THE OTA GO AND SOUTHLAND CONTINGENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11658, 15 February 1900, Page 5

THE OTA GO AND SOUTHLAND CONTINGENT.

■. A BUSY DAY IN CAMP. ' 69 MEN AT FORBURY PARK. THE REMOUNTS SENT AAVAY. A good day's work was done at the camp yesterday. The .morning was disagreeable, but our boys are not fine weather soldiers, and there was little grumbling at tho rain showers that interfered a little with drill. The " fall in " for stables was responded to with alacrity, and the mounts had their morning toilet attended to and wore fnd long before many a drowsy civilian was out of bed. About 7 o'clock a squad of about 15 men saddled up and Vent out to undergo.a riding test. They were picked from those who were able to bring- siiddio and bridle with them into the camp, nnd until the camp saddlery comes to hand there will be little opportunity of conducting the riding- tests on a largo scale. However, the batch who were put through their paces came out of it fairly well. There were no spills, and some of the men were quite at home on horseback. I

Breakfast was partaken of with appetites whetted by the exercises in the chill morning air, and at 9 o'clock squad drill was commenced. Lieutenant Freeman (orderly officer for the day) and Lieutenant Morris each had charge of about ?.O recruits, and exercised them for a stiff two hours and a-half in dismounted drill—sectional movements, advancing in extended order, file. " Stables" at 11.30, and then dinner at 1 o'clock brought a welcome relief. A quiet and well-earned smoke was also enjoyed before turning out again.

At 2 o'clock the sun began to come out, and the afternoon was warm and sunny. More dismounted^ drill, at which the squads showed a marked improvement, occupied tho afternoon. "Stables" at 5, and afterwards tea. This routine will probably be continued for the rest of the..week, as new men are coming in daily, and all must go through' the Eivne mill. Only one short month intervenes between now and tho elate they will embark as Imperial troops for South Africa. To thos-j who have "been there before," and know what an infinite amount of work has to bo got through by that time, the days will fly as in a dream. The instructors, who have to knock the corners off the raw material, teach it which is its, left foot, teach it how to walk straight, ride straight., and shoot straight, know what is really in front of- them. And when the fittest have survived out of the 4-00 odd volunteers now enrolled, and they stand a picked contingent of 150 men. they will be a fine troop and worthy of the province that is sending' them out.

Nearly twenty now men were registered on the camp roll yesterday. Guard was mounted as usual at reveille, and consists of 12 men. Sentries arc posted at the gate, at the forage tent, and at the horse-lines. The relief goes nut every two hours, and this gives every man on guard four hours' rest against two'hours duty. All day and night long therefore a watchful eye is kept on the horses and the camp property. _ Should a horse get entangled with the lines in anyway, or anything were to go wrong, the sentry on duty would give the alarm and turn out. the guard with all the promptitude he is capable of. In this way he is learning the first principles of picket duty, and his watchfulness may some day save his life and the lives of his comrades. ' ' • The remounts shipped to Christchuroh yesterday were numbered 1001 to 1020, and included several gift horses. Mr H. Palmer sent one to hie son, Trooper Palmer, and the well-known licensee of the Jjfenley Hotel sent 'one to his son, Corporal M'Kogg. Balclutha sends a horse to the care of Major Kohin for 'one of tlie Clntlia men, and other donors were Mrs A. W. Morris, Elliott Bros., M'Leod Bros., and the Master Butchers of Dunedin; while 10 have been purchased from the Otago Daily. Times "more horses" fund. The following temporary appointments have been made:—Mr J., R. Macdonald, acting lieutenant; -H. .T. S. Metford, late Cape Mounted Police, acting sergeant-major : Corporal W. J. M. Rocs, acting quartermaster sergeant. Acting Lieutenant Macdonald is orderly officer to-day. THE MEN IN CAMP. The camp roll was supplemented yesterday with the following names: — Robert G. Tubman, 28, teacher. • Six years a volunteer and served two in North Olngo Mounted Rifles. Ohas. Carpenter.* ! Chas. W. A. Cornißh, 24, asylum attendant, Served in City Guards. Ja=. Gray.* Robert J. Vannan, 27, farm cadet. Served five years volunteer Battalion. Royal Highlanders. Ebenozer R. Meyer, 21, ironmonger. Served as a volunteer. Daniel A. Hiekey, 28. police constable. Two years volunteer and three years Permanent Militia. Alex. W. Roberts, 27, gaol .warder. Served in volunteers and Permanent Artillery. Alfred Norton Smith, 22. coal miner. No former service. John D. Watt, 23, shepherd. Served 15 months as volunteer. ■ William Allan, 33, farmer. No former service. George Williams.* John Sutherland, 23, farmer. No former service. Malcolm Bcasley, 21, labourer. No former service. William Thomson, 22, labourer. No former service. ■ John A. S. Clyma, 21, labourer. Served as a volunteer, Neil P. Rae, 22, carpenter. No former service. * Signifies no qualifications filed.