OUR VOLUNTEER ARMY. A PARADE OF OVER 2000.

Otago Witness, Issue 2404, 29 March 1900, Page 28

OUR VOLUNTEER ARMY. A PARADE OF OVER 2000.

The fine?t volunteer turn out ever seen in Dunedin was one of the features of the departure of the contingent. AlrnosL every company in Otago's two battalions of infantry was strongly represented. Canterbury sent down some 400 men, while Southland volunteers were as well represented in the procession as Southland is in the contingent. A large number of tents were erected for their accommodation on the reclaimed land below Stuart street. Others utilised the North Dunedin drill hall, while every hotel table in town almost was enlivened with uniformed men amongst the countless visilois. A lar£,e uuniber returned to their homei by the special trains which ran north last night, but a number remained until to-day.

As far as could be ascertained the following in the correct return of all the military, naval, volunteer, and auxiliary foices who were present at Saturday's gathering: — Colonel Penton (in command of the New Zealand Forces), ui»-'i-«>nant-colonel Webb (in charge of tho ' .»y^) ; on the staff — LieutcmrAcolonel "Vi i - lc-j, Major Beal, Acting" Brigademajor "H.slop, Cpptain Robertson, Lieutenant Freem",ii, Acting- Brigade-major Towler. Capiain Hawkins was in charge of the mounted battalion, which included the Otago J-iusfai-3, under Lieutenant-commanding Morris, and the following corp?: — Elle=mers Mounted Rifles : Captain Boag and 48 men. North Otago Mounted Rifie3: Captain Nicholls, 1 lieutenant, 4 sergeants, 1 corporal, and 20 privates; total, 27. Clutha Mounted Rifles : Two lieutenants, 3 sergeants, 1 bugler, and 31 rank and file ; total, 37. Southland Mounted Rifles: Lieutenant Hazlett and 3 men. South Canterbury Mounted Rifles : Two lieutenants", 1 sergeant, 1 bugler, 17 rank and file; total, 21. Canterbury Mounted Rifles : Lieutenant Peacock and 5 men.

The Ordnance Corps present were : — Dunedin Navals: Lieutenant-commanding Allen, Lieutenant Strong, 1 lieutenant, 6 sergeants, 2 buglers, 74 rank and filo: total 85. Port Chalmers Navals: Lieutenant Dodds, 2 officers, 77 rank and file. B Battery: Captain Chalmer, 2 lieutenants, 7 sergeants. 1 bugler, and 57 rank and file : total 68. Canterbury Engineers : Captain Dougall and 52 mer. Dunedin Engineers: Captain Barclay, 1 .ser-geant-major, 2 lieutenants, 2 sergeants-major, 4 sergeants, 4 corporals, 3 buglers, 66 rank and file; total 83. Timaru Port Guards: Captain Raymond .and 31 men. Bluff Navals (no returns available). Lyttelton Navals r Lieutenant Hewstonp and 25 men. E Battery, Chri«tchurch : Lietitenant Maude and A 0 men. N Ballory, Lyttelton: Captain Piice and 5 men.

The follow in» rifle corps from Canterbury were rcpro- .vteel:' Christchurch City Guards: Captain B.jlion and 31 men. Christohurch City Rifio : Captain Oakcs cmd 22 men. Eaiapoi: Ciipinin Pepperill and 16 men. Rangiora Rifles: Lieutenant D'Auyersrne and 29 men. Chrimcburch Imperial Rifles : Serjeant Cowper and 29 men. Sydenhnm Rifles : Lieutenant Miller and 27 men. Linwood Rifles: Lieutsnant Johnson and 52 men. Ghri.stchurcli Cyclist Corps: Lieutenant Finnis and. l 3 men. Medical Staff Corps : Surgeon-cap tarn Parsons and 15 men. Timaru City Rifles : Captain J. L. Gillies and 30 men. Timaru Rifles : Sergeant Biggins and 20 men. Temuka Rifles: Captain Richardsou. Geraldine Rifles : Captain Montgomery. Waimate Rifles: 30. Ashburton Rifles : 35.

Otago No. 1 Battalion. — Staff-major Smith, Acting-major Myers, Captain M'lndoe, Sergeant -major Towler, Sergeanl-maior 51'Callum, and Quartermaster-Sergeant Moncrieff. City Guards: Captain Crawford, 2 lieutenants, 5 sergeants. 1 bugler, 46 rank and file ; total 55. Bruce Rifle 3: 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 3 sergeants, 24 rank and file; total 30. North Dunedin Rifles: Captain Myers, 2 lieutenants, 5 sergeants, 1 bugler, 56 rank and file; total 65. City Rifles: Captain Burt, 2 lieuteants, 4 sergeants, 1 bugler, 40 rank and file; total 47. Dunedin Rifles: 1 captain. 1 lieuteant, 5 sergeants, 1 bugler, 42 rank and file ; total 50. Cycle Corps : Lieutenant Allan, 1 lieuteant, 2 sergeants, 15 rank and file ; total 19. Bearer Corps : Drs Closs and Stevenson, 1 colour-sergeant, 2 sergeants, 15 rank and file : total 22. Kaitangata Rifles : On ptairi Rutherford, 2 lieutenants, 3 sergeants, 31 rank and file ; total 37. Eighland Rifles : Captain Stoneham, 2 lieuteant^ 5 sergeants, 1 butrlor, 45 rarik and file; total 52. East Taieri Pvifies: Captain Carncross, 2 lieutenants, 5 sergenats, 28 rank and file : total 36. Otago No. 2 Battalion. — Stafr: Lieutenantcolonel Headland, Captain and Adjutant Henderson, Servant-major ivibblewhite, Quarter-masler-ser^eant Smith. A Company: Captain Murphy 2 lieuteantns. 5 sergeants, 4 corporals, 1 bugler, 35 rank and file ; total 46. B Company (Oreti Rifles) : Captain M'Kenzie, 2 lieutenants, 5 sergeants, 4 corporals,! bugler, 36 rank and file ; total 49. C Cor-ipauv (Queen's Rifles, Oamaru) : Captain Mahon, I lieutenant, 5 sergeants, 1 corporal, 1 bugler, 34 rank and file ; total 43. D Company (Awarua Rifles) : Captain Dunlop, 2 lieutenants, 4 sergeants, 2 corporals, 1 bugler. 44 rank and filo; total 54. E Company: 1 caplain, 2 lieutenants, 4 sergeants, 2 corporals, 1 bugler, 31 rank and file ; total 41. F Company (Gore Rifles) : Captain Boyne, 1 lieutenant, 3 sergeants, 2 corporals, 40 ronk and file; total 47. G Company : 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 4 sergeants, 5 corporals, 27 rank 'and file; total 35. H company; 1 captain, 2 lieutenauts, 4- sergeants, 3 -corporals, 40 rank and file ; total 50.

E Company (Oamaru Rifles) : Captain Rice, 2 lieutenants, 3 sergeants, 3 corporals. 27 rank and file ; total 36. G Company (Hampdcn Rifles) : Captain M'Willel, Lieutenant Le Feire, 4 sergeants, 3 corporals, 27 rank and file ; total 36. H Company (Palmerston Rifles) : Captain Grant, 2 lieutenants, 4 sergeants, 3 corporals, 43 rank and file; total 53\

Tho following cadet corps were represented: — Otago High School 63, Waitnki High School 40, combined schools 33, Industrial School 24.

THE VETERANS.

The Inrperial veterans, under Captains Davies and Skcne, of tha 16th Foot and 74-th Highlanders respectively, assembled outsi'lo tho entrance lo the Oval, which they entered aloUjj with the procession from Forbur-y Park, and look up a position in Uie enclosure. Their total number was 65, mn.de up as follows: — -2 captains, 1 warrant officer, 3 sei'geart-maior°, 1 quaitermaster-sergcant, 2 colour-sergeants, 2 first-chips petty officers, 10 sergeants. 1 corporal piper, 1 drummer, 8 A.B.s, and 25 rank and file, which, with 1 captain, N.Z. roseive, attached, brought (he number up to 57. There vu'o also ab-ep-l oil duty — 1 ensign, 4- se-peaut-mjjorf,, mid 1 , °rgennt trinmoeLer, lnnlcms; a jerand total of 63. LI should be mentioned

that the officer commanding the district courteously offered " the right of the line" to these seamen and soldiers of the past; but, with the modesty which ha? ever distinguished " the widow Victoria's sons," the courteous offer was as courteously declined, and the veterans, formed as a company of an Otago battalion, took part with that battalion in the duties of tho day.

THE BANDS

j It was impossible to got a complete list oi ' all the brass bands thai come to Dunedin to ■' take part in the send-off to tho contingenc, but ■ he following list comprises the majority of them: — Dunedin Garrison (Lieutenant George), 28; Invercargiil Garrison (Licuten- ,' ant Sidclall), 29; South Canterbury Battalion i Band (Bandmaster Scott), 18; Southern Band 1 (Bandmaster Jackson) ; Industrial 'Band, 13; Dunedin Pipe Band (Pipe-major Hume), 15; Bluff Band (Bandmaster Slaver), 26; Gore Band (Bandmaster Mayo), 23; Citizens' Band (conductor, J. G. Briggs), 60: Milton Band (Bandmaster King). 23; Naval Band (Bandmaster Coombs). 24 ; Mosgiel Band i (Bandmaster Brown). 25: North-Ea^t Valley '• Band (Conductor Cook), bb; Invercargiil City •Band (Bandmaster Mohr), 23; Oamoru Gar- : rison Band (Sergeant Mitchell), 24-; Queens- ', town Bond (Bandmaster T?ra-;er). 23; Kaiko1 rsi 'Band (Bandmaster Straiten) ; and tho ' Tnvercaraill Pipe Band (Pipe-major Cameron), 21.

SATURDAY'S DEMONSTRATION.

Many of the visilors to Dunedin at the end of last week were compelled to walk tbe streets for one or two nights, the accommodation at the hotels and restaurants being utilised to the very utmost. This was especally the case on Saturday night. Not a rew of the visiting volunteers were in a similar plight. The North Dunedin drillshed was thrown open to them, and straw and blankets provided for as many as possible, for which the men were very thankful. His Excellency the Governor, we are authorised to say, was very much impressed with Saturday's demonstration and thoroughly plensed with his reception in Dunedin. Yesterday morning his Worship 'the Mayor received the following letter, which speaks/ for itself :—" Dunedin, 26th' March, 1900.— Mr R. Chisholm, Mayor, Dunedin. Sir,— l am directed bjr his Excellency the Governor lo convey to you hits warm thanks for the trouble you have taken, in making his vHI to Dunedin not only a distinct success, but a great pleasure to himself and tho Counters of Ranfurly. Their visit on such a memorable occasion to your city is one which neither the Governor nor Lady Ranfurly will ever forget. They earnestly hope they maj"- be present here to welcome back your troops on their return from South Africa. — I remain, dear sir, your obedient servant, Dudley Alexander, private secretary."

We fear that some of the country volunteers fared rather poorly during the hurry and bustle of Saturday. ' After their long march through the town they were supposed to get refreshments at the railway station prior to their departure to Port Chalmers, but the arrangements were so bad that while sojne of them got more than their share others got nothing at all. A great quantity of pies had been procured, together with bottles of lemonade and other drinks, and instead of a certain lot being handed out to each m;ui tbe whole force of clo3e on 2000 men was allowed to rush on the provisions and heTp themselves. The result, as may be imagined, was eminently unsatisfactory. One man marched off with a keg of something-, another with half a dozen pies, a third with two or three bottles, and so on. A Dunedin captain kept order in his company until he saw that the good things were rapidly disappearing, and that his men were likely to suffer, when he very sensibly allowed them to join in the scramble and do the best they could for themselves. The military avxtiionties in Dunedia should certainly have attended to the distribution of the provisions.

Fully 1000 persons were entertained at lunch and afternoon tea by the Port Chalmers Contingent Committee on Saturday. The omission of th» word " not " in our report referring to Ilia Rev. W. Bannermau did that gentleman an 'injustice. The sentence should have read :—": — " The Rev. William Bannerman, when discharging this solema function, deemed it not unbecoming to wear the khaki souvenir badge of New Zealand'-a Rough Riders."

GENERAL,

In connection with the 'send-off at Port Chalmers,, a word of praise is due to C.volain JJovd (the railway slalionmasler) and his staff.

The special correspondent of the Christchurch Press, describing Saturday's demonstration, wrote: — " From the great mountains that guard the inland lakes to the fertile plains of the Taieri, ths peaceful sorth has been swept by a tidal wave of fervid loyalty, which has quickened the placid patriotism of both ■Saxon and Celt into vigorous and wonderful activity, and culminated fittingly in lhe immense gathering of yesterday. They say they come " f rae the North,'* these Scotch — from the land of cautious folk, where things •are done cannily and in order. May be so, but yesterday they flung their circumspection to the four winds of hea-\ en, and gave their ' men in khaki ' such a send-off as will live in their minds while memory laf.{«. Tlie echo of those cheers is ringing vet. It was Ot&go's day yeslerdaj^. and while she s^nt her own pway so splendidly, the soldiers who come from the other x-arts of tho colony had ao less cordial a reception, and the ehesrs that ran like a gathering storm in ever-increas-ing volume alon<? the vast rivers of tho pcorlo •who filled he" streets vera mea^t for all. Since tho roavinsr dnys of rhe gold-fields rush, when men lived fast and the city saw slraii^G scenes, there has not been such a gallic-inc; of people in Dunedin, and as they listened \o the tramp of those rmrohinc; troops trader that blaze of bunting and to the blare of martial music from the score of band", the;/ must have ielfr well satisfied that wht>t they bad bo2;im had been begun well, that their srlft to tho Empire was woithy of +he true hearts that gave it."