VOLUNTEER CAMP AT WAIKOUAITI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 53

VOLUNTEER CAMP AT WAIKOUAITI.

The Otago Mounted Rifle Battalion went into camp on Thursday night a> Waikouaiti, some of the country corps arriving after midnight. The camp is now got into working order, and good, useful work is being done. The battalion staff are represented by Surgeon-major Coughtrey, Captain Stronach (adjutant), hon. Lieutenant and Quartermaster Park, Sergeant-major Cardale (of tho district staff), Sergeant-major Gillies (battalion sergeant-major), and Trumpetermajor Rutherford. The officer commanding the camp is Captain J. C. Nichols, of the North Otago Mounted Rifte«. The officers of tho Otago Hussars are Captain Crosby Morrk and Lieutenants Freeman and Pram. The officers of the North Otago Mounted Rifles are thoee already mentioned and Lieutenant G. M'Donald. Tho Maniototo Mounted Rifles are in charge of Captain Robert Logan and Lieutenants Trotter and Law.

There was an early reveille on Saturday morning, and, after the usual stable duties the various rompaines were taken out to the Wnikouaiti River for watetmg exercise The remainder of thp stable duties were then completed, and breakfast followed. That over, the different companies were engaged in practising outpost details under their company officers, while thf^ staff: surveyed ground for the txfteinoon exercises. Luncheon followed, and shortly afterwards the men were to be lound jn the saddle on their way to put into execution on a more extended area outpost work. For this purpose a skeletal party of eight men was left behind in camp inder Lieutenant Gillies, v.ith orders to attack the ridges extending from Matanaka to Tumai. Tho defending force was under the command of Captain Moms, and was divided into two divisions — one on the right under Captain Lo^an, and another on the left under Lieutenant G. Macdonald, of the N.O.M.R's. Picket and sentry posts were laid out and Cossack posts established, and by the time this had been effected the attacking army, under Lieutenant Gillies, had cleverly crept up to a firing distance, making a distinct feirt on the left defending flank, while throv. ing his real strength against the right A very interesting and instructive engagement followed, and aboat 5.40 p m it terminated Both f-ides displayed much intelligence in their work. The staff occupied \ arious points of vantage overlooking the affair, and reserved their cutioism for the evening.

(From Oitk Owv Cop.rtspovdevt )

After tea on Saturday night leave of absence was given to a large number pi the

troops, -who piomptly took advantage of it to perambulate the stieet-. of "Waikouaiti till a late hour. Shortly after 11 o'clock a surprise r art 5' attacked the camp, o few volley*, however, promptly dispersing the enemy. On Sunday morning reveille was sounded at an early hour, followed by watering exercises, stables, guard mounting, and the usual fatigue duties. Breakfast over, parade was sounded, and the several companies wero exercised under their commanders, the various evolutions being performed in a manner which brought forth the warmest commendation from the officers and staff; after which dinner was announced. At 2.30 p in. a church parade was held, the service being read by Surgeon-major Coughtrey in the absence of the chaplain, the Rev. C. A. Fraer. The troops formed three sides of a hollow square, the prayer desk, harmonium, and military choir forming the fourth side. There was a large attendance of the public, and the service was heartily joined in, the hymns sung being " Soldiers of Christ arise," "Jesus Christ is risen today,'' " Soldiers who are Christ's below," and "Onward, Christian soldiers." The service ended with the National Anthem. Leave was again given in the evening to the men, many of whom visited the various local churches.

On Monday, after the usual stables, etc., and breakfast, 9.30 saw every available man in the saddle. An enemy under Lieutenant Orbell, who was in command of two sections, was supposed to have landed at the mouth of the river, and the defending force was at once despatched to intercept him gaining the Main arterial road to Dunedin. Captain Morris took the right of the defence line, and extended his men in a line reaching from Burn's farm to Corner Bush ; while Captain Logan, on the left, protected from the bridge to Merton station. Some very interesting manoeuvring then took place. About 12 15 p.m. the left of the defending line, under Captain Logan, came within the shell fire of the enemy, but the defenders occupied a well-adapted tactical hillock, from which he poured volley after volley on the extreme right of the enemy. Captain Morris, leaving behind him a force to meet and check the enemy on some dangerous ground between Merton station and the Bush, proceeded against the enemy, which he found well posted in a strong position in the bush, about half a milo from the Main road, and he cleverly threw out a flanking party through a gully hidden from the enemy's outlook. This force, under Lieutenant Freeman, completely upset the enemy's calculations, and quickly caused them to retire with the loss of all their horses. Shortly after this movement the rout of the enemy became genera], and the engagement terminated. The staff, consisting of Captain Nicholls, Captain and Adjutant Stronach, and Captain Snowball, occupied an intermediate point of vantage. The whole of the operations were conducted on strictly warfare service linep. No point or road was passed by either side without being patrolled and reported on, distances were noted, and lateral communications maintained ; while another party, under Lieutenant Gilliea, was employed making sketches of the whole of the ground traversed by the opposing rjarties, so that the engagement might be fully discussed at the meetings of the Officers' Club during the winter.

The forces returned to camp and dinner at 2 p.m., after which the tents were struck and baggage packed and collected, the Maniototo men taking the palm for being first up vs ith a packed tent and first to clear the line After inspection of the bagsrage by Staff Sergeant-major Cardale, the basrgage was removed under guard to the railway station, men were told off for fatigue, watering horses, etc., general , leave till 8.30 p.m. being given to all tbo rest. The local troopers were the first to leave camp, followed by the Dunedin Hussars, the Mounted Rifles following by tram to their respective homes during the night.

The camp has been a very successful one from the point of vi&w of the work done and the manner of doing it, and the ofnc*s expres3 themselves as thoroughly well pleaded with it. The number on parade was not quite as satisfactory as could have been wished but many reasons account satisfactorily for this. I have to thank the officers for their kindness and courtesy in placing mo in a position to obtain these reports, sometimes at considerable trouble to themselves.