WETHERSTONES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2437, 28 November 1900, Page 33

WETHERSTONES.

November 26.— The Tuapeka Mounted Rifles went into camp on 'the 18th mst., breaking up camp yesterday at 5 p.m. Church parade-* was held m the forenoon, and the Lawrence Band was on the giound in the afternoon playing several tunes, both sacred and secular. The weather cleared on Wednesday, and they had beautiful weather for the rest of the week. They were put through a lot of exercise, drill, and manoeuvres on horseback on Wednesday afternoon, in lines of two and four deep. There were about 80 or more present, and they acquitted themselves very well. Instructor Davies was both severe and strict with them.. The public made a. holiday of it, and there were therefore a good many present, the ladies predominating, -which is generally the case when the. soldiers a*e on parade or drilling. "Lieutenant Davies 1-eft -for Dunedrri on FriI day. Colonel Webb and .Captain- Stronach arrived the same morning to inspect the troops. They were put through more drill that afternoon in squadrons of 20 each, and were ir>cTule^d in other manoeuvres, returning to camp at about 5 p.rn After supper there was more drill, such as rescue work, galloping towards the enemy, dismounting, picking up a "dummy wounded, comrade, putting it on the horse, mounting behind and galloping back. They likewise had Lloyd-Lindsay drill — that is, advancing in fours, three dismounting (the fourth man holding the horses), running forward, lying down, and firing so many rounds; up and back to their horses, and galloping back tc a mark. There were foot races and jumping, and ether sports, in full uniform, afterwards. When the band arrived, all the sports were stopped, and dancing on the green took their place. The camp was crowded, there being over four times the number of people o"a the grotind on Friday evening that there was on any other aay. On Saturday there was more drill. In the afternoon the troops paraded and marched through Lawrence. I heard that the drill instructor, Colonel Webb, and Captain Stronach p-ave the men great praise for the way they conducted themselves in their behaviour and in their drill, for the short time they had been at it, and also for xhe fine horses they have. As I mentioned above, they struck tents last night, and went home to their lespeetive dwelling places — some to Waipori, I some to Waitahuna, Tuapeka West, Beaumont, and other centres, for nearly all the men had tc return to their work this morning. The men appear to be quite pleased with their week's drill, and the way they were treated, in regard I to feeding them.