbering some 40 members :—Morning, Easter anthem “ Christ our Passover ” (Pellham Humphreys); Psalms, Sir J. Goss, To Deum and Benedicts (Garrett in F.); Kyrie (Drew in F.); and the usnal Eaßter hymns. Evening the preoes and Responses, Tallis (Festal), Psalms (King), Laus (Anow), Magnificat and Nuno Dimittus (Field’s services in D.), Anthem, “Now on the first day of the week,’ all were well rendered. Yesterday (Easter Monday) work at the encampment commenced at 6 o’clock with the usual amount of drilling, after which the arrangements for one of the principal items on the day’s programme, the attack on the camp, began. The cavalry nnder Captain

Sommervilla consisted of the Alexandra Cavalry under Captain Hickey and the Heretaunga Mounted Infantry under Major Loveday, four guns and 3rd Battalion under Major Wood (Napier), 4th Battalion under Major Ellis (New Plymouth), the whole being under Major Watts (Wanganui). The right : attack was composed of the 4th Battalion, supported by two guns on the Fox ton line near the cross roadj below the Railway Station and the Heratennga Mounted Infantry. Ihe left attack was composed of the Ihisa Battalion, supported by two guns and the Alexandra Cavalry, who operated from the westernmost corner of the borough. The troops left camp at 9.45, headed by the Wellington Garrison Band, with instructions to proceed at least one mile and not to make any attack or disposition for attack for one hour from time of starting. The direction of the attack was no ° be disclosed to the defending force. The operations of the attack and defence were subject to the rules to be observed by the troops, as shown at page 411 Infantry Drill, 1889. It appears there was some slight misunderstanding as to the orders issued as above. To all appearance the attacking party was repulsed after very obstinate fighting, bat the difficulty of obtaining clear information precludes the possibility of Giving a perfectly accurate report. It was, however, ultimately decided by the umpire that the battle was a drawn one. Next followed a fine exhibition of the perfect drilling of the Heretaungas, whose tine evolutions, smart uniforms, and soldierly bearing were greatly praised. In the afternoon at 2 o’clook, when there must have been something like seven or eight thousand people present, the review commenced. The men were put through the manual, firing, and Bword bayonet exercises by Major Newall, were manoeuvred in various ways which a layman can hardly

describe, and were repeatedly marched past the saluting point, one company vieing with another as to which should moat merit the hearty had cordial praise which wae at the conclusion awarded to all by Colonel Pitt, who thanked both officers and men for the ’manner in whioh all had carried out their duties. It was intimated thalf a most favourable report would be forwarded to Government, and finally the troops were dismissed, after a thoroughly hard day s work, about 4 30. So ended a most successful gathering of the Colony’s defenders. As reported in my wire yesterday, the railway accommodation was quite inadequate, and most of the Wellington men load to remain undei canvas until this morning. Only one accident, and that, I trust, not serious, is reported. Captain Hickey,, while assisting to truck some of the horses, had one of his toes very badly crushed toy the truck door falling upon it. (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Blenheim, March 26. One hundred men and officers were to leave to-night for the encampment, but possibly, owing to the sudden death of Dr Miller, Captain Rogers (Blenheim Rifles), and Captain Griffiths (Blenheim City Rifles) will be detained here. Both are relatives of the deceased. , Palmerston North, March 23. _ The total number of men under canvas is 1256 from the following districts :—Wellington, 7 corps, 347 ; Wanganui and Taranaki, S corps, 2SI ; Napier, 6 corps, 222 ; Nelson and Marlborough, 8 corps, 353 ; Permanent Artillery, 53. To-morrow a church parade will be Held, and the Bishop of Wellington will conduct the service. A collection will be taken up in aid of the fund for the erection of a monument to, and restoring the graves oi the soldiers who fell at Nuknmaru in the laßt war on this coast. Palmerston North, March 30. At the church parade on Sunday at 9.30 the Primate officiated at the Anglican

service, and thero was a good collection made towards restoring the graves of the soldiers killed in the old Maori wars on the West After the church parade came the drill of the Peimanent Artillery and the Heretaunga Mounted Infantry, with a capital exhibition of the new physical exercises ; alto a practice of the bugle'band. -the battalion movements in the afternoon and an alarm at midnight were smartly respouded to. . To-day, in the early morning, there was company drill and an attack made on the camp. In the forenoon there was an inspection by the Commander-in-Chief, followed by manoeuvres and a march past of all the corps present. Great praise is given to all, especially thanks from Colonel Pitt. The train arrangements have resulted in great numbers being detained here until to-morrow. , , There was an immense attendance ot visitors to-day. THE OAMARU ENCAMPMENT. Christchurch, March 26. Steady rain has set in this morning, with every appearance of continuing. The \ olunteers leave for Oamaru camp this evening, and should the weather clear a large muster is expected. Invercargill, March 26. The Volunteers leave for the Oamaru review to-night. The Railway Department had decided to send them in trucks, but tne weather is bitterly cold, and rather than undergo the exposure the Volunteers decided to remain »t home. On subsequent representation, however, the difficulty was ctot over by the Department conceding carnaSeß' Oamaru March 27Volunteers are arriving in largo numbers for the Encampment, and fully 2000 are

expeotsd to be present The weather gives promise of being fin®. Dunedin, March 26. The volunteers took their departure tonight for the Oamaru Encampment. _Tha Huzzars left by road early in the evening, and will stav at Shag Point, moving on in the morning. The district corps to the number of 500 or 600 left at 8.55 p.m., and will pick up the Port Navals and Artillery at Port Chalmers. The men travelled in covered-iss trucks, and will hava rathsi a. cold ride. „ Oamaru, Mar on 20. The Volunteers were engaged in a sham fight yesterday afternoon. Tha warship Curacoa has arrived, and tomorrow a naval attack on the town take® aC °’ Oamaru, March 30. The naval battle to-day ended in a fiasco. The land forces were all in position, but the Curacoa after passing across the bay and discharging three mild puffs of smoke steamed away for Lyttelton. Large numbers of excursionists had been drawn from the town to see the battle, and were greatly disgusted with the manner in which the man-of-war treated tha affair. It would have been much better not to have sent tha Curacoa at all, than for such an exhibition to have taken place. The people altogether are disappointed ivith the encampment, xho programme of the was kep secret by the staff and the public received disappointments in every direction. Xk® weather' has been beautiful, and everything passed off without any mishap of any consequonco. Still there is more grumbling by the public than at any previous encampmen,. The men return to their respective homes tonight. GREYMOUTH ENCAMPMENT. G REVMOCTN, March 27. The Volunteer Encampment is being held on the Racecourse today. It is glorioui weather, and about 360 Volunteers are present, occupying nearly 69 tenta. The men will be put through battalion drill for a great portion of the day. The commiesanat is very indifferent, and there is much grumbling, many men declining to partake of th® rations, either bringing their own food or getting it elsewhere. An exceptionally largo poition of the men are in town tonight. The evolutions were very successful. A sham fight will take place to-morrow Greymouxh, March 29. The Volunteers and bands marched from the racecourse to church to-day. After dinner they struck tents and put them up again The Hon R. Seddon dined with the officers in the afternoon, and left for Kumara soon after. The break np of the oamp take® place to-morrow.